You might be thinking of updating your kitchen and replacing all cabinets. If so, you’re going to spend hours looking on the internet for ideas and tips on where to put knobs, handle, and other hardware on cabinets. This guide will help you to find that information faster and easier. Cabinetry is one of the most important elements in any kitchen renovation.
Many people know they can save money on cabinets by building their own, but end up running into problems because they don’t know how to build them.
The first thing anyone notices when they set eyes on your brand-new cabinets is cabinet knobs. Wow, look at all those cabinet knobs and door handles. They must be doing some sort of Danish modern partridge in a pear tree thing to the room. Let’s take a look at the state-of-the-art options for the insets for kitchen cabinets today.
Give doors handles, but drawers’ knobs
Generally, if we’re talking about a full overlay door (where the door covers most of the face frame), then handles are the way to go. The more modern and sleeker look of a handle draws attention away from the lines of the cabinet, which is desirable in a contemporary space.
If you want to add knobs for a more traditional look, then I’d recommend inset doors. Inset doors give a more traditional look because the door is recessed into the cabinet frame, leaving part of it exposed. For these doors, knobs work best because they are easier to grab and pull than handles are.
Match knobs and pulls to the style of your kitchen
The type of knobs or pulls you choose can have a major effect on the look and feel of your kitchen, so making the right choice is important. In general, you want to match your hardware finish to the predominant metal finish in the room. For example, brushed nickel is often used with stainless steel appliances in modern kitchens, bronze is often found with oil-rubbed finishes, and so on. However, feel free to mix things up just be sure that your style stays consistent throughout the room.Knobs are generally used for drawers and doors that are 1/2-inch thick or less. For thicker doors and drawers, it’s usually better to use a pull.
Consider a single, long pull or bar instead of multiple knobs
- Pulls and knobs are like icing on the cake. They’re the jewelry of your kitchen, which you can change anytime to give your space a new look.
- When choosing pulls or knobs for your cabinets, consider a single, long pull or bar instead of multiple knobs. It simplifies the look and makes opening and closing cabinets easier, especially if they’re above your head.
- Shaker-style cabinets are usually paired with simple round or square knobs. For more decorative options, consider long bar pulls that mimic the streamlined look of modern kitchen faucets.
- If you’re an avid cook who spends a lot of time at the stove, consider placing handles near the cooking area. This way you won’t have to reach across hot pots and pans to open and close your cabinets.
Use the same knob or pull for wall cabinets and drawers
The rules for cabinet drawer and door pull or handles are simple. If you’re using a single knob or pull, keep all the hardware on the same side, and if you’re using two knobs or pulls, keep them consistent and centered, with all vertical handles on the same side and horizontal handles in the center.It’s also a good idea to use the same hardware throughout your kitchen. The exception is if you have a very large kitchen island that requires more than one type of knob or pull.
Create a visual balance
There are few rules when placing handles on a cabinet. The key is to create a visual balance. The most common placement is to put them in the middle of the cabinet door or drawer. The only exception is for uppers located next to a window, where you should place them closer to the bottom so they don’t interfere with the view.
On wall cabinets, often the best place is just above the countertop, so they fit nicely under shelves and don’t impede your sight line.But there are no hard-and-fast rules. If you think it looks better somewhere else, go for it!
Conclusion
There are a few rules about cabinet hardware that make sense to follow. Whenever you go to put handles and knobs on your kitchen cabinets, follow the rules above. Doing so will help you get the best look in your kitchen, and make it easy to find things and clean up after you’re done. So always keep these rules in mind when choosing your hardware.
Fortunately, there are a few standards that apply to most cabinets, so you can be sure that your design will work for the most part. The key is to be consistent and consistent with your style.
It’s a good idea to look at the kitchen cabinet examples you already have, or the ones you like with handles, knobs and pull-handles you want them to match. Each type of Hardware is available in a variety of finishes and sizes, so it shouldn’t take long looking around to find something similar, or better yet exactly what you’re picturing.
When done properly, door and drawer hardware can have a huge impact on the overall style of your kitchen. It’s a focal point that you want to spend some time perfecting, so be sure to follow these tips to help design the right hardware for your kitchen cabinets.