In many rooms, especially the kitchen, any cabinetry tends to be the first thing to draw the eyes. Cabinets are more than just storage and organization – they pull together the look and feel of a room, and help set the scene for life’s big moments. There are so many different style cabinets that come in a variety of colors, but one trend that is truly timeless is wood tone cabinets.
“Wood grain cabinets can really work with any style! We offer slim-shaker door styles in wood grain finishes that would work with contemporary or mid-century modern styles. Wood grain finishes also work with more traditional homes because natural wood is truly timeless.” – Virginia P., The RTA Store Designer
Wood You Believe It?
Cabinet doors can come in a variety of materials including solid wood, plywood, and MDF/HDF. Wood tone cabinets show the wood grain under their finishing, so you still get that natural wood look! While many show the wood coloring and knots as well such as our pre-assembled Artisan Oak Shaker or ready-to-assemble Rustic Shaker, they can also be painted and finished to be a color while still showing the grain, like our RTA Providence Slate Grey or our pre-assembled Township Rift Black Oak.
Wood Tones to Fit Your Style
Natural wood tone cabinets are a timeless choice for a kitchen. While a farmhouse theme would always be a match, depending on the tone and grain of the wood cabinets, they can lend to an ultra-modern, warm and minimalist, or even luxe style.
Looking for modern minimalism? Christina G., The RTA Store Designer, says to go with our pre-assembled Milan Natural or RTA Township Rift Oak lines, paired with slab counters. If going for a more contemporary or vintage style, she recommends our pre-assembled Tuscan Timber or RTA Royal Bronze Shaker to add warmth. Pro tip: horizontal grain = modern, vertical grain = elegant, knot-free = polished.
Most colors also pair well with wood tone cabinets, making them extremely versatile. Even greens, blues, and even black go well with wood tone depending on the look you’re trying to achieve! The more classic looks would be to pair white or off-white and neutral tones. When designing your space with wood tone cabinets, it’s best to be mindful of the tone of the wood finish that you’re selecting, so that the undertone of the wood doesn’t work against any colors you’re choosing.
“If you have wood flooring, you would just want to make sure that the wood grain cabinet you choose works well with the flooring and the colors don’t clash.” Virginia P., The RTA Store Designer
Wood tone cabinets can also provide some much-needed depth and texture. Too much though, and it can become overwhelming, especially in a large spice like a kitchen. Break up the heaviness with contrast to add movement, such as painted lower cabinets, mixed materials, or open shelving, to keep your space feeling dynamic and balanced.
Wood Tones to Fit Your Budget
Because wood tone cabinets can have the natural wood looks and be painted to show the grain underneath, there are so many options to choose from! They also come in a variety of cabinet door styles including Raised Panel like our RTA Glazed Praline, Recessed Panel such as the pre-assembled Gramercy Grey Mist, Euro and Frameless like the RTA Euro Cafe, or the classic Shaker like our super popular pre-assembled Artisan Walnut Shaker. These styles range in pricing for a basic 10×10 kitchen from about $3K – $9K pre-assembled and around $2K – $7K RTA, depending on our current sales.
What Wood Our Designers Do
Our designers are like magicians when it comes to envisioning a space and style. We spoke with Virginia P. and Christina G., The RTA Store Designers, to see how they would dress a space using wood tone cabinets!
Christina has been gravitating toward wood tones that feel rich, refined, and just a little dramatic, inspired by her own take on a modern Victorian design! “Think deep espresso like our Brazilian Shaker (both RTA and pre-assembled), warm and rich like the pre-assembled Vienna Kona Brown, or even smoked like our Portland Oak (both RTA and pre-assembled)!,” she says. These all have woods with visible grain, dark undertones, and a moody edge. The darker, richer wood tones would give a bold look with a statement wallpaper, or can be softened with all white or lighter tone walls. Christina would pair them with black and white palettes, mixing detailed metals, and incorporating baroque-inspired textures.
Virginia’s favorite wood tone collection is the pre-assembled Midtown Timber Shaker. She says, “It’s the perfect warm tone without being too yellow!” She would pair them with a contemporary metal pull in champagne bronze and the Calacatta Fern Quartz countertop. As for backsplash? “I like the Renzo Jade tile for a little color. It’s a nice light shade of green that still reads neutral.”
Working with The RTA Store
The RTA Store is your online one-stop-shop for all your cabinet needs. Our ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets give you the look and durability of custom cabinetry at 30-50% less than big box stores. With A-grade plywood boxes and door/drawer fronts a combination of hardwood and MDF/HDF, our cabinets come with a 20 year limited warranty. Plus, we currently have 40 RTA wood tone cabinets and 34 pre-assembled wood tone cabinets to choose from!
Not ready to commit to a collection? Ordering fully-refundable cabinet door samples are a great way to see the style and color in your exact space and lighting. You’d be surprised how different a finish can look in different lighting! Plus, many of our cabinets have matching collections that you can mix together in one room, with one collection for upper cabinets and another for lower cabinets, or different cabinets for the kitchen island. Once you’re ready to start planning, a member of our free design service will work closely with you from steps A-Z, letting you know exactly what size cabinets you need for your space and double-checking to make sure everything lines up perfectly. Our upgraded design service gives you unlimited design revisions and unlimited price quotes, plus the cost of the service is taken off your total once you order!
No matter the wood tone cabinet of your choice, we’re here to help you make your dream space a reality at whatever budget you need. Located near the Hudson Valley in New York? Come visit our showroom on Route 52 in Hopewell Junction, NY!
