How can I update 1960 Kitchen Cabinets in a paneled kitchen?

Pam Oliver
by Pam Oliver

We live in a 1960's 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath ranch house. The kitchen and dining are separated by the infamous bar! The walls are all paneling and the cabinets are stained the same light oak color. I would like to do something to the cabinets that would compliment the paneling instead of looking just like it. The counter tops and back splash are solid white. It is a rather small space with the washer and dryer in one corner. Any suggestions?

  5 answers
  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Aug 30, 2018

    You could stain them a darker color while still letting the oak grain show through.

  • LA LA on Aug 30, 2018

    Wow, sounds like my house when my husband and I moved in 30 plus years ago. We were newly wed and didn't have a lot of $$ so we worked with what we had. The paneling was too dark and dated in our 1952 ranch so we painted it white. It brightened everything up and complimented all the other wood built-ins through out the kitchen and dining room area. Of course, you don't need to paint it white but you might want to play with paint swatches to see what compliments the light oak. Perhaps a very very pale blue or grey would work (kind of a nautical look) Without seeing the space, it's hard to offer the best advice however paint can make the biggest difference and it's the most economical. To this day we still contend with the washer and dryer in the kitchen but now it serves double duty as an extra counter when we're entertaining. I hope I've helped. Best of luck

  • Marilyn Marilyn on Aug 30, 2018

    A picture would help here.

    But it sounds like you need to paint the cabinets to contrast the paneling and therefore compliment it by making them two unique features that will stand out on their own.

  • Tere Tere on Aug 30, 2018

    I'd paint them in a fresh new color to break up "all that wood " that you presently have in the wood paneling & wood cabinets. You'd only need to paint the cabinet doors and drawers, not the interior.

  • Rene Williams Rene Williams on Aug 30, 2018

    Sounds like some COLOR is what you need! Yellow can be nice and as a primary color most others will go well with it.