Have you ever walked in a kitchen and just thought that it looked old, and not in a trendy vintage way either? If so, the reason could be due to using colors that date a kitchen.

That’s right. The colors you choose to use could be making your kitchen look old, even if it’s newly remodeled.

If you want to avoid this look, there are several colors you might want to think twice about using. This includes on your walls, for appliances and kitchen cabinets.

Anything Temporarily Trendy

Trends come and go, with an emphasis on “go.” Some trends will stand the test of time, but if the latest kitchen remodeling trend is to paint your cabinets fuschia, it’s probably better to skip it. Many colors that a date a kitchen come from trends. As soon as the trend fades away, anyone who sees your kitchen knows exactly how old it is.

That being said, if you absolutely love the trend, even after it’s been over for decades, then keep those colors. After all, it’s your kitchen and if it makes you happy, stick with it.

Stark White

White may not seem like one of the colors that date a kitchen, but it’s actually a color that decreases the value of your home. In fact, experts found it decreased the value of a home by $1,400 because it seemed too difficult to clean.

Of course, this is part of the reason why it dates your kitchen. It goes back to a time when either a parent stayed home and cleaned all day or you had a maid to help out. Now, you want something easier to clean than white. While it can brighten the room, maybe go with an off-white or at least add some type of colorful trim and some wood-tone cabinets to get away from an everything white type of kitchen.

Dark Woods

Dark cherry looks great, but it’s not the best color for your kitchen. Instead of a nice place to cook and eat, it feels more like a dark office. Dark and red-toned woods are best left for furniture, such as a dining room table and chairs, versus all your kitchen cabinets.

If you do want to use darker woods, use them in moderation. Too much makes your entire kitchen look dim and drab.

Pink Hues

Pink hues are definitely among the colors that date a kitchen. In the 1950s, pink dominated when it came to bathrooms, kitchens and even living areas. Sadly, we’re not living in the area of the Pink Ladies anymore. All that pink just makes your kitchen look well over 50 years old.

If you still love pink, you don’t have to give it up. Instead, use it as an accent color. It can be part of a backsplash or a pattern on your walls.

Burnt Umber

If you were around in the 1970s, you may very well have had a burnt umber kitchen. This earthy tone just screams dated and old. Even though retro colors might be reappearing in kitchen appliances, it doesn’t mean your entire kitchen theme needs to use colors from the 60s and 70s. Let’s face it, burnt umber wasn’t even a great color back then.

Tuscan Colors

If you’ve ever dined at an Olive Garden, you know this look. It’s filled with colors that date a kitchen. Odd shades of off-white and cream, darker browns and even hints of green show that your kitchen hasn’t had a makeover in a long time. While you can pull off a Tuscan theme, it’s not easy. In the end, it looks more cheesy than anything else.

Rules To Remember

First of all, remember it’s your kitchen and as long as you’re happy with the style and colors, that’s all that matters. However, if you want to avoid a dated look, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as: