The Clever Lighting Tip That'll Update Orange Cabinets Without Touching Them

Those orange tones on your wood cabinets instantly take your kitchen back to the 2000s, making the space feel drab and dated. For some, a quick wood stain upgrade or a paint refresh can solve the problem. However, this isn't a feasible solution for those on a tight budget or who are renting. Thankfully, there is a simple technique to update orange kitchen cabinets without sanding or painting: Update the lighting by swapping out warm-toned bulbs for cool-toned alternatives. Light bulbs have a range in color temperature, from deep orange to bright blue-white. Knowing how this range is measured can help you source the right kind of lighting to reduce the "orangeness" of your cabinetry.

Light bulbs have three different units of measure to determine the kind of output they produce. You may have heard some of the terms: watts, lumens, and kelvins. Knowing the difference between these units will help you source the right kind of lighting for your kitchen. Watts measure the power consumption. Lumens determine the brightness. And kelvins measure color temperature. 

To combat the outdated look of orange-toned cabinetry, you'll want to swap out warm lighting for cool lighting, meaning choosing light bulbs on the cooler-toned side of the Kelvin (K) spectrum. For example, while anything 3,000 K or below could be the right type of light bulb to use in your kitchen for a warm, inviting atmosphere, it might be too warm for a kitchen with orange-toned cabinetry.

Many experts suggest using cool tones in the kitchen to tone down orange cabinetry. From cool-toned wood stains to paint in shades of blue, the cool colors offset some of the warmth of orange. To apply this design principle to lighting, some homeowners say you can swap warm-toned lighting for cool-toned alternatives, or anything 4,000 K or above. The neutral temperature on the Kelvin spectrum, 3,500 K, could work for some moderately orange-toned kitchens or spaces with honey-oak cabinetry. But many homeowners suggest swapping to daylight bulbs if your cabinets have a very orange appearance.

The benefits of this method are that it won't drain your wallet and it is more ideal for renters since no permanent changes will be made to the space. Simply find the right light bulb for your needs, and replace your old overhead lighting. If you can, you might also consider swapping sconces or under-cabinet lighting to prevent the kitchen from suffering overcast shadows on the countertops. Additionally, pairing this trick with other ways to tone down orange cabinets, such as the hardware tip that will update orange cabinets without painting or sanding, can better reduce the visual warmth and outdated look of your space.