How to Update Oak & Wood Cabinets: Your Complete Guide

Do you love your wood cabinets but want to update what’s around them? Are your older granite countertops, backsplash, or even your paint color bringing your kitchen down? No matter, I’ve got you covered with the best ideas to update your oak or wood kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, or built-ins.

However, writing it all in one blog post would be exhausting for both of us (#insertwinehere). Instead, you’ll find 4 main articles linked below. Each helpful article is full of budget-friendly, actionable ideas for updating your cabinets.

What will you be reading about? 

• the best WALL paint colors to complement wood cabinets and trim
• how to update wood cabinets by PAINTING them
• deciding whether to stain your cabinets or paint them
• the best new HARDWARE to update wood cabinets
• update the surrounding hard finishes in your kitchen, including COUNTERTOPS & BACKSPLASHES
• HOME DECOR inspiration for a kitchen with wood cabinets

So, without further ado…

1. 7 IDEAS TO UPDATE OAK OR WOOD CABINETS

Whether you want to paint your cabinets or refresh the room around them, this blog post is FULL of woody goodness!

• STAIN OR PAINT: Should you restain or paint your cabinets? Learn how your cabinet door style, hinge style, and grain could make the hard decision for you.
• CROWN MOLDING: Ideas to add crown molding to the top of your cabinets or a valance under the uppers.
• OPEN SHELVING: Open your kitchen up with some floating or open shelves.
• And much more

7 Ideas to Update Wood Cabinets – PART 1

2. IDEAS TO UPDATE OAK OR WOOD CABINETS WITHOUT A DROP OF PAINT

This one is for all you hardwood lovers out there – myself included! Painting your kitchen cabinets isn’t always an option, so look around your kitchen for other updates you can make, including…

• GLASS CABINET DOORS: Add them or remove them (if you have too many)
• BACKSPLASH IDEAS: Updating or adding a tile backsplash is a great way to add visual and actual value to your kitchen. Learn which tile is the most budget-friendly and timeless.
• COUNTERTOPS: Updating your countertop is a great step in updating wood cabinets without replacing them
• WALL PAINT COLORS: Painting is hands-down (or pant-down, depending on what you paint with…) the most budget-friendly update for any kitchen

And much more…

Ideas to Update Wood Cabinets WITHOUT a Drop of Paint – PART 2

3. THE BEST HARDWARE TO UPDATE OAK OR WOOD CABINETS

When it comes to a well-decorated home, it’s alllll in the details. And while hardware was discussed briefly in the previous two blog posts, this blog post covers…

• CABINET HARDWARE: Find out the best handles and knobs to update your cabinet style.
• MIX N’ MATCH: Learn which hardware finish is the most popular and which you can mix n’ match

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets – PART 3

4. THE BEST PAINT COLORS TO UPDATE WOOD CABINETS

I’ve saved the BEST ’til last! Find out which paint colors will update the look of your wood cabinets, flooring, furniture, or trim with these 16 GORGEOUS shades!

• COORDINATING COLORS: Colors that go with wood cabinets – learn what they are and why they work
• See a range of warm grays, taupes, and more

The 16 Best Paint Colors to Coordinate With Wood Cabinets, Trim & Flooring

READ MORE

The Best Off-White & Light Depth Cabinet Paint Colors

How to Update Golden or Honey Oak Cabinets

Get the best paint color & home update advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting packages! 

Updated with images, content, and links in 2026