Install new countertops before choosing backsplash.

Oh, that is helpful! So, I should be asking for recommendations on color for the cabinets and then choose a countertop based on that?

Agree. New countertops before backsplash.

The flooring is very busy and if you choose to base your design around them you should stick to very neutral.

The cabinets are fine. I would have the upper doors replaced tho. To doors without arches.

I’d probably do white uppers and a colored lower. What do you like?
Blue?
Black?
Navy?
Green?
Beige?

Also, possibly add to the uppers, so the cabinets go to the ceiling.

Add hardware.

Maybe a new sink? Match the hardware of the sink to the cabinet hardware.

Maybe remove the microwave and do a proper hood.

Backsplash is last!!

There’s so much you can do with this space!! I obviously gave you a lot of suggestions. Start where you can. Keep the bigger picture in mind and have fun with it!!! ❤️❤️❤️

If you paint the cabinets, by the time you sell they may very well need painting again. So if you're painting, you're doing it for yourself.

It is a waste of time and money to remodel to suit some unknown future buyer. By the time you sell, the next trend will make your remodel dated. Most buyers just rip out everything “to put our stamp on it”. If you want to remodel, do it for yourselves. Your favorite color is not my favorite color, your ideas for storage won’t fit my storage needs, your choice of appliances won’t suit my needs. Avocado appliances might be the next trend.....

The observation that the floor is busy is bang on the money.  The floor alone makes the kitchen a place of visual conflict. Seeking an alternative there will then help the cabinets.
Updating the uppers to remove the arches (flat fronts would work well) will shift the cabinetry from dated to a danish modern look. Try handles over soft close mechanisms. A different handle style - dark leather?
If the benchtops still feel dated after thinking on the floor and cupboards, stay with a single color with minimal or very faint movement. You could mirror the benchtop into the spashback, keeping the finishes the same or very similar color will provide a simple modern look. Adding another color/ texture or tone in the splashback will again bring more in rather than simplify and make the room easier to be in.
If the floor isn't on the radar, please don't change the benchtops to a granite full of movement - you won't be able to walk in a straight line for feeling seasick.

Rather than paint the cabinets look at new. New cabinets go to the ceiling. Oak is difficult to paint well due to the grain. The floor is a trend that won't last long as it is too busy and does not resemble real wood so don't spend a fortune designing around them. If they must stay I would do off white cabinets and countertops and subway backsplash. As little movement as possible in all elements

I would avoid leather cabinet door handles — thinkstickey fingers. Plus metal handles will add a pop of brightness.

Okay first the cabinets you have are already dated ,Do you love everything about this kitchen , storage and layout? I do not believe spending money on painting or new counters to please some imaginary buyer so think long and hard about your life and the cost for doing both peoperly is high. I certainly would never do leather handles in a kitchen. I will sya the flooring is a big issue for me so maybe think changing that instead of the money you would spend on what seems to be an okay kitchen I think some pulls would be great idea and I always suggest the lighting to ba as good as possible so all the bulbs changed to LED 4000K will instantly brighten up the kitchen. IMO there is no way you should attempt to paint cabinets yourself unless you have done many paint jobs on other dressers etc what you have is much better than a poorly painted cabinet

I believe roominess and storage space helps sell kitchens. Judging from the number of items on the counter, it appears there is not enough storage. To suit me, anyway. Is there a pantry? A place to add one with a pullout appliance garage?

Agree that a plainer floor would be a great improvement and you shouldn’t plan a new backsplash prior to a new countertop.

If you want to update the kitchen for yourself, do what makes you happy. As others have said, when you’re ready to sell, who knows what will appeal to new buyers?
You can either paint these cabinets or consider a refacing job. Refacing allows you to add cabinets that will match your existing ones when the job is done.
The door style you have is outdated, but if you like the arches, getting a professional paint job would work. Choose your countertop and cabinet paint first. Backsplash is always last when updated lighting is installed (if needed).
For cabinet color, I would do a soft ivory since your floor demands so much attention.

I would add cabinets that reached the ceiling, paint all the cabinets, and add hardware. That would give it an immediate wow factor. I would stick to a neutral cabinet color. White is timeless regardless of what people said above. You could also do a soft mushroom color and add warmth with brass hardware. Before you do anything you should choose all of your finishes up front. See what they would all (floors, paint color, hardware, countertop, backsplash & plumbing fixtures) look like together rather than choosing one at a time. When you change your countertops you should definitely get an undermount or farm sink with new faucet.

Wow! So excited to see this many responses! Well, I am SO GLAD I asked here because from all these responses what I’ve gathered is… I really don’t need to do any remodeling unless I REALLY want change as it wouldn’t matter for the next/future buyer. I actually don’t have an issue with our current setup—as mentioned above, we are extremely uncreative, we just assumed we should do some upgrades for the future.

This has saved us a ton of unnecessary effort and money. We will plan to just upgrade to granite countertop and add a backsplash! I love the mention of a new sink!

Thank you sooooo much all!!!

So you are updating a kitchen for unknown future buyers. This is your home - what do you want to live, work and play in. Presently you have no distinct style or color accents. Seems like a shame to pay for work and materials for strangers. You don't want to go weird with plaids and Paisley but i encourage you to make this YOUR kitchen first.

I guess I’m in the minority, but I like doors with arches.

I really don’t need to do any remodeling unless I REALLY want change as it wouldn’t matter for the next/future buyer.

yes, this! I'm glad you settled on an easier solution and getting what you want.

honestly, I think people shouldn't ever update for selling, not even if they're putting it on the market next week. only fix what's broken and leave the updates to the next homeowner's specific tastes.

