Ideas for kitchen and bathroom floors with oak cabinets

Still rocking the '90s style in your home with oak cabinets, but want a new modern look? Changing the soil is a good option. Oak brings warmth and authenticity to a home that my clients still want. If your oak cabinets are in good condition, why not keep them? You can achieve a fresh, updated look by choosing a new floor color to match each shade of oak.
So let's dive into my favorite updated kitchen and bathroom flooring ideas with oak cabinets!

Gray floors bring a fresh color scheme to this mid-tone oak kitchen with new ceramic tiles.Those
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Let's start by considering a few things before deciding on a new floor:
1. Give your kitchen style
Traditional-style cabinets (think raised panel or curved panel) work well with floors that have a more classic look. Modern-style oak cabinets (hinged doors or flat-panel doors) work best with cleaner, sleeker floors.


2. Tone and color of the wood
The second thing to consider is the color and tone of your cabinets. Oak is a naturally warm wood and can vary in shades of brown, yellow or orange.
- Medium oak cabinets give you a little more flexibility when choosing a matching floor color. Choose a light floor to brighten the room and create more contrast, or choose a very dark floor to create a warm and intimate feeling.
- If your oak cabinets lean more towards brown, you can go for cool or warm floor colors. Read on to see what I mean.
- If you have golden oak or orange oak tones like "Honey Oak," steer clear of gold or orange floors that match the oak cabinets. Choose the floor that matches the honey oak cabinets, balancing the space with a cool-toned floor or a multi-color floor with a touch of the cabinet color.


3. Paint countertops and backsplashes
Many times the countertop is the hallmark of the kitchen and marks the color palette from which you can choose the floor and other elements. If you have a busy or colorful countertop or backsplash, consider keeping the floor a bit "quieter." You should also consider the colors of the countertops as the main source of inspiration for matching your oak cabinets to your new floor.

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4. Cabinet gloss
The fourth thing to consider is the finish on your cabinets. High-gloss case finishes pair well with a cleaner appearance. Stay away from heavily textured floors, as this will make the space feel too crowded. Cabinets with a flatter or matte finish have more flooring options to match.
We've covered the basics, now let's take a look at some great flooring options!
Fix this for easy reference:
Tile floors with oak cabinets
One of the most popular coverings in homes in the 1990s was ceramic tile. Tiles are always a good option, not only for their durability, but also for their ease of maintenance. Ceramic, or porcelain, tiles come in a variety of colors and sizes, making it easy to find a style that matches your desired aesthetic.
Contrast with lighter or darker tones
A good contrast can be created if your floor is two to three shades darker or lighter than your cabinets.
You can create a light and airy space by choosing light colors for your floors. Light wood colors or shades of white, cream, or light gray work especially well in kitchens with medium to dark oak cabinets; These muted tones serve as the perfect backdrop for the richer wood tones of your cabinets. At the same time, these bright colors also help create an overall feeling of balance and harmony between all the different elements in your kitchen.
Light Gray Patterned Tile with Honey Oak Cabinets
The warm golden tones of the lighter oak cabinets provide a beautiful backdrop to highlight other elements in the room. And one of the best ways to take advantage of this lightness is by combining it with a darker floor. Choosing a dark gray or charcoal gray tile or wood can create a striking contrast that will really make your cabinets stand out. This not only gives your space a bold and sophisticated overall aesthetic, but also adds a touch of drama to your kitchen! Consider pairing these oak cabinets with darker flooring. You will love the results!
Adding color to your space is as easy as using accents like brightly colored cookware, artwork, and accessories. This will add an extra dimension of interest and personality.
Large format charcoal gray tiles give Honey Oak cabinets a fresh, modern look.
Opt for a dark tile floor to contrast with light oak or honey-colored cabinets. This elegant option is popular and really refreshes the space. Colors like dark grey, charcoal, and black are good choices to keep the environment neutral.
I love the look of a large format porcelain tile or tile in a dark anthracite color and a contrasting lighter grout to harmonize with some of the popular and vibrant granite colors of the 1990s. The tile provides contrast and adds interest without overload the space. If you opt for medium to dark gray floors, you will need to use wall paints in lighter shades.
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The Santa Cecília granite connects the honey oak and the dark floor. The darker shade contrasts with the oak cabinets and creates a harmonious color palette with the granite.
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Patterned or textured tile
Adding some visual interest to the floor can help break up the vastness of the oak cabinets. Choose a patterned or textured tile, such as a hexagon tile, herringbone tile, or chevron tile.
Anthracite Gray Hex Tile with Light Oak or White Cabinets |Those
Wood Floors for Kitchens with Oak Cabinets
For a fresh look, choose a floor with different wood tones that enhance or completely contrast the tones of your oak cabinets.
Light woods can help create a feeling of openness and lightness. Plus, they pair well with most medium to dark cabinets.
Light wood floors pair beautifully with modern dark oak cabinets. Here, a light maple bottom breaks up the monotony of a solid wood tone.
To elevate any room in style, I love the look of a wide-plank hardwood floor. Hardwood flooring commonly used in the 1990s was narrow plank, wider plank flooring gives your kitchen a new look.
Dark colors add a luxurious feel to your kitchen. Plus, they also pair well with most lighter cabinet colors, including honey oak cabinets or golden oak cabinets.

