Wall Colors for Oak Cabinets (Updated for 2025)

Choosing the right paint color can bring a tired room back to life, and can make an outdated kitchen with oak cabinets look updated.

Oak cabinets were so popular in the 90s.

If you had oak cabinets… you had arrived. But now, that orangey or yellow look is a bit outdated.

One way to really update your kitchen, even with those honey oak cabinets, is to paint it.

But selecting the right paint color can make the difference between having a kitchen that looks like it is straight out of the 90s, and having one that looks modern.

So how do you choose the right paint color for your oak cabinets?

Well, you need to start by making sure you understand the nature of oak cabinets. So let’s talk a minute about that.

A note about color…

When choosing a wall paint color it is important to remember that oak cabinets can bring more of a “color” to a kitchen than other wood cabinets.

So, the first thing you need to do is figure out the major undertone of your cabinets. Some oak cabinets lean more yellow, and some more orange.

Your job in choosing a paint color is to pick one that downplays the orange or yellow, but also coordinates with it.

These paint picks, from Sherwin Williams, are a great place to start finding your perfect shade to pair with your oak cabinets.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you have any questions, please see my disclaimer page.

Here are 5 amazing paint colors to go with honey oak cabinets.

1. Steamed Milk (SW7554)

Steamed Milk, by Sherwin Williams, is one of my all time favorite paint colors. It goes with everything.

Steamed Milk has an LRV (light reflectance value) of 76. Sherwin Williams classifies it as a “light” color.

When you see Steamed Milk on your walls, it looks like a soft, creamy off-white. Since whites are really in style right now, this is a great color to pick!

Several years ago, I moved into a home that not only had honey oak kitchen cabinets, but also had honey oak moulding.

I immediately painted the walls with Steamed Milk, and it was like a breath of fresh air. Here is a picture of the kitchen with Steamed Milk on the walls.

Steamed Milk, and other light creamy colors, are great choices to pair with honey oak cabinets if you want to moderate the tones in the wood.

Since cream colored paints have similar undertones to wood, choosing a paint color like Steamed Milk creates a cohesive look.

Additionally, selecting a wall color with tones that are similar to the tones in the honey oak will serve to neutralize the orange.

You end up with an overall warm look, instead of with lots of colors vying for your eye’s attention.

In case you’re interested, we updated this whole kitchen on a shoestring budget. Check out what we did and the after pics here.

2. Rainwashed (SW6211)

Rainwashed, by Sherwin Williams, is the perfect bluish green color to coordinate with your oak kitchen cabinets.

It has slight gray undertones in it that keep it from being too bright, but also has enough blue in it that it shows up as a true color on your walls.

This cool color will accent the warm tones in your oak cabinets and create a nice contrast to the rich orange or yellow hues.

In fact, a blue or blue green paint color is a complimentary color to the warm yellow or orange tones in oak cabinets, so each color works to accentuate the other color.

So a blue or blue green paint color won’t downplay the orange or yellow in the honey oak, but it will complement it nicely, giving your kitchen a well put together look.

Rainwashed has an LRV of 59. While it is categorized as “light” by Sherwin Williams, I would consider it to be a light-medium shade.

Rainwashed has enough depth that it makes a statement in the room but doesn’t make the room feel smaller.

It is very similar to Sea Salt, one of Sherwin William’s all time most popular colors.

Rainwashed is better with honey oak cabinets, though, because it has a little more blue in it than Sea Salt does, and accents the orange in the oak in a beautiful way.

Sea Salt is a gorgeous shade to pair with lighter, less orangy wood and darker wood tones though, so don’t count it out completely! Find out more about Sea Salt here.

Rainwashed is such a pretty shade that, not only did I use it in my kitchen, I also chose it as one of the best blues from Sherwin Williams.

You can check out more about Rainwashed here.

3. Clary Sage (SW6178)

If you’re looking for a green that is super in style for 2025, check out Sherwin William’s Clary Sage paint.

This mid-tone green shade is another cool color that will accent your cabinets instead of tempering the colors in the wood like a warm color will.

Clary Sage has an LRV of 41 meaning that it has just a good bit of depth. It isn’t a dark shade, and it will help balance the warmth of the oak cabinets. It works especially well with cabinets that have more of a yellow shade to them.

If you’re someone who likes a little bit of color on your walls, this color will do the trick.

4. Charcoal Blue (SW2739)

Charcoal Blue, by Sherwin Williams, goes great with honey oak cabinets.

In fact, any dark, almost navy blue will go great with your oak cabinets.

This blue, and all dark blues, are cool colors that will accent the cabinets.

The blue will act to accentuate the warmth in the oak cabinets, and vice versa.

Charcoal Blue has an LRV of 6. This is a DARK shade!

If you have a kitchen with a TON of natural light or vaulted ceilings, this may be a good option for you.

If your kitchen doesn’t have many windows, I would steer away from this shade.

This smokey dark blue color pairs so well with the orange or yellow tone of the wood.

Click here for more details on Sherwin Williams Charcoal Blue.

5. Balmy (SW6512)

Balmy is an amazing light blue!

Balmy has an LRV of 66, and is a light color.

It has a little more depth than a powder blue, and almost feels like a SUPER light navy.