The current patterned floor is very limiting for decor choices.

Skip matching it, add inexpensive cabinet hardware, and enjoy your kitchen.

I could live with your kitchen's functional layout, but the floor would drive me nuts. Since you say you don't really care much about design, decor, etc., just fix what's broken, reduce the number of counter eating appliances in view, and get yourself something nice like a new set of tea towels, canisters or even splurge on a rolling cart/island.

Let me show you a few options and you say what you like best, and we'll tell you how to get it.

but first, lighting. any recessed lights in your ceiling? if not, that would be the number one thing I'd do at this point. it will make a huge difference.

and if you can, put in a spot over the kitchen sink for a canned light, or even a pendant.

Is the flooring staying as is? I ask because it's going to drive your design choices. no busy countertops for you if youre keeping that.

so first, if you like the oak and want to keep it, new countertops, HARDWARE is a must to keep the surface from discoloring, and tile splash. (No 4" piece up the back if you want tile)

similar oak cabs, ORB hardware, marble-look quartz and a soft blue subway tile.

also similar to yours. new lighting, pendant, a nice rug for the floor

see how in both of these they've done a type of shiplap painted white on the end cabinet? if you did a white countertop, this might look nice

Here's a closer picture of that one. White quartz counter, subway tile, shelving, pendant light, and black cup pulls on the drawers.

If you did a sisal rug in this size, it would cover a large portion of that very busy flooring, and help tones things down a bit

see?:

So this one also keeps the oak cabs, does lighter hardware, a rattan or woven ceiling light and a blue/white runner

of course this kitchen has white tile, so I think you're better off w/the natural jute or sisal rug.

colors to go w/the oak (for your walls

For the second comment, I'll show you pictures of before/after. see what you like best.

We are not creative people at all.

Then keep it simple. Look at pictures, pictures, pictures and develop an idea of what you like, but don't tray too far from easy and standard. Forget the two-tone idea; that's something that requires some finesse.

The observation that the floor is busy is bang on the money. The floor alone makes the kitchen a place of visual conflict.

Agree that the floor is a problem. OR the cabinet are a problem. The thing is, the cabinets are warm toned and the floor is a cool tone. The two aren't friends, and that's creating a big mis-match.

Okay first the cabinets you have are already dated

They appear to be in good condition -- is this true in real life? Dated is just a word made up for "Buy something new for no good reason". If these are good, solid wood cabinets, don't spend money on them.

My thoughts:

- Get rid of the clutter -- all those small appliances have to go somewhere else. That alone will do more good than you'll expect.

- Assuming the cabinets are in good condition, consider painting them white (or soft ivory). If they're white, the floor will become more of a star, and the cabinets will be a simple backdrop. It also takes care of the warm-cool tones thing.

- Ideally your countertop will tie into the floor, so go with something with some brown in the same tone as your floor.

- Install some chunky cabinet hardware in an oil rubbed bronze tone.

- Do you need more storage? If so, put some white baskets up on top of the upper cabinets. Or arrange some rarely used serving pieces up top.

- Once this is done, pick a nice bright color -- I'd go red, but that may or may not be you; I see a turquoise hot mitt, so maybe that's your thing? -- and install a curtain, linens and other accessories in that color. Don't neglect a floor mat in front of the sink.

- I can't see your lighting in the pictures -- is what you have adequate?

part II.

if you want to paint.

I'd consider taking up the space to the ceiling. it will make the kitchen look taller, and give you more storage.

you can do it like this (have the kitchen company who paints build on some boxes. you can do doors or glass for those, or keep them open like this)

over the fridge, you'd have extra space like this (or you could do doors)

here's one w/little glass doors

you could also fill in the gap w/an extension on top, and a crown molding.

see the diff the crown makes in this before/after shot? and how much brighter the added canned lights are?

similar countertop like yours, white cabinets, but notice what they did w/some of the others. removed the door, painted the inside in a bright yellow, and did a soft golden penny backsplash

What about a two-tone? upper white, lower in a navy, charcoal or ?

here she did a white quartz countertop, white tile splash and nickel hardware

here's a good before and after to show you what a diff paint, counter, and tile make

just removing the cab over the sink and replacing w/shelves and sconce make a huge diff.

The lowers were painted Gautlet Gray, uppers in a bright white. look at their flooring. almost the same as yours. simple pulls in a brushed nickel. they're like jewelry for cabinets.

Dover White

Alabaster (SW paint). these doors are similar to yorus.

So are these. this was painted in BM Soft Chamois. the granite is inexpensive( if you have access to pre-fab countertops, look at those to save money. )

These were painted a bright white, simple knobs, but a few doors were removed in order to display the colored dishware and books. White marble look quartz and a gray tile splash.

what you could try on yours, is replacing a few upper doors w/glass. Notice the pendant lighting.

you might be able to squeeze in a thin island.

this is similar to yours. see what they did? looks great.

this one took down the uppers, and added a butcher block, open island, along w/a peninsula on the left

We might suggest updating the countertops first before installing a backsplash. We also might suggest updating the lighting and adding hardware to the cabinets.

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Such great advice here! You can't go wrong with neutral, espcially with that bold flooring. Have you considered benchtop resurfacing? It can be cheaper and less mess than removing the existing benchtop. I love the marble range. Grantie Transformations in Sydney have it for around $800 per metre or around $650 for granite and they have a pretty good range of colours.