Wood tone kitchen cabinets: Stylish timber ideas for your cook space
Lara loves writing about every aspect of the home – from the latest colour trends to emerging designs. She has a lot of experience writing about home trends and interior advice for leading titles such as The Telegraph, Metro, and Homes & Gardens.
Are you on the hunt for a brand new kitchen? Or perhaps you’re looking to remodel an existing design. Either way, wood tone kitchen cabinets are a great place to start.
Yes, timber kitchens will never go out of fashion. That said, they’ve come a long way since the days of rustic yellow pine and fussy carved pelmets. Plus, you’re more likely to find a wider selection of timbers to choose from.
But, it’s how the different species of wood are tinted, treated and tinkered with that’s creating a new buzz for the kitchen.
What wood tone kitchen cabinets should I go for?
These days, wood tone kitchen cabinets remain at the top end of the market. Different wood colours for kitchen cabinets are vast. From blonde Scandinavian-style beech, maple and sycamore to rich tones of walnut, chestnut and warm cherry.
Plus, there’s a whole host of interesting wood grains to consider. But before you decide on a specific wood tone and door style, read on for the four different types of wood cabinets.
Solid hardwood
Solid wood doors are generally associated with bespoke companies and handcrafted kitchens. Doors are heavy, durable and beautiful but do come with a higher price tag.
Wood veneer
These kitchen doors have a solid frame and a veneered centre panel. Veneer is a thin layer of real timber which is bonded to a core of ply or MDF.
Melamine
A cost-effective, melamine-faced chipboard gives the appearance of a wood door. Durable and waterproof, these are low maintenance and easy to keep clean.
Laminate
Another wood-effect door made using decorative papers applied to a chipboard core. More luxurious looking than melamine and virtually maintenance-free compared to the natural properties of real wood.
Kitchens are a serious home investment – and a costly one. So you want to get it right first time. For masses of advice on design, installation and different types of timber doors, we always recommend hiring a quality kitchen designer. Pop your details in the handy search bar below and find local tradespeople recommended by people in your area.
Ideas for wood tone kitchen cabinets
Discover what’s what with different wood colours for kitchen cabinets. Be inspired by our wealth of ideas and get ready for your new timber kitchen.
1. Go for classic medium tone wood cabinets
You can’t go wrong with a classic, Shaker-style kitchen in a medium tone oak. In fact, a Shaker kitchen with a solid oak frame and veneered centre panel works incredibly well with any kitchen style, from rustic to modern.
Oak doors feature a distinctive curved and straight grain pattern. So, if one day you want to paint over your kitchen cabinets just remember you might still see the grain underneath.
Not only is oak a really strong and durable wood with a medium price tag, which means it’s still super popular today.
Look out for different species of oak – some have reddish tones, others are more golden. Then balance out with your choice of worktops and flooring.
2. Pick pale flat slab timber cabinets for a modern mood
For a really contemporary kitchen design, opt for sleek, flat kitchen cupboard doors made entirely of wood veneer.
This handle-free kitchen is chic and unashamedly modern. In fact, the slab doors don’t have any raised or recessed details so the result is minimalist and pared back – perfect for smaller spaces.
The wood tone kitchen cabinets inject a highly liveable warmth to the scheme and they look particularly fabulous with contrasting black accents.
Pick out paler coloured woods such as maple, birch or ash to enhance the modern silhouette. Head to our blog for masses more kitchen cabinet design ideas.
3. Try a low-maintenance wood look-a-like
If your budget won’t stretch to a solid wood kitchen, why not consider faux wood tone kitchen cabinets. These days vinyl, melamine and laminate kitchen doors come in a vast range of light and dark wood tones which are a lot cheaper than solid timbers.
A decorative paper is either flat pressed onto a smooth MDF core or wrapped around quite complex shapes and mouldings. It creates a seamless, waterproof and hardwearing finish that’s easy to look after.
Interestingly, the wood grain of these dark wood tone cabinets has been laid horizontally enhancing the sleek L shaped layout.
Don’t forget sustainability. Look out for cabinets made from FSC-certified boards (Forest Stewardship Council) so you know trees have been harvested responsibly and workers are given a fair wage.
4. Rev up a rustic kitchen with a warm wood hue
If you love the cosy ambience of a country-style kitchen, rustic oak doors are certainly a good place to start.
Packed with character and charm, mid oak wood tone kitchen cabinets are warm and tactile. They will easily help you transform the heart of your home.
Pair with solid wood floorboards to enhance the farmhouse look and then paint all the walls white.
Finally, let natural light flood into your kitchen for a joyful space.
