How to update kitchen with oak cabinets?

Here's a picture of what the kitchen currently looks like

Hi Trish! Painting the walls is an awesome place to start in updating your space. Because the cabinets are a little dark I would stick with a lighter wall color for sure. Have you looked at all the amazing peal and stick backsplash options on the market today? I couldn't believe it when I went browsing on Amazon, they look incredible! They look like real glass tile or steel etc. and you could put them right over your current backsplash. I would start there before choosing your wall color to be sure you find one that compliments your new backsplash :)

I would get some paint swatches that you like and put on the wall to see if it matches what you are thinking you want to do. If you go with a neutral paint then you can use any accent colors

I think Sherwin Williams Sea Salt would be a great color for this area. You need a light color since the wood is heavy, even if you go with a greige stay on the light end.

Are your counter tops all one color or do they have speckles of a mix of colors? If they have speckles, then I recommend pick one color you like that will enhance that bit of color from the countertops. The website for photos won't work for me. And you typed greige - does than mean gray or beige? (both of which would probably work - but light gray is very popular right now!

Beautiful space! Most major paint retailers have a tool on their sites where you can upload your photo and "try on" paints. I would try it. Also, I would add a white tile backsplash. You could do the stick ones, they work well and come in great varieties. I think that with paint would make a huge difference. I would add a valance in an accent color or your choice and maybe even replace the seat fabric on the chairs. Use Sunbrella...you can drop mayo on it and it'll wipe away!

Hello this cabinet wood painting link might be helpful.

https://www.confessionsofaserialdiyer.com/how-to-paint-pine-cabinets/

Keep in mind that the type of light you have in a room can effect what color the paint on the walls seems to look like.

You did not mention lighting, I would strongly suggest that you consider updating your lighting first before you repaint the walls. This one change can modernize and improve the mood in any room. Also remember that as we age, our eyes require more light to accomplish the same task.

What type of lighting do you have in the kitchen now? Florescent emits a greenish tone, incandescent a yellowy tone, with LED light being the clearest and cleanest looking. LED light can vary from warm (more yellow) to cool (more blue), according to the intensity.

Olive green is the in color now it looks great there are so many shades of green

Here's some professional advice about oak cabinetry and paint colors. I hope it helps. You could try several paint swatches and see what colors "draw you in" when placing it with the cabinets and countertops you plan to keep. One or two are sue to feel good to you.....go with that!

Do you want to paint them https://www.simplenaturedecorblog.com/5-tips-on-painting-laundry-room-cabinets-week-2/

we have oak cabinets and they were golden oak color and we stained them and they turned out beautiful you can also paint them

New lighting fixture(s) will give you lots of bang for your buck. Greys are becoming passe. Colour for walls depends on what oak stain you have. If golden, then one of the olive colours would be nice. (My friends had light oak trims, etc. and copied my blue-gray paint - made the trim take on a weird greenish hue.) This is what I'd do first.