How to Tone Down Orange Cabinets with a Black Wash (Without Hiding the Wood Grain)
Inside: How I subtly toned down my orange-toned cabinets with black paint and water for a more neutral, aged look that still shows off the wood grain.
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If your kitchen cabinets have a strong orange or yellow undertone, you’ve probably struggled like me with how to make them look current. Or how to change them without a big renovation, mess, or budget.
While I loved the contrast of warm stained cabinets against the white walls in my kitchen, there was something about the finish that felt a little too honey-ish. Too glossy, too golden, and just not quite right.
I found the simplest, slightest tweak my cabinets needed to help tone down the orange cast, mute the gloss, and make the stain feel more timeless and aged, all without completely painting over the wood grain. It only took a subtle paint wash using watered-down black paint!
If you’ve been wondering how to tone down orange cabinets without fully painting them, this is such an easy trick. And its only cost is a partial container of paint.
Why I Wanted to Tone Down the Orange.
My cabinets are stained knotty alder, a beautiful wood but one that can look a little too Tuscan or dated when paired with a glossy sheen and an orangey stain color. I loved the warmth they brought to the space after years of having white cabinets, but I kept thinking they were just a bit too golden—and the kitchen lights kept shining a spotlight on that daily.
And because it’s me, I couldn’t let that go.
I didn’t want to paint over the beautiful wood (or strip and restain it), so on a whim, I tried out a black paint wash on the cabinets to see if I could shift the tone slightly, while still letting the beauty of the wood shine through. I’ll admit I wasn’t hopeful when I experimented on the first door, and was ready to clean it all off immediately if it looked awful.
Although my original goal with this DIY was only to tone down the yellow/orange cast, the pleasant surprise bonus was that the matte paint wash also chilled out the glossy varnish sheen, giving the cabinets a lovely, slightly aged look!
Keep in mind this is a not a dramatic change—the black paint simply mutes the color a bit and makes it a little less vibrant. Also the cabinets will be slightly darker (which I was okay with).
This post is part of a series on decorating an outdated kitchen, where I’m sharing the small, budget-friendly changes I’ve made to bring my kitchen out of the early 2000s without a major remodel. From working with orange-toned cabinets and brown granite to updating fixtures and finishes, I’m writing about each dated feature one at a time. Start here with the overview: How to Update a Kitchen with Brown Granite and Outdated Features (No Big Budget Needed!) And up soon: “How to Style Kitchen Counters without Adding Clutter”.
What You’ll Need:
- Dixie Belle Silk All-in-One Mineral Paint in Anchor
- Water
- Paintbrush
- Soft cloths or shop towels
- Mixing container
- Optional: a dropcloth to catch the drips and disposable gloves
My Step-by-Step Process.
This method is incredibly budget-friendly and simple. Here’s how I applied the black wash to gently tone down the orange wood cabinets in my kitchen:
1. Prep the Cabinets.
Make sure the cabinets are free of grease or dirt and that they are dry. I wasn’t worried about my hardware since mine is dark and the paint wash would clean off, but if this is a concern you’ll want to remove it or cover it before starting.
2. Mix the Wash.
In a small container, I mixed thoroughly roughly equal amounts of the mineral paint and water.
You can adjust the ratio for more color if you find you need to after testing it, but start at an equal ratio. The goal is to look subtle, not painted.
SH&H Tip: Test it on the inside of a cabinet door first. Every wood and finish reacts differently and a test spot will give you peace of mind before diving in.
2. Brush On.
Using a basic paintbrush, I applied the wash to a whole door or section at a time.
SH&H Tip: I applied a little less of the paint on the lower cabinets, since they naturally appear darker because they get less light.
3. Wipe Off Excess.
After brushing it on, I came back with a soft cloth and wiped the paint back off.
4. Adjust As Needed.
Once everything dried for a few minutes, I stood back and looked for spots that still felt too orange or too shiny. I added more in those areas, repeating until I was happy with the uniformity. If I could see wipe marks I blurred those as well.
What Changed and What Didn’t.
Let me set expectations—this not a dramatic cabinet makeover. And that’s exactly what I love about it. It looks natural. And not like a cheap DIY.
I used the technique just on the lower half of this door so you can see the difference in the color shade and sheen (the cabinets on the right are already paint washed):
The orange tone is softened, the glossy finish is muted, and the cabinets now have a more neutral look that still works with both my gold-tone granite counters and reddish-tone hardwood floors.
The difference is subtle, and honestly, I might be the only one who would even notice. But it’s one of those little things that makes the whole space feel more cohesive and timeless.
FAQs About Toning Down Orange Cabinets.
Would It Work on Other Wood Cabinets?
Yes, this technique could absolutely work to update orange oak cabinets or dated maple tones. It’s also a great alternative if you’re looking for ways to modernize honey oak cabinets that used to be so popular without fully painting them or replacing them.
What if I want a darker or more dramatic change?
If you are looking for a more dramatic color change, you might experiment with wiping a gel stain over this paint wash in a darker color like in this home bar cabinet makeover from Maison de Pax.
What if my cabinets are not glossy?
If your cabinets don’t have a shiny or glossy finish that you want to tone down, you may want to use a satin finish paint instead of the matte finish that I used. Experiment to see the resulting sheen before you commit.
This post is part of my series on decorating an outdated kitchen, where I’m sharing the small, budget-friendly changes I’ve made to bring my early 2000s kitchen up to date without a major remodel. From working with orange-toned cabinets and brown granite to updating fixtures and finishes, I’m breaking down each dated feature one step at a time. More in the series:
- How to Update a Kitchen with Brown Granite and Outdated Features (No Big Budget Needed!)
