The 2 Cabinet Colors Designers Say Make Kitchens Look Outdated

• James Yarosh is an artist, gallerist, and interior designer at James Yarosh Associates.
• Eva Littlefield is a designer at nobilia North America, a worldwide market leader for kitchen furniture.

Every era has a signature kitchen style. From the avocado greens of the '70s to the grayscale dominance of the 2010s, kitchen design often reflects the cultural mood of its time. These trends are shaped by everything from media influence to technological innovation, and homeowners usually adopt them. consciously or not, as a way of finding comfort, beauty, or social alignment.

However, as tastes evolve, so does our perception of what feels fresh and what feels outdated. “Following any trend when selecting cabinet colors can pigeonhole your design into a specific era,” said James Yarosh, artist, gallerist, and interior designer at James Yarosh Associates. “I remember when formal mahogany and Tuscan-style kitchens were everywhere. Now, they look very dated.” Instead, Yarosh encourages taking a holistic view. “Cabinet choices should be made in conversation with your home’s architecture and the surrounding environment, not dictated by fleeting trends.”

Today’s design ethos is centered on authenticity and emotional resonance. People are tuning into their intuition and choosing colors and finishes that speak to them. "We’re seeing a blend of past decades,” notes Eva Littlefield, designer at nobilia North America. “People are mixing metals, combining bold and neutral tones, and pulling elements from different eras. Collectively, these elements feel timeless because they’re combining a little bit of everything to create something new.”

Few finishes date a kitchen faster than red-toned woods like cherry or mahogany. “Red and honey-toned woods can feel dated,” says Littlefield. “But there are many ways to salvage and modernize them without a complete redesign.” If replacing cabinetry isn’t feasible, especially for renters, start by adjusting your lighting. “Changing the color temperature of your bulbs can dramatically shift how a room feels and how wood tones appear, helping to tone down their visual weight,” she advises.

Paint can also be a powerful corrective. “I recently worked with a client who had a lot of red tones in her cabinetry. We chose a neutral soft white with a subtle green undertone to help neutralize the red,” Littlefield adds. And don’t underestimate the power of updated hardware—sleek black handles or brushed brass can instantly give tired cabinetry a more contemporary feel.

“The classic white shaker door style is a huge aging factor in many kitchens today as it has become so ubiquitous,” says Littlefield. For a while, white kitchens were considered a safe yet stylish and resale-friendly choice. “Now, if a white kitchen isn’t designed with intention, it can come across as lackluster,” agrees Yarosh.

Instead, our interior design experts are leaning into alternative neutrals that feel warmer, softer, and more layered. “For a recent kitchen project, I advocated for a blush pink to serve as a new kind of neutral for the space,” shares Yarosh. “The warm-hued palette created a gentle and serene space, and gave it more personality than a classic white cabinet would.”

In harmony with the warm-toned neutrals that are dominating 2020 color palettes, Littlefield recommends nobilia’s Sand color as a white alternative. “This color is a versatile neutral that reflects warm or cold depending on the surrounding colors and natural light, making it a true chameleon color for a contemporary kitchen with good resale value.

Post-pandemic, homeowners have started choosing color more intuitively, favoring shades that evoke joy and emotional connection over what's currently trendy. Whether you’re looking for a quick paint refresh or a completely new kitchen, Yarosh encourages a shift toward bolder, personal choices. “The commitment is less, but the payout could be huge.”

In another recent project, Yarosh tuned into the emotional resonance of a client when upgrading their standard townhouse kitchen with thoughtful refreshes. “Instead of replacing the all-white cabinetry, we painted it Benjamin Moore’s Scenic Drive, a gentle mint green,” says Yarosh. “This was a must-have request for the client who wanted to 'keep the kitchen happy’.” And it worked—it brought a whole new energy to the space.