Light Oak

Oak cabinets in a wheat or oak shade work perfectly in a kitchen that is adorned in light neutral shades like classic or off-white. Bright shades of white pair well with cool colors like purple, green and blue, so painting the space between the light oak cabinets and the kitchen counter a medium shade of sea foam green or lilac to add color to a mainly white kitchen is ideal. Off-white or cream walls blend well with light oak cabinets; you can add warmth to the cabinets and the entire kitchen space by painting the cabinet perimeter or handles in a shade of pomegranate red or tangerine.

Medium Oak

A medium-colored set of oak cabinets in colors like auburn or sable are best accented with colors on the red side of the color wheel. Installing the cabinets on a wall that has been painted a deep shade of yellow will add immediate brightness to the kitchen. This arrangement balances the intense yellow hue, which signifies happiness and energy and boosts the metabolism. Warm jewel tones like ruby and bronze will complement medium oak cabinets well; painting the cabinet knobs in these hues will add an understated pop of color or monochromatic effect to the kitchen area.

Red Oak

Oak cabinets that are tinged with red will pair well with other members of the warm color family. Red oak cabinets also look good with purple accents since purple is the balance of warm color (red) and cool color (blue). If the walls are painted a red rust color or burnt orange shade, red oak cabinets will blend beautifully, particularly when bronze or gold handles are added. Painting the wall or backsplash near the red oak cabinets in reddish purple shades like pinot noir is a visually appealing showcase of bold color in the kitchen.

Chocolate Oak

Very dark oak cabinets, similar to the shade of chocolate, will be balanced with a softer color in the cool family. Light blue and intense brown hues look good together, so painting the perimeter of your chocolate oak cabinets in periwinkle adds softness to the modern oak cabinets. Modest green shades of green will also complement dark oak nicely. For instance, a kitchen painted in pistachio green is an aesthetically pleasing contrast to wooden cabinets that are almost black. Dark cabinetry can handle a more vivid shade of green like pea or spinach green well too.