5. Choose blocks of white oak for a modular look
Different wood colours for kitchen cabinets can be harnessed to a vastly different effect, as demonstrated by the soft, silvery tones of white oak.
Why not be inspired by this concept kitchen and wrap cabinet fronts, worktops and wall panelling in the same wood tone. Not only does it create a modern, modular look but each block of pale oak resembles a freestanding piece of furniture rather than a functional, fitted kitchen.
Sticking to the same timber throughout your kitchen – be it light or dark in tone – will certainly help you achieve an upmarket and considered design.
Light wood tones are unavoidably airy and modern while darker tones instil a dramatic tempo. Don’t forget to protect wood with a lacquer or sealant. Ask a recommended kitchen designer for more information.
6. Pair wood cabinets with painted furniture
Add a really unique look to a country kitchen by mixing and matching wood cabinets with painted furniture. The cobalt blue dresser in this cottage kitchen adds a beautiful pop of colour to the medium tone wood cabinets.
You also have the option of painting over timber door fronts for an entirely new look. It will transform your kitchen without having to a buy a new one. We recommend contacting a local painter who is experienced in this type of work. It’ll save you so much time plus you’ll get a really professional finish.
Softwoods such as poplar are a good base for painting over. Doors made from MDF are also ideal for painting. Solid wood on the other hand can move and split (particularly in centrally-heated homes). While this gives character in natural wood, in a painted kitchen the finish can look like it’s poorly made.
Spray painting kitchen doors creates a smooth and silky surface which is robust and unfussy in style. Read our spray painting cost guide to learn more.
7. Embrace a warm wood grain
Dark wood kitchens offer sophistication and drama in equal measure – and it’s a look you’ll adore for years.
In fact, deep wood tones such as cherry, walnut and mahogany offer a neutral backdrop just as much as blonde woods. Darker woods will also make white worktops gleam and instil a complementary warmth if you go for gold or bronze handles.
More exotic species such as macassar and zebrano offer a distinctive striped grain, while tinted, lacquered and polished finishes add a striking and individual touch.
8. Try a wood tone island unit
If an all-wood kitchen is too heavy for your interior tastebuds, why not use an accent timber tone on a kitchen island?
The rich, warm hue and distinctive grain of this central island unit creates a focal point against the cream perimeter units. Then, the characterful wood is echoed on the bar stools to create a welcoming spot for a morning coffee or weekend brunch with the family.
9. Play around with ply
Birch plywood cabinets are a really cool idea if you want to replace kitchen doors for a new look.
Plywood is formed by pressing and binding several layers of thin wood together and comes in a range of thicknesses. Because of this laminated construction, plywood doors are super durable and can last for many, many years.
Simple and affordable, plywood cabinets are neutral in colour. As such, they are perfect for the Scandinavian look and for mixing and matching with other materials.
10. Make a feature out of wood cabinets
Mixing and matching timber kitchen doors with blocks of colour to create a two-tone kitchen is really on trend. The beauty of any wood tone cabinets, light or dark, is that it will complement any hue in the colour wheel.
Greys and greens are natural partners to timber, but bolder colours such as earthy russet and ochre give a kitchen so much personality. Otherwise, pretty pastels like pink or lavender kitchens can be toned down with blocks of natural timber.
11. Consider exposed timber doors
Exposed timber, where the grain of the wood shows through, is becoming ever-more popular and will add feel-good texture and tactility to a design. This is a great idea if you covet that reclaimed, rough-luxe feel. And don’t forget reclaimed and recycled materials are an important way to create an eco-friendly home.
Light and dark wood kitchen cabinets work equally well with this look. But we love the mid tone, characterful grain of these timber doors.
Consider a hand-finished lime wash or a rich, natural dye, and the doors become unique and contemporary pieces of craftsmanship that are certainly worth spending money on.
FAQs
Are wood tone cabinets in style?
From pale maple and birch ply to rich cherry and walnut, wood tone cabinets will never go out of fashion. They can be made with panelling and extra details or left plain for a modern slab front.
Wood kitchens are versatile too. They will go with any wall colour and kitchen decor and work equally well in small or large kitchens. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed with wood tone cabinets.
How do you make wood cabinets look modern?
This is all down to door style. Plain slab front cabinets are unavoidably modern, especially if they are handle-free. Pair with slim stone worktops, smoked glass fronts and burnished brass handles and the result is cool and oh so contemporary.
Ready to turn your wood tone kitchen cabinet ideas into a reality? Find a trusted kitchen fitter near you to kick off your kitchen renovation.
No comments yet!