Shopping for kitchen cabinet hardware can feel overwhelming because of the many options. You may even start to ask why there are so many options and which one(s) you should be shopping for specifically. Let me break it down for you…
Brass Pull | Bronze Latch | Chrome Pull | Chrome Backplate | Brass Edge Pull | Brass Knob
I’m going to tell you what each of these pieces of hardware are called and when you would use them. I will also share some tips to help you choose the right finish and size!
After learning all about your hardware options you are going to feel like the decisions just got easier.
This post is going to be your go-to guide for kitchen cabinet hardware.
What are the different kitchen cabinet hardware options?
There are basically 3 main ‘categories’ we’re going to focus on – knobs, pulls, and latches. I will also touch on hinges since those are also important!
Cabinet Knobs
Cabinet knobs are typically small and can be used on either drawers or cabinets. These are the easiest to install because they usually only require one hole and one screw! These can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and material.
Door and Drawer Pulls
Here’s where it gets interesting. There are a few different types of pulls to consider. I’m going to show you the most common, which right now are, bar pulls, bin pulls, and edge pulls.
Bar Pulls
Bar pulls are great for both drawers and cabinet doors. These you can typically grab onto with your entire hand because they provide a more substantial handle.
It mostly boils down to preference, however, most interior designers go with knobs on doors and pulls on drawers but even they step out of the box sometimes when it makes sense. I will say that when you have long cabinet doors it makes sense to use a pull.
And just to state the obvious, when bar pulls are used on doors they are mounted vertically. When mounted on drawers, they are horizontal.
Bin Pulls
Bin pulls, or cup pulls, are for drawers and drawers only. In my opinion this is a great option to help you mix hardware in your space. These also make a great bathroom cabinet hardware option.
Edge Pulls
Edge pulls are similar in that they are only intended for drawers. These have more of a modern look and are commonly found in modern interiors or designs. Edge pulls are installed directly on top of the drawer’s edge, hence the name. This makes them a very sleek and ideal option for a minimalist look.
Backplate for Pulls
Here is where it gets fun! Backplates are not a requirement but they do serve a few purposes. If you’re looking for a way to add a decorative element then this is perfect.
Now lets say you’re replacing hardware in your kitchen and you’re left with holes from your previous hardware. These backplates can cover holes or any imperfections while elevating the look of the new hardware! You can get a backplates for pulls or knobs.
Another plus to these is that they help to protect your cabinets. The hardware is what everyone reaches for so these can shield from fingerprints, smudges, and just normal wear and tear.
Hardware backplates are one those things you may not have known existed but now may be wondering how and where you can add them.
Latches
Cabinet door latches were originally intended to keep cabinet doors ‘locked’ or secured. You could even use them to child-proof! But in reality latches are used for aesthetic purposes – because they’re pretty. They can certainly add character to a kitchen.
However you want to place these strategically. Avoid placing these on doors that you frequently open because you might start to find it annoying to have to unlatch the door each time you want to get into a cabinet. These are great options for those under-sink cabinets or upper cabinets that are either out of reach or uncommonly used.
Door Hinges
Hinges are going to depend strictly on the type of cabinets you have. You will only use hinges on your cabinet doors and drawers will have drawer slides.
If you have overlay cabinet doors then you will need to buy overlay hinges. Which means if you have inset cabinet doors then you will need inset hinges. They look similar at first glance but there is a difference! If you know, you know.
If this is like reading a foreign language then let me break it down – if your cabinet doors close over your cabinet face frames then you have overlay cabinets. If your cabinet doors are flush with your cabinet frames then you have inset cabinet doors.
Here’s the good news – if you are going to be mounting your hinges inside your cabinets like this then you don’t need to get too hung up on material/color. This is the easiest decision yet! Since these will not be seen it is pretty standard to go with a basic hinge in nickel or chrome.
How to choose a cabinet hardware color…
As if style weren’t enough, now you have to decide on hardware material/color. This is typically where people get hung up – myself included! Let’s cover your options and then you can eliminate.
You could choose to go with something unique like a glass knob or pull – or something traditional like a painted wood knob. Ceramic knobs are even an option if that’s your style! I’m going to focus again on the most commonly found options – nickel, chrome, brass, bronze, and black.
Nickel
Nickel is a very safe option but I would not suggest nickel alone. It compliments both traditional and non-contemporary styles but can read boring all by itself. In other words, if you’re using this in your kitchen, don’t go with nickel hardware, nickel fixtures, and nickel appliances. That is too matchy-matchy and doesn’t give you a custom or elevated look.
Nickel mixes very well with brass or black so do not be nervous about mixing! Think nickel fixtures like sink faucet, pot filler, or appliances. Then use brass or black for your hardware and/or light fixtures.
