Choosing Hardware for Cabinets
Your cabinets' finishing touch
Cabinet door hardware improves the appearance of your area, much like the ideal piece of jewelry completes an outfit. With so many options, it's crucial to take into account family members' comfort and ease, the lifetime of use and potential bumps and scrapes when cabinet doors are open.
Visit our hardware gallery to view options.
Knobs or Pulls?
Maybe a combination of both. When making these selections, consider the profile of the door and drawer fronts. For example, while you may love a bin-style pull, it may not function well on a 5-piece drawer front, which is better accented by a straight-bar type of pull.
What About Positioning?
- For wall cabinets with a raised center panel style door, set the knob or the bottom of the pull (top of pull on a base unit), directly across from the flat of the center panel
- For a flat center panel door, 2” to 2-1/2” is a good starting point — hold up the hardware piece and let your eye make the final choice
- With a mitered door, never position the hardware in the lower corner where the mitered joints meet
- For drawers, if the hardware is of average size—3” to 3-1/2” wide— a good rule of thumb is to position one piece of hardware on drawers that are less than 24” wide, and two pieces per drawer front on those that are over 24” wide
Finishing Touches
When it comes to finishes/colors, let the rest of the components in the home be your guide. If you are selecting an oil-rubbed bronze artisan faucet, select the matching hardware. Interested in mixing finishes/colors? In today’s home, anything goes. Mixing brass with black iron might be over the top, but pairing brushed nickel with polished chrome can offer a dynamic and attractive contrast.
