What’s the Best Hardware for Kitchen Cabinets?

There’s a lot of planning and decision-making that goes into any home remodeling project. If you’re renovating your kitchen, one of the things that you need to include in your plan is cabinet hardware. The right hardware will not only improve the function of your cabinets but also increase the overall value and design of your home.

So what are the best hardware design ideas for kitchen cabinets? There’s a wide variety of decorative kitchen cabinet hardware such as glass knobs, polished nickel knobs, drawer pulls, cup handles, bar pulls, and hinges. When choosing kitchen hardware, you need to consider its size, material, and finishing to make sure that it will match your cabinets and overall home aesthetic.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

A kitchen is not complete without well-designed cabinetry, and one of the essential elements that increase the look and function of your cabinet door is the hardware. They’re not just installed for decorative purposes but they’re also needed to make your daily actions, such as opening and closing drawers, easier. Additionally, they’re meant to protect the cabinet finishing whenever you reach for the door with wet and greasy hands.

Cabinet hardware can be categorized into different types according to its design and purpose. Here are some of the common components of kitchen cabinet hardware:

1. Pulls

A cabinet pull is a kind of fixture that’s attached to the outside surface of the doors and drawers. It acts as a handle that you can easily grab on to whenever you want to open or close the cabinets. It typically needs at least two or more screws and bolts to be attached to the cabinet. Drawer pulls are available in a variety of styles such as:

• Handle or bar pull - they’re one of the simplest pull designs that come in different lengths depending on the size of your cabinet drawer
• Cup or bin pull - they come in a round or oval shape that you can easily grasp from the bottom
• Wire pull - this type of handle is usually made of stainless steel, oil-rubbed bronze, or brass hardware
• Ring pull - with this cabinet handle, you can easily hook your finger and pull open the door
• Pendant pull - it comes in a variety of decorative styles and is perfect for traditional and rustic homes

2. Knobs

Cabinet knobs are similar in function to pulls and they’re also typically placed on the drawer front. However, unlike a handle, knobs are attached to cabinet doors using only one screw and bolt. There are also several types of cabinet knob designs and styles like glass knobs, mushroom knobs, round knobs, bar knobs, cylindrical knobs, and square knobs.

3. Hinges

A hinge is important hardware that attaches the cabinet panel to the frame. It helps secure the door to its position and lets you close and open the cabinet without hitting the surface. There’s also a large selection of cabinet door hinges such as:

• Pivot or knife hinge - they’re usually used for mounting lower cabinets and it allows the door to move from a single point
• Overlay hinge - this type of hinge is used for doors that cover the full cabinet
• Offset hinge - this kind of hinge allows you to swing your door away from the cabinet frame, giving you more space to access what’s inside
• Butt hinge - this is one of the most common types of hinges for cabinet doors and it has two sides connected by a joint in the middle

4. Backplates

A backplate is a type of metal placed under the pull or knob on the door surface. It’s meant to cover the cabinet surface and hide the holes to provide a seamless, clean, and more decorative look. They’re usually installed before the pulls and knobs, and they have holes where the screws and bolts will go through. There are different kinds of cabinet backplates depending on the type of pull or knobs that you will use.

5. Door Catches and Latches

These are cabinet hardware that helps you secure the door against the frame without the use of any self-closing hinges. It comes in a variety of styles such as magnetic latches, roller catches, decorative latches, and safety catches.

Best Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Ideas to Match Your Home’s Interior Design

An important thing to remember when choosing your cabinet hardware is that it should complement the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. Your kitchen style is a reflection of your personality so you should select the hardware design that best suits your taste. However, you should also not compromise on function and make sure that its style will help you perform your daily tasks.

Here are some recommendations on the best types of cabinet hardware that can go along with common kitchen designs:

1. Modern Kitchen Style

A contemporary-style kitchen features a lot of simple elements such as frameless cabinets, flat doors, sleek surfaces, bare countertops, and straight lines. Most modern kitchens use minimalist furniture and stainless steel appliances to create an upscale and polished look. This design is best if you want to have a lot of open space and windows in the kitchen.

When choosing hardware for a modern kitchen, you want to pick pulls or knobs with stainless steel, bronze, polished chrome, or brass finishing. You can use round or mushroom knobs for your wall cabinets, nickel knobs for white cabinets, or simple bar pulls for base cabinets.

2. All-White Kitchen Design

Going for an all-white style helps create a timeless and elegant kitchen design. It can also incorporate different neutral tones like cream, beige, ivory, and tan to provide a light contrast with the colors. When you have an all-white kitchen design, it’s recommended to use wooden cabinets and pales to dark floorings to strike a balance in style.

One way you can elevate the appearance of an all-white kitchen is to use different shapes of cabinet hardware. You can install black drawer pulls, brushed nickel knobs, or oil-rubbed bronze knobs on white shaker cabinets. You can also go for a crystal clear glass knob with a matte finish if you want to keep the simplicity of your kitchen.

