Honey oak cabinets were a staple in homes from the 1980s to 1990s. They feature a warm honey color that tends to turn orange as they age. It’s no secret that honey oak isn’t a popular cabinet color at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you have to rip out your cabinetry and start over.
Two Ways to Make Honey Oak Cabinets Look Better
According to color theory principles, there are two ways to make honey oak cabinets look better.
First, you can tone them down by using an analogous color scheme. Analogous color schemes involve choosing three shades that sit next to each other on the color wheel.
Alternatively, you can choose a complementary color, which is the color on the opposite side of the wheel. A complementary color will make the cabinets pop.
Tone Honey Oak Cabinets Down with an Analogous Color Scheme
Honey oak cabinets have a very orange tone, so if we looked at the color wheel, we’d want to choose the two colors beside orange to help neutralize and tone down the cabinets. These colors would be yellow-orange and red-orange.
But don’t worry—that doesn’t mean you need to paint your walls red or install a yellow backsplash. Instead, aim for neutral colors with red or yellow undertones.
For example, you can choose white, cream, or even gray paint with warm undertones.
White Paint Colors with Red or Yellow Undertones
White provides a calming, neutral base for your kitchen and can help tone down the orangey color of your cabinetry. But any old white won’t work. You should specifically look for white paints with red or yellow undertones.
Here are a few to choose from:
- Opulence by Benjamin Moore (Reddish pink undertones)
- Acadia White by Benjamin Moore (Creamy white with yellow undertones)
- Creamy by Sherwin Williams (Cream with yellow undertones)
- Moderate White by Sherwin Williams (White with reddish pink undertones)
Beige and Tan Paint Colors that Tone Down Honey Oak
Beige is a blend of white and brown with warm undertones. These warm undertones will help neutralize the orange in honey oak. Any beige with warm red, yellow, or orange undertones will work. Here are a few top contenders:
- Sherwin Williams Warm Beige (Yellow undertones)
- Barley from Benjamin Moore (A sandy brown with yellow undertones)
- Head Over Heels by Benjamin Moore (A very pink-toned beige)
- Sherwin Williams Unfussy Beige (Beige with subtle red undertones)
Make Honey Oak Pop with Complementary Colors
Blue is your best friend if you’d like to make honey oak a standout feature rather than tone it down. Blue sits on the opposite side of the color wheel as orange, making it a complementary color. Blue paint tones also happen to be some of the most popular of the year.
Blue Paint Colors that Coordinate with Honey Oak
Go for a cool blue wall color to complement your honey oak cabinets. Here are the most trending blue shades from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore:
- Lullaby from Sherwin Williams (A light, soothing blue with a gray undertone for a relaxed color palette)
- Naval from Sherwin Williams (A deep blue best suited for accent walls or color drenching)
- Palladian Blue from Benjamin Moore (A soft, airy blue with a spa-like feel.)
- Schooner from Benjamin Moore (A classic medium to dark blue.)
Neutral Paint Colors with Blue Undertones that Complement Honey Oak
If you still prefer neutrals but would rather make your cabinets pop instead of fading into the background, go for a white with a blue undertone.
- Site White from Sherwin Williams (A bright white with blue undertones)
- Nebulous White from Sherwin Williams (Another bright white that pairs well with SW True White)
- White Ice by Benjamin Moore (The blue undertones make this white appear extra bright.)
- Distant Gray by Benjamin Moore (Classic white with a gray-blue undertone.)
Does Gray Paint Go With Honey Oak Cabinets?
If you’re a fan of gray paint, you can find a shade that will go with your honey oak cabinets —just follow the rules of color theory. If you’d like to tone down your honey oak and make it less of a focal point, choose a warm gray or greige with yellow, pink, or red undertones.
Choose a gray with blue undertones if you’d like your cabinets to pop.
Also, Consider Contrast
Think of contrast on a spectrum. The darker or brighter your wall color is compared to your honey oak cabinets, the higher the contrast. Using high contrast, like a dark blue wall color, will make your cabinetry stand out, while a lower contrast, like beige, will offer a more subdued look.
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