The One Cabinet Design Choice That's Making Your Bathroom Look Stuck In The Past

Interior design doesn't come with any strict rules to follow. Everyone has their own unique taste, and following your instincts is always the best approach. However, some styles align more closely with modern trends than others. Take wood cabinets, for example. Though nearly every home has them, some wood cabinet tones are considered outdated by today's standards. These include honey oak and cherry wood, which are among cabinetry options that real estate agents advise against if you'd like to preserve your home's resale value. Honey oak cabinets were incredibly popular in the 1990s, and in the early 2000s, cherry wood took over as Tuscan design influences fell into favor. Needless to say, having these cabinets in your bathroom is a clear indicator that your home has not been updated in a few decades.

The advantage of older cabinets is that they are often exceptionally well made, built to withstand the test of time. This means you can get away with simply updating your cabinets instead of replacing them altogether. Replacements can cost anywhere from $200 to $500 or more per cabinet, depending on whether they are pre-assembled or custom-built, so updating them is a budget-friendly choice.

Not all old-fashioned design trends are necessarily out of style. For instance, mid-century modern is a retro aesthetic that remains popular to this day. However, some design experts believe that honey oak and cherry cabinets don't have the same timeless appeal. Thankfully, both can be modernized with strategic refinishing techniques such as painting, staining, or bleaching.

The best way to give your honey oak or cherry bathroom cabinets an instant upgrade is with a fresh coat of paint. Painting cabinets is relatively simple to do on your own, but the best way to ensure high-quality results is by hiring a professional. If you plan to go the DIY route, be meticulous with your preparation including cleaning and sanding every surface with medium-grit sandpaper. Applying an even coat of primer before painting will help the paint adhere to the wood, ensuring a professional look.

Take your time selecting both the paint color and the finish, as both of these elements are important in terms of style and practicality. Gloss finishes are more stain resistant and durable while adding lustrous shine to the surface. Semi-gloss is often the safest bet for a bathroom, as it is moisture resistant, conceals imperfections, and reflects light, making your bathroom appear brighter. A beautifully-executed paint job in a timeless neutral shade, complemented by elegant gold or silver knobs, will make your former cherry or honey oak cabinets completely unrecognizable. 

If you prefer the look of natural wood, you may wish to re-stain your bathroom cabinets in a more contemporary shade. Honey oak cabinets develop a distinctive orange-yellow undertone as they age, but today's interior design trends favor more neutral tones. A gel-based stain will allow you to preserve the beautiful grain of your cabinets while altering the color to your liking, as these stains don't penetrate into the wood's surface. The best way to offset the warmth of honey oak is with cooler, darker shades such as walnut, espresso, or even carbon gray for a sleek and modern aesthetic.

Like honey oak, cherry cabinets also contain warm undertones. Depending on aged your cherry cabinets are, you may opt to either whitewash the wood to a lighter shade or use a gel stain to neutralize the red undertones and achieve a darker look. It's definitely possible to lighten up dark wooden cabinets on your own, but as with painting or staining, it is important to be thorough and not skip any steps. Start by removing the doors and hardware, then sand the surface to remove any existing paint or varnish and apply an even layer of bleach with a paintbrush. This will give your cherry cabinets a more contemporary appeal, lightening their rich tones for a refined and airy aesthetic. 

If your cherry cabinets have aged to a rich reddish-brown, you may be reluctant to part ways with their beauty for the sake of fashion. If possible, consider transforming your bathroom wall cabinets into open shelving, which will preserve the wood's character while refreshing it into something new, elegant, and functional.