white cabinets have been on trend for 10 years now. More colors are coming up but not like white and light grey.

I'm looking at a light grey, so. . . looks safe to paint?! Or am I misunderstanding you?

Vicki...definitely paint. you are safe with painting.

If the door style is dated then painting might be futile.

Wood is back in. Please show us what they look like... many may be able to help make these work... and if you want to change down the line. You’ll paint them then. But can’t say anything for sure without seeing what they look like and what style they are.

Yup; I was afraid that it might be too late in the decade to paint!

Right now, doors are fairly plain arched (got the cabinets at Home Depot years ago). I guess you would call them "golden oak" in color. I can't stain them lighter, but I could go darker toward a mocha. I managed to get a photo.

(I like my marble gray/green countertops; they were free, installed by a friend, and the backstory is one I like. So I'd been looking at painting the kitchen in the colors shown on the swatch above on the left. I'm about to leave things as they are, and paint the walls coral!)

Wood is back in, but not the wood you currently have. Your arched doors also date your space. Lighter, rift or quarter sawn oak are very popular, but will probably be gone in 5 years with some other trend taking it's place. Gray is already gone. White kitchens are popular now, but they are ALWAYS in style. Painting cabinets properly is expensive and sometimes getting new cabinets is not much more money. It also allows you to convert some base cabinets into deep pull out drawers that are much more user friendly.

Painted wood is a classic❣️I got my inspiration for my gray kitchen cabinets from touring the beautiful Williamsburg.

you have really very nice counters and backsplash......I think another color besides white or gray would play that up. do you like green? its getting to be a classic look as there are so many shades...and you state there is some green in counter.....that's what I'd do if I were going w paint. Blues are a possibility/ depends on the shade. I'd skip coral walls.

Is the entire cabinet wood? If so, consider just new doors. IMO the gray on those cabinets does not help.

I agree with all the above. The arches do date the cabinets. I would reface the doors.

I would not paint them. Either love the wood and make other cosmetic changes to update the space, or get new cabinets so you can increase the overall functionality. I think matching stainless appliances and new hardware could make a lot of improvement.

Eventually everything goes out of style and almost inevitably it will come back into style at least in a modified version. Melissa R. rendition of your cabinets looks quite nice. Your cabinetry looks fresh if not totally in the latest style. You could have new doors made in a Shaker style, but, honestly, they look fine painted.

The arched doors are dated, but if your only options are to keep them or paint them, paint them!!

Oak may or may not come back (doubt your style ever will) but in the meantime you will enjoy an updated kitchen. You can never keep up to ever changing styles, so painting is a great compromise.

Highly suggest not painting walls coral! Keep to the same white as in backsplash and kitchen will feel brighter, less choppy and larger. Hardware can also help update.

Be really sure you research how to properly prep and paint. It’s a big job and if you want the surfaces to decently withstand wear and tear, it has to be done right. Paint type and quality, are also huge factors.

I’d paint the walls a more neutral color, rather than coral.

If you paint them, do it right so they're not chipping and look even worse in a year or two.

If you have excellent DIY skills you may be able to do it yourself over the span of a couple of months (or weeks if doing it "full time").

If your DIY skills are less than excellent, then hire a professional cabinet painter to do it (not a wall/house painter, totally different process).

Personally, I'd probably wait and save the money for a full remodel so I could improve the functionality of the cabinets and, possibly, the layout.

I think it should come down to what you like best. If you were building a dream house would you choose wood or painted?

What color are the floors?...the problem with choosing white is that the stove and backsplash whites already don’t match..the microwave is black ...the counter color is hard to see and we don’t know what the floor looks like...the only obvious unifying choice would be to paint the cabs black...in which case you may be able to do the walls coral....you could also choose a color that closely matches the countertops...just don’t throw a new color into the mix

I'd replace the countertop vs do anything with the cabinets. Maybe replace some door fronts, but keep the wood.

A much easier fix than painting the cabs is painting the walls. I suggest you start looking at light sagey greens. Please, not coral!! It will only make the oak more "golden".

Also consider updating the hardware to an Oil Rubbed Bronze or something else very dark. It would play nicely with your dark grout and kitchen accessories. You haven't shown your lighting, but updating the fixtures in the same darker finish will make a big difference, too.

if you are determined to change the color of the cabinets, consider a gel stain. I have never used it and am really not that familiar with the process, but I understand it is pretty forgiving and reasonable to DIY.

Just don't go too dark. Java is too dark if you want something very current. Personally, I like Walnut.

Goo luck! Nicole

Keep your cabinets. Buy a black stove and black hardware for the lowers. Change your canisters to glass, as you have on the left counter. You have a sweet kitchen. No coral!

Rustic Reclaimed Chestnut · More Info

Oak is already back. Just a different oak)) with a different door styles.

Yes, arched doors are dated. Right now, I mean-who knows what future might bring, lol. Wouldn't bother me, personally. Do you like them, or not? Or does it bug you?

I'd just change the hardware, honestly. If I decide that otherwise I like the kitchen and it stays like that for the next five years.

Nothing wrong with painting it either, just make sure to do it right/hire somebody who does it right-and yes I like light and mid-greens you're considering, with your countertop. Would need to see the floors, for better suggestions. And the countertop up closer.

Right painting IS expensive/or time consuming, and usually means one needs to baby cabinets more.

Or you can use subtle greens on the walls.

Or you can find vintage hardware that is green)) (or a different color). There are some that are very cool. Instant newer character.

Until you have to remodel/improve function/etc-might as well embrace what you have, and enjoy it. I think these are quite lovely.

We see the kitchen out of context to the rest of the space, of course. Is it open, closed, semi-open? Does it get a good light? what are the other colors around ? Other materials? The overall vibe?

I predict that quality, functionality and cohesiveness always work. It should read like it belongs to the rest, it should allow for the best function it can given the space you have, and it should make you happy.

I think it should be more about what you like than what is dated. I personally like arched doors.
If mine I think I would paint them the green that others have suggested.

Is replacing the stove with a black one a possibility?..that would seem to be the shortest way to a cohesive mix without painting the cabs....if you are on a tight budget...the place to look for appliances are the stores that sell used appliances for renovations...

Stove still too young to die ;-) but yes, when I replace I'll look for black. From everyone's comments, it looks like I should be cheap and lazy and keep the present cabinets. Paint the walls. And change out the hardware (I already found some black handles that look cool). One thing at a time. My kitchen is VERY small -- galley in little condo.

Cheap and lazy rules the day! Seriously, it seems like people have been sitting home this last year bored and looking for a project. "Gosh, those cabinets have been around a while. Surely they need to be painted!" Etc. But no, they really don't. Unless you just have money and time to burn. One day, we'll be able to travel again. Save your money and take a trip instead of worrying about your cabinets. :)

Signed, the person who is currently renovating three perfectly good rooms, but longing for the day I can get back on an international flight. lol

Why not purchase new cabinets from HD as you did years ago?