How to select the right cabinet hardware for your home

Whether you’re renovating or building your dream home from scratch, there are several important decisions to make. While selecting the right cabinetry for your kitchen and bathrooms is a major decision, the importance of choosing the right hardware for your cabinetry is often overlooked and underestimated. Cabinet hardware – including handles, knobs, and pulls – is akin to the jewellery of your home. Delivering both form and function, cabinet hardware acts as the key touchpoint to operate your draws and doors, while strongly influencing the overall aesthetic of your home. With a veritable plethora of hardware choices on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start.

To help simplify the process, we’ve put together a guide on what you need to consider when selecting the right hardware for your home.

Yes, you want your hardware to look good. However, even the most beautiful hardware can’t save a cabinet that’s impossible to open. The primary function of hardware is to open and close joinery with your hand; so, any pulls, knobs, or handles you select need to be easily gripped and maneuvered. Ensure your hands or fingers are able to comfortably grip the hardware you select – it can be a good idea to take other members of the household with you when shopping for hardware to ensure it’s useable by all.

Here’s how to tell the difference between knobs, handles, t-bars, and edge pulls.

Handles

Handles, or pull handles, seamlessly blend practicality with aesthetics. Pull handles are typically required for larger items like integrated fridges and pantry doors, with many homeowners opting to extend the use of pull handles into the rest of their cabinet hardware. Coming in a variety of styles, there are pull handles for every aesthetic, from ornate gold iterations well-suited to traditional homes to sleek matte black or chrome handles for contemporary kitchens and bathrooms.

Knobs

A simple solution for cabinet doors and draws, knobs are one of the easiest pieces of hardware to instal and replace, due to them having a single fixing point. Round knobs are the most commonly used, however, there are also square and angular geometric knobs that are an apt fit for modern homes.

T-bars

A contemporary take on the classic cabinet knob, t-bars can be installed in vertical or horizontal configurations and have risen in popularity due to their ergonomic nature.

Edge pulls

For those who want their hardware to be understated and innocuous, edge pulls are the way to go. A distinctly contemporary look, edge pulls see hardware affixed to the joinery along the top edge of a drawer or door. Edge pulls are available in a variety of profiles, with the most commonly available being square, curved, moon, or round.

Selecting the right materials and finishes for your hardware is instrumental in the overall appearance of your space.

Chrome

A cool-toned finish with a contemporary feel, chrome has been used for over half a century yet still feels as fresh today as when it was first introduced. Electroplated chrome is one of the most durable finishes available on the market, making it the right choice for spaces that require regular deep cleanings, like bathrooms and commercial kitchens.

Gold

Often plated with real gold, this hardware makes for a glamorous option in kitchens and bathrooms alike.

Brass

An antimicrobial metal, brass is well-suited for use in both kitchens and bathrooms. Available in polished and matte finishes, brass is far warmer than chrome and can be used as a way to make all-white kitchens feel more inviting.

Nickel

Nickel may have fallen out of style of late, however, when used with an aged or patinaed finish, it adds character and style to period restorations or renovations of older homes.

Bronze

Much like a fine wine, bronze only gets better with age. Over time, it develops a patina and seasons to form a deep brown hue.

Explore an expansive range of classic and contemporary hardware options on ArchiPro.