If you like the Charcoal Blue color, but don’t want to go with a color that dark, this Balmy is a great pick for you.

It is also one of Sherwin William’s top paint colors for beach homes and coastal style decor.

6. Accessible Beige (SW7036)

Sherwin William’s Accessible Beige is a beige paint color that has slight gray undertones.

Accessible Beige has an LRV of 58, which is considered “light.”

This beige is Sherwin Williams best selling beige because it is versatile and goes well with many styles of decor.

Since Accessible Beige is a warm shade, it will blend with the cabinets more than a cool color will, softening the look of the wood tones and creating a more cohesive feel to the space.

This warm shade is a good coordinating color for oak cabinets.

Since it is a neutral, it goes with most decor.

Against white trim, it is dark enough to make a statement.

Check out this post for all the details on Accessible Beige!

7. Mindful Gray (SW7016)

Mindful Gray is a warm greige paint color.

Greige paint colors are shades that are a mix of beige and gray.

Mindful Gray leans more towards gray, making it a good shade to pair with oak cabinets if you want to accent the color of the wood.

While it is a warm shade with purple undertones, it has enough gray in it that it won’t blend with the cabinets.

Mindful Gray has an LRV of 48, which Sherwin Williams still classifies as “light.” Don’t be fooled though.

Mindful Gray is not really a light color. It should be reserved for a room with lots of windows or high ceilings.

Greige paint colors are super in style right now.

If you’re looking to make your honey oak cabinets look more modern, Mindful Gray, or another amazing greige paint color, should be on your shortlist.

Click here for all the details on Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray.

8. Evergreen Fog (SW9130)

Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog is a gorgeous darker green shade that pairs perfectly with oak. It brings a balance and depth to a kitchen and draws your eyes in.

Evergreen Fog has an LRV of 30, so its pretty dark. It is great in a space with lots of lighting, or one that you want to give a moody, maximalist look.

This sort of green shade is very in style in 2025. In fact, it was chosen as Sherwin Williams’ 2022 Color of the Year, so its been in style for a while now.

Check out all of the details on Evergreen Fog.

9. Shoji White (SW7042)

Sherwin Williams Shoji White is a soft, off-white paint color. It is a creamy white that has a bit of gray and beige in it. Shoji White has an LRV of 74, so it is a fairly light shade.

Shoji White can pull a bit pink at times, so it will look best with cabinets that have a pink or orange undertone. If is fairly usable though, and it will work with most oak cabinets.

If you want an updated creamy white to go with your oak cabinets, Shoji White is a good pick.

Check out all the details on Sherwin Williams Shoji White.

10. Amazing Gray (SW0055)

Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray is a greige paint color that blends beige and gray. With an LRV of 47, it has a bit of depth to it. It isn’t drab though, and when supported by good lighting, Amazing Gray is warm and pretty.

As for undertones, Amazing Gray has a bit of green in it. I like this for pairing with oak cabinets because I usually want to avoid a purple undertone in my grays because the yellow in oak can really accentuate any purple in a gray paint color.

As a note, Amazing Gray looks great with Shoji White. These colors would well together when paired with oak cabinets to create a cohesive color scheme.

Check out all the details on Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray.

Choosing the right paint color for honey oak cabinets makes all the difference.

Hopefully these paint colors will inspire you to paint your kitchen to really update the look.

Wondering How To Pick the Perfect Paint Color?

I have the best solution for you!

Samplize sells peel and stick paint samples in almost every paint color.

These no-mess, peel and stick sheets are made from real paint, so they will show you exactly what the paint color will look like.

Simply place them on your walls next to your trim, furnishings or fixed elements, and easily see which paint color works best in your space and with your lighting.

Then, peel the sheet off your wall and reapply it somewhere else if you like. You can try several different paint colors with no mess, no fuss and no cleaning paint brushes.

Oh, and you can have them in your home by tomorrow with OVERNIGHT shipping!

As a bonus, be sure to use the code LoveRemodeled10 at check out to get an extra 10% off! Samplize sheets are cheaper than a sample can of paint, and way less work.

They are the easiest (and fastest!) way to try a paint color in your home, with no hassle.

For some other paint colors that go with natural wood, check this post out!

Another easy way to update your honey oak cabinets is to change out the hardware.

Get rid of those gold pulls and knobs (which, in more modern styles, are actually back in fashion!) because they pull more orange into the kitchen when you have honey oak cabinets.

Instead, pick up some black or bronze knobs and pulls, as they help to neutralize the orange that your eye sees in the wood. Here are a Bronze Bar Pull and a Black Cup Pull to inspire you! I’ve personally used the Cosmas brand and they are a great quality product.

Final Thoughts on Wall Paint Colors that Go With Honey Oak Cabinets

Choosing the right paint color to go with your honey oak cabinets is important in updating your kitchen, but it is most important to choose a color that you love!

Check out this list for even more kitchen paint colors!

I hope this list inspires you! And remember to check out the painting resources to help you as you go.

Want more paint color ideas? Check out the best colors for wood trim!

Wall Colors for Honey Oak Cabinets

Have a question? Leave me a comment! Remember to check back for a response – it may take me up to a week or two depending on how busy I am, but I’ll try my best to get back to you!

Want to show off your project? Join the discussion in Love Remodeled’s Facebook group!

Thanks for sharing!