Hardware, Hinges & Pulls

Look for hardware that fits with the style of the room you’re working with, as well as your personal preferences. Remember, your eyes follow your hands, focusing on the knobs and pulls more than anything else about your cabinets.

Hardware for cabinets comes in a choice of knobs and pulls. Generally, one line offers both types of hardware. Knobs need a single hole to attach them, and pulls need two holes. They can be used interchangeably, though knobs are used most often on doors and pulls on drawers. Pulls are more practical on heavy doors and drawers.

If you are replacing hardware on existing cabinetry, be sure to choose pulls with the same hole configuration and distance as the old pulls so that you don’t have extra holes in your door and drawer panels.

Make sure that the screws that come with the new hardware are long enough to run through the panels of your cabinets. If not, you may be able to re-use the screws from your current hardware, or you can purchase longer screws separately.

Don’t choose a knob or pull based solely on look. You need to see how it feels in your hand to know if it is something you want.

Buy one knob and/or pull and try it out on a door and drawer in your home to see if you like the combination before buying the entire set.

Cabinet hardware is available in many finishes, ranging from metallics such as bright or antique brass, oil-rubbed bronze, chrome, pewter, nickel, and other materials such as wood, crystal, and ceramic, and acrylic. Hinges come in a more limited range of finishes, but they are generally not as visible on a cabinet, so you can choose the one closest to the look of the knobs or pulls you select.

There are no rules as to the position of hardware on your cabinetry. Choose the position that looks right and works best for you. What is important is consistency. Use a template to ensure that every knob or pull is positioned at the same place on every door or drawer.

You may want to add a backplate behind each knob or pull to protect your cabinets or as a decorative element. Backplates can also cover older holes if you choose new pulls with different screw locations.

While most people prefer to stick with one style of knob and/or pull in a room, you may want to combine looks. For example, larger drawers may look better with longer pulls, or one section such as an island may work better with a different look. It’s your home. Do what you want.