If you just really like the safe option and want to go with nickel everything might I recommend you choose a few different hardware styles and mix the styles instead of the color.
Chrome
Chrome is more commonly used in modern designs – think mid-century modern. This is where chrome feels safe. Don’t get me wrong, chrome can be timeless but you would need to use a timeless style hardware or fixture if you want to use chrome.
Chrome has a sophisticated look about it so it works well in traditional spaces too but you have do it right. It pairs well on warm mid-tone woods or creamy white.
In terms of mixing, it pairs well with brass. I don’t tend to go for chrome hardware but if you’re wanting to incorporate it I’d suggest you do a chrome faucet or light fixtures.
Brass
Brass is considered a timeless classic because it can be used in both modern and traditional styles.
Let me be clear, brass is both a color and a material. The material itself is timeless and durable but I am referring to the color brass. Gold can be lumped into this category but I tend to stay away from a true gold color and lean into brass tones because they look more natural and realistic. Having said that, you can apply the brass tips I’m sharing if you’re considering gold.
Brass just works with everything – whites, light neutrals, dark shades, all wood tones – it’s the one you can’t go wrong with. If you do choose to go with brass I’d suggest an option that is brassy and not gold just because you want it to stand the test of time. Gold is a bit trendy right now.
Although brass is conveniently easy, it can be difficult to pick which brass. I know, I basically gave you the answer of what color to pick and then told you to choose. That’s because brass can come as lacquered, un-lacquered, polished, satin, or antiqued.
- Lacquered just means that your hardware has a protective coat on it so that it will look the way it does when you buy it for as long as you have it.
- Un-lacquered is just the opposite. It hasn’t been coated and is raw brass so it will start out shiny, like chrome, and over time, based on usage, it will patina. This means that it will age and lose its shine and get to a more brown color. Some people love this, others don’t. You can always polish unlacquered brass to restore it back to its original shine but it will just start the process over again. If you do not like the look of antique brass or water spots, this is not the finish for you.
- Polished brass is like lacquered brass in that is has a protective coat to keep the original color and finish but has been polished to shine.
- Satin brass will also not change or patina but is not shiny. It has a muted or dull finish to it. Think of it as the opposite of polished brass.
- Antique brass has an aged look to it but it will not age any further. It doesn’t tarnish and doesn’t show dirt making it a good option for someone who likes the idea of the unlacquered brass but doesn’t know if they can handle it. This is usually my preference. It looks lived in.
Bronze
Bronze is commonly referred to as ‘oil-rubbed bronze’ and this can look black from a distance.
It contrasts beautifully with cream or white cabinets, adding depth but isn’t as dark as black. It also blends really well with warm tones of light and mid-toned wood cabinets. I’d stay away from using on dark wood cabinets because this is more of a dated look.
The same goes for dark paint colored cabinetry. If that’s what you have then you can rule out bronze…you’re welcome!
Black
Black can sometimes serve as a neutral to avoid too much materials mixing.
On white or light colored cabinets this creates a bold contrast and reads farmhouse or modern. It works well with both light and dark wood tones. It makes sense to use when either your light fixture or plumbing fixture is black, just avoid matching all 3. Black also looks really great on dark cabinetry to add an extra masculine touch or drama!
When to mix and match hardware?
Matching kitchen hardware with other kitchen fixtures is not a must – I repeat, you do not need for everything to match.
With that being said, you don’t want to go overboard and use multiple different colors. A good rule is to stick to a maximum of 2 different hardware/fixture colors in the same space if you’re new to mixing. You can go up to 3 but that’s for those who are comfortable with mixing or who have a specific style – I feel like modern designs often have 2 or more mixings.
If you’re going to mix between 2 then make sure they are not within the same family. For example, you don’t want to use a true shinny gold with an antique brass. As long as your 2 are not within the same family you can mix finishes (ie. shinny and matte).
What size kitchen cabinet hardware do you need?
For kitchen cabinet doors it’s not a lot to think about because you’re primarily using knobs or latches which are fairly standard in size. Sure, you can opt for an oversized look but that’s more preference related.
Now for drawers you do need to give it a little thought because it actually depends on the size your drawers and the overall scale of your kitchen.
If your drawer is 24 inches or wider it would be best to consider going with 2 pulls instead of 1. If you prefer the look of 1 pull then you’ll want to go with a pull that is 1/3 the length of the drawer. Lets say your drawer front is 30 inches wide, you’d want a pull that spans at least 10 inches across the front. If you’re leaning into a modern design then you can go larger.
If you have small drawers you can even step down to a knob.
There’s no hard and fast rule here but if you consider the 1/3 rule then you will at least have a starting point to determine what is truly too small.
In my kitchen we went with brass knobs, pulls, and latches on the cabinetry and we have brass light fixtures. Our sink faucets and pot filler are all nickel. They all work well together!