Dark brown oak wide-plank flooring with honey oak cabinets.
Engineered hardwood flooring is often a cheaper option than solid hardwood, but it still gives you the look without the expense.
Engineered wood is easier to lay than solid wood floors and is available in a wide range of styles, qualities and finishes. Finally, it's important to note that the broadest options for wood plank flooring are parquet versus solid wood flooring.
One of my favorite methods.reform a kitchenThe oak cabinet flooring is a white oak option with an updated finish that brings out some of the warm tones in the cabinets.
Wide-plank parquet flooring in warm honey tones ties the room together.
modern farmhouse flooring with oak cabinets
If you want to add a touch of rustic charm or modern country flair to your oak kitchen, consider distressed engineered wood or engineered hardwood flooring.
This style of flooring is available in vinyl plank and engineered wood versions, making it easy to achieve the wide-plank look that's so on-trend right now. Not only is it a popular look, but the rustic nature hides dents and scratches better than a smooth or glossy floor.
I would not mix a wood effect porcelain floor with oak cabinets. They don't look realistic enough (with grout lines) to pair with a natural wood cabinet in my opinion.
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Luxury vinyl plank flooring with oak cabinets
An LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) floor with warm color variations works great if it incorporates some of the warmth of the furniture. Likewise, this multicolored floor cawill also be considered for Brazilian cherry cabinets.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring with oak cabinets is also an ideal choice. It feels like real hardwood and offers a warm, authentic feel that many of my customers prefer.
Low-maintenance, luxurious vinyl planks are a great choice for busy families or homes with pets. It is a durable floor that will stand the test of time. Laminate flooring offers a similar look with varying degrees of durability and moisture protection.
Luxury vinyl tile with oak cabinets
Luxury Light Gray Vinyl Tile with Natural Stone Pattern (LVT) and Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets |Those
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If you have oak cabinets in your bathroom, consider using LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) or LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank). Vinyl and plank flooring are a great waterproof option for bathrooms and come in a variety of colors and styles. Don't make the mistake of using laminate and thinking it's the same as vinyl tile or plank! They are two different products and not all laminate floors are waterproof.
Luxury vinyl plank (LVT) with gray and honey tones.
A calm medium gray countertop creates a soft break between the LVP wood look and the honey oak cabinets. Alternatively, this color scheme can also be used for gray cabinets!
As with natural wood flooring, you should choose a luxury vinyl plank (LVP) that does one of two things:
- Contrast with your oak cabinets in color or depth of tone. Choose a lighter, darker, or completely different color like gray.
- It has a colorful look that matches the color of your oak cabinet with your other wood tones.
Use a color wheel
Instead of the neutral colors I've featured in this post, you may prefer a floor with a bit more vibrancy. The best way to achieve a harmonious color palette is to use complementary colors.


A complementary color scheme is based on two colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. The result is a high-contrast color combination that stands out.
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Were you a victim of the bathroom flooring craze of the '80s and '90s?

The carpet in the bathroom (or in the kitchen) is just disgusting. Who would want to walk on a rug exposed to all the things that go on in a bathroom? And what happened to that carpet base? Replace them with luxurious vinyl tiles or a fun patterned hydraulic tile.
I love how it isPAGOrnate hydraulic tiles in shades of gray give honey oak cabinets a modern look.
Need more help choosing the right oak cabinet flooring? I have a perfect (and affordable) service for you:HERE!
There is a wide range of flooring to choose from to complement your oak kitchen or bathroom cabinets. What are you waiting for? Give your home a makeover with new flooring! Share your questions and comments about your 1990s home upgrade journey below!