3. Traditional Kitchen

A traditional kitchen is one of the most popular styles that use plenty of natural tones, soft colors, and decorative ornaments. It’s also common to see a raised panel or shaker style cabinet in a traditional kitchen because their simplicity provides a minimalist look and feel to the room. It also features antique or glazed finishes on the countertops, surfaces, and cabinet doors.

For a traditional kitchen, it’s recommended to use iron, polished chrome, nickel, or glass finishes for your knobs and pulls. You can also pick handles with an ornate or vintage design to match the style of your traditional kitchen cabinets.

4. Rustic and Farmhouse Kitchen Style

With a rustic or farmhouse kitchen design, you’d see a lot of striking wood colors, stone slabs, brick or marble surfaces, and hardwood flooring. It’s common to place vintage furniture, appliances, and even a fireplace in this type of kitchen. Unlike modern styles, you can also mix and match different textures and finishes in a rustic or farmhouse kitchen.

Some of the best cabinet hardware design ideas for a rustic or farmhouse kitchen are bar pulls and cup handles with oil-rubbed bronze, brass, satin nickel, or matte black finishing. You can also use decorative round knobs to pair with your shaker kitchen cabinets.

5. Eclectic Kitchen

An eclectic style features a lot of bold and striking colors matched with unique patterns and designs. At the first glance, the different styles might appear to be clashing but it’s what adds flair to the overall kitchen aesthetic. An eclectic design can also incorporate some elements from modern, rustic, and traditional styles.

You can use vintage and decorative pulls and knobs on your kitchen cabinets to compliment your eclectic choices. Another option is to use metal bar pulls, glass knobs, or colored round knobs on your cabinets.

4 Things to Consider When Choosing the Hardware for Your Cabinetry

While personal tastes and styles are huge factors in selecting cabinet hardware, there are also other things that you need to consider to ensure that you are satisfied with the overall look of your kitchen. Here are the other elements that you need to remember in choosing your kitchen hardware:

1. Type of Material

The kind of material that you choose will determine the durability and longevity of your hardware use. Using low-quality materials may make your pulls and knobs more prone to wear and tear and may deteriorate more quickly.

Since kitchen cabinets are frequently used and prone to water and oil spills, it’s ideal to install water-resistant and rust-free materials. Some of the best cabinet hardware materials are metal alloys, stainless steel, bronze, and brushed nickels.

2. Cabinet Size

It’s also important to select pulls and knobs that are visually proportionate to the size of the kitchen cabinets. Take note of the dimensions of your cabinet and make sure your hardware matches not only its design but also its height, width, and weight.

For cabinets with oversized doors, it’s recommended to install large hardware to complement its appearance and make it easier to pull open. You can place smaller pulls or knobs on cabinets with small- or medium-sized doors. If you have longer cabinets, you can place wider bar pulls instead of installing two single drawer pulls. You may also opt for a full-length pull that covers the entire width or height of the cabinet if you’re using a modern kitchen theme.

3. Hardware Placement

Before installing your hardware, you should also plan where you will position them on the cabinet door. If you’re going to place the pulls or knobs by yourself, make sure to put a mark on the areas where you will install the screws and bolts.

Generally, all drawer pulls are placed horizontally, while they’re installed vertically on cabinet doors. Some contemporary-style kitchens also place pulls horizontally on cabinet drawers. Meanwhile, most knobs are usually installed on the edge of upper cabinet doors so you can easily reach them.

4. Cabinet Hardware Finish

You can also customize your cabinet pulls and knobs by applying a decorative finish. Putting a finish on your cabinet hardware helps improve its aesthetic appeal and enhances the overall style and value of your kitchen. Some of the most common hardware finishes are polished, matte, brushed, oil-rubbed, antique, satin, and weathered.

Tips for Improving Your Kitchen Design With The Right Type of Cabinet Hardware

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating your kitchen, the cabinet hardware is a must-have in your project and should be included in your budget. Here are other reminders to help you make smarter choices for your kitchen cabinet hardware:

• If you want to go for a clean and coordinated look, choose the hardware design that complements the style and color of your kitchen cabinets.
• If you’re unsure of which style to pick, go for the classic polished nickel or metal bar pulls for a sleek appearance.
• For kitchens with a traditional or rustic style, pick hardware with neutral colors and antique finishes.
• You can also pick colored pulls and knobs to add contrast and brighten up your kitchen. Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and combine unique colors and patterns of hardware.
• You can also consult with professional designers and invest in a custom kitchen cabinet style and hardware to make sure that it meets your aesthetic preferences.

Design Your Home With High-Quality Kitchen Cabinets From Zothex

A kitchen is a place of cooking and dining, and it’s important that you have the right cabinet hardware to increase the functionality and overall visual of the room. When selecting kitchen hardware designs, make sure that it fits your home theme and reflects your lifestyle and personality.

At Zothex, we can help you build your dream kitchen space with our custom design cabinets and hardware. Our cabinets are made of high-quality and sturdy materials that don’t compromise on style and function. We have design experts who can assist in planning and executing your kitchen renovation project. Call us today at 918-925-1958 to know more about our products and services.

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