Are you unhappy with the presentation of your kitchen? Are you struggling to find ways to spice up your cabinets or doors without replacing them completely? Whether you’re wanting to remodel or just crave a simple change in your kitchen, we have a few tips on how to achieve your vision! A great way to bring color, dimension, and cohesion to any kitchen space is cabinet and drawer hardware. These finishing touches can take your kitchen to the next level, so we’d love to help you find hardware that is perfect for you and your kitchen space!
Let’s start off with knobs. Knobs are smaller, single-screw-mounted hardware pieces that provide a great simple, vintage, and quaint look to your cabinet doors. Since these only require one screw, they are not only easy to install, but also easy to replace.
We typically only recommend knobs for cabinet doors— they can be used on drawers, but the small size and shape create challenges when it comes to functionality and grip. Knobs tend to be around 1-2” in diameter, which provides a more subtle look for your cabinets. If you are going for ADA compliant hardware, pulls are your better bet. With that being said, knobs are great for smaller doors and cabinets. The placement of knobs should be 2-3” from the corner of the cabinet door. If it is a wall mounted cabinet, place it in the bottom corner and if it’s a base cabinet, place it towards the top.
Next, we have pulls. Pulls are handle-looking hardware that are mounted with two screws. These provide more versatility relating to size, length, and placement. Pulls tend to be easier to grab onto than knobs, and can be placed on both cabinet doors and drawers.
For length, pulls should be at least one-third of the length of the cabinet/ drawer. The longer the drawer, the longer the pull should be to support the weight. The pull can be placed vertically for doors and horizontally for drawers. Normally, pulls are centered on the drawer from both sides, meaning they are perfectly centered. The only exception is If you have pulls that are under a countertop, place the pull closer to the top of the drawer for easier grip and access.
There are a few tips and tricks to remember for both knobs and pulls. If you have smaller drawers that are less than 24” wide, make sure to center the knobs or pulls in both directions so they are perfectly centered. Normally you center drawer hardware no matter the height of the drawer. For drawers that are taller than 24”, place the hardware towards the top for an easier grip. No matter the knob or pull, if you are wanting to place two pieces of hardware on one drawer, stick to the rule of thirds. Place each hardware piece on the outer third of each side. If you use the rule of halves and put the pieces in the middle and close to each other, it will look busy and crowded.
If you can’t decide between only knobs or only pulls, we always suggest to mix and match! A great option for using both types of hardware can be placing knobs on the upper cabinets and pulls on the lower cabinets and drawers. Another option is placing knobs on the doors and pulls on the drawers. As long as they harmonize with each other, you have total freedom here!
Here are a few last thoughts before you make the final decision on cabinet hardware and its orientation. Don’t choose style over function– if you’re putting in time and money to spruce up your kitchen, make sure it pays off not just for aesthetics but for functionality as well. Mixing and matching too many different finishes and shapes can wreck the cohesion of your kitchen. To ensure the hardware pieces go flush with your kitchen, match the finish of the hardware to the finish of your faucet, appliances, or overall decor in the space. Lastly, take the time to measure everything! Pulls require two screws and can easily become a little slanted if you don’t measure the width and level properly. Get a ruler, a level, and another set of eyes before drilling holes and placing the hardware.
Searching for the perfect cabinet hardware for your kitchen area can be challenging and overwhelming. There are so many options, orientations, shapes, finishes, it can get messy! The hard work (and hardware) does pay off, as it provides so much for the aesthetics and functionality of your kitchen. With these great tips and tricks, you are more than ready to spice up your kitchen!
Did you like this blog about redefining your dining room? Are you looking for more realistic tips and examples on how to design or renovate your home? If so, check out our blog post Creating a Harmonious Home!
Thanks for reading!