- How to Whitewash a Tiled Backsplash
- How to Style Kitchen Counters without Adding Clutter
- The Best Paint Colors for Kitchens with Brown Granite
- How to Choose Kitchen Hardware and Where to Place It (The Complete Guide)
- How to Decorate Above Kitchen Cabinets Without Looking Cluttered or Dated
If you’ve been searching for how to make orange cabinets look better, this simple DIY black wash might be all you need! As you’ve seen, it’s quick, inexpensive, and easy enough to try in a single afternoon. Best of all, it lets your cabinets keep their character—just with a little more sophistication and a little less orange glow.✨
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Could you do the opposite if I want to lighten my orange cabinets? I want more of a white oak look. Thanks for the info!
Hi, I can’t wait to try this! do you have a before and after photo of the whole kitchen finished?
These are beautiful anIm going to try it on mine. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Tara…good luck and I hope it works for you!
What kind of soft cloth/shop towel did you utilize?
I just used some old cleaning rag…nothing special!
Could this be achieve with a black gel stain? I worry about longevity with a paint like this.
Hi Michele! I haven’t tried that…I think it would be longer lasting, whereas this is more of a subtle easy quick fix. The only thing I’d be worried about if I tried it is not being able to get it off it I didn’t like the way I put it on the first time. Please let me know if you test this!
Would love to know what paint and paint color you used.
The exact paint I used is linked up there in the post under supplies if anyone wanted to try the same one I did. It’s a very matte chalk paint.
What do you recommend to clean the cupboards on a regular basis after you have completed this process?
I haven’t cleaned mine yet but I will probably only dust them or wipe them very lightly with a wet cloth…scrubbing or cleaners would probably remove the paint.
Wow I love this! I am going to try this on my orange maple cabinet when I move in my house. I was worried about sanding and what stain to use. This looks so simple and will try on the inside of the door first to check the color. Thank you!
Let me know if this works Gayle!
I have orange maple cabinets and was thinking of trying this as well. I would love to see photos from your finished project if you have them . Thanks!
The photos in the post are actually “after”. It’s just a VERY subtle change!
could this be done on floors I’m trying to tone down the orange colored floors I don’t want to refinish or strip them
I feel your pain Mary. Refinishing wood floors is a huge, expensive job. But unfortunately, this wouldn’t last on floors or any surface that gets wear.
which black wash did you go with? I have brassy honey oak and Lennon counter tops. This could be a fix for us!
I have started doing my cabinets and they are not staining uniform. like yours. I. have spots that are way more black than others. I tried to dilute the paint more but then it is just still pretty orange when I wipe it off. Is there a rick to get it to stain/paint more evenly? I am new to all of this. The inside of the first cabinet turned out exactly like I wanted. The rest not so much. They are blackish but large areas that did not take the dark and is still orange but has toned it somewhat. I am trying to figure out the uniform brushing it on.
I’m sorry you had difficulty Marti! There’s really no trick I used. I think that glossy finish allowed me to wipe a lot of it off more evenly. And the change is very subtle on mine too, but it definitely helped. I think it really does just depend on the individual cabinet wood type, varnish, color, etc. The good thing is if you don’t like it, if you used a water based paint you should be able to get most of it off.
This is what caught my eye on Pinterest! Not sure when you toned down your kitchen cabinets but I was wondering how they look today. I am VERY interested in this trying this method 🙂
Your cabinets look beautiful!
Thanks Joni! It’s been almost a year and they look the same. I will qualify this and say that they don’t get super heavy use because most of the time it’s just me…I have not had to scrub or clean them so far, so all good!
Thank you!!!!!! These are just like my cabinets. I love them and all of their “knottiness”, but we have Saltillo tile and it’s orange on orange. I bought everything to stain them darker but I’ve been too scared to pull the trigger. This looks way easier AND is prettier. Gorgeous!
It’s kind of a quick fix and I honestly don’t know the durability, but it’s made the little bit of difference that made me happy! I also thought about staining over them but didn’t feel confident about doing it myself and if I was going to spend that money, I’d rather put it toward new counters and tile!
This is exactly the look I was envisioning for my cabinets…. did yours have a polyurethane topcoat before you paint washed?
They had some sort of glossy sheen varnish so I’m assuming so. I like that the matte paint made the gloss less noticeable!
Hi, I’m not sure how old this post is but it is what I need to do also. Did you put in poly or top coat on when you finished. Mine get a good amount of use and just wonder how they would hold up without a top coat.
Thanks!
Hi Kim! I haven’t done anything to them yet, but if I do I’ll be sure to update the post.
The difference is amazing! Thank you for the idea!
Thanks for the nice comment Kim!💗
This is exactly what I need to do to my cabinets… they look just like yours! Did you put on a sealer after? I’m just wondering how high traffic kitchen cabinets would wear with this finish. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea!
Thanks Cindy! I have not sealed them yet but think I’ll need to before scrubbing them.
I LOVE the cabinets. I have the honey oak and I’m going to try this. thanks!!
Thanks Jeanne! Test it first inside a door and if you like it and do it, let me know how it came out!
Did it work ??’ Mine needs refresh
It did work for my particular cabinets, but I have not tried sealing them yet.
What a super simple technique with a huge impact! I love it! And without a big construction mess!!
Amazing! Is this what you used in your previous house too? I love how you toned down the red in both houses.
Hi Marilyn! I think you’re referring to my staircase banister in the old house. I used a stain over there, not paint (it was tacky for awhile but it worked).
Kate, I like the “new” look of your kitchen cabinets. You did a great job in toning down the orange!
Thank you Mary-Ann!!
Awesome. You are so clever and brave. Looks great.
Thanks so much Rory!!
Oh my goodness! I needed this so much! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Susan…I’m glad you found it helpful!