There's A More Creative Way To Cover Old Honey Oak Cabinets Without Paint

Honey oak cabinets are unfortunately a far cry from the popular kitchen trends that designers are working with today. For many, the orange color and prominent graining that they often feature make them look visually heavy and distinctly outdated, as though they belonged firmly to the 1990s and early 2000s. The trouble is, oak as a material is long-lasting and reliable, so many of today's homeowners still have to deal with such cabinets when they want to renovate their kitchen, 20-plus years after they were installed. Paint is an accessible solution that many rely upon for remixing honey oak, but it isn't necessarily the most creative or practical approach. Covering your cabinets with faux apothecary drawer fronts may be a better solution. 

The idea for this project comes from onecrafdiygirl on Instagram. To make the decorative fronts, the creator cut thin pieces of wood into squares, stained them, and added drawer pulls before sticking the pieces to her cabinet doors. The apothecary-style look not only adds character to boring kitchens, but it also helps create a cozy, European cottage aesthetic. Moreover, the new stain does a great job of toning down the honey oak, and the use of adhesive strips makes the hack renter-friendly. Just make sure to choose a lightweight wood for this project, since it'll be easier to work with. Pine or balsa wood are good choices — plus, they have simple, rustic qualities, too.

To begin, measure and cut wood squares to fit the framed center panels of your cabinet doors. For larger cabinet doors, you can put multiple squares next to each other horizontally, as opposed to just vertically. Next, stain the wood pieces and attach a vintage-looking drawer pull to each of them. You can then use adhesive strips to attach the faux drawers to your cabinet exteriors. This keeps the hack simple — but do note that it may not have the same longevity as other ways that you could give your honey oak kitchen a major overhaul. Regardless, consider using a laser level to make sure everything is even.

The trickiest part of replicating this faux apothecary drawer front project is choosing a stain that will neutralize your honey oak without creating too dramatic a visual contrast. The original creator uses a golden oak wood stain to achieve that balance, but something like Minwax PolyShades Classic Oak Wood Stain could also work. Darker or cooler tones should be avoided because they'll make the faux drawers stand out too much. When it comes to selecting hardware, you might want to opt for antique brass pulls or knobs. They have an old-world look that works with the warmth of oak and boosts the vintage character of your apothecary drawers. Though it may be surprising to some, they're actually not among the hardware styles that will instantly date your home.