How to Pick the Right Hardware for Your New Kitchen Cabinets

If you’ve just installed new kitchen cabinets - or if you’ve just had your existing cabinets professionally painted - one of the final parts of the process involves choosing the perfect hardware for your convenience and decor. Picking handles, hinges, and pulls doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some tips for making sure the hardware you choose is the right hardware for your needs. 

Finishes & Materials

Style

Kitchen cabinet hardware comes in a wide range of styles, too, so think about your kitchen decor and architecture before you make a choice. Some of the most popular cabinet hardware styles for today’s kitchens include:

Traditional - A traditional kitchen is one with beautiful details, including intricate molding, pretty backsplashes, and unique cabinetry accents. If your kitchen falls into this category, look for ornate hardware with fancy knobs and drop handles. 

Contemporary - The contemporary kitchen style is known for its sleek, minimalistic appearance along with a white or neutral color palette. In this case, you should choose simple hardware that complements the existing fixtures without drawing too much attention. 

Transitional - If your kitchen boasts both traditional and contemporary elements, you can utilize cabinetry hardware to tie the two together. Options in the transitional category include knobs and pulls with pretty shapes and curves. 

Rustic/Farmhouse - The rustic/farmhouse style kitchen continues to grow in popularity, and as a result, there are thousands of different cabinetry hardware options from which to choose. Some of the best finishes include semi-matte black (think cast iron), oil-rubbed bronze, or even copper.

Eclectic - Eclectic kitchens take on personalities of their own, and there’s just no limit to the possibilities when it comes to cabinetry hardware. If your kitchen has an apple theme, you can find handles and knobs in the shape of apples; if you have installed stained glass windows in your kitchen, there are dozens of stained glass hardware options out there, too. 

The architecture, finish, and color of your kitchen cabinets can say a lot about your personality, but your new cabinets aren’t really “finished” until you’ve added the perfect hardware. Although it may seem like a simple thing, the sheer number of choices available to you can make choosing kitchen cabinet hardware fun, and it allows you to truly make your kitchen space your own.