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One way to give a kitchen an inexpensive update: Stylish knobs and pulls for your cabinetry. The choices are abundant, and they can dramatically enhance your kitchen's look. But how do you choose the right style?
Knobs vs. Pulls
Two of the most popular choices are knobs or pulls. You'll find plenty of choices in knobs, from rounded to squared edges. Knobs tend to be cheaper and easier to install, and they're more fitting in a traditional kitchen.
Pulls come in a variety of lengths and tend to be more contemporary. The most common length for a pull is three to four inches, according to the DC Drawers Blog. You'll want to carefully consider the size: Too small of a pull can look underwhelming, while too large of a pull can be overwhelming. Pulls are usually positioned vertically on cabinets and horizontally on drawers. However, some contemporary styles employ horizontal pulls for both.
Mix and Match
Many homeowners nowadays are opting to use both pulls and knobs in their kitchen design. They may use a combo of pulls on the cabinet doors and knobs for the drawers.
Find the Right Style
Make sure the cabinet hardware fits your kitchen style. Here are a few insights into some trending hardware choices.
Bar pulls: For a contemporary style, bar pulls are a popular choice. These can have straight lines or curved barrel handles. They tend to work especially well on Shaker cabinets but can also provide a little twist on a more traditional door, according to Cabinets.com.
Bin pulls or cup pulls: These upside-down, cup-shaped pulls can offer a vintage feel to a kitchen. They tend to be combined with small knobs on surrounding cabinetry. They offer a more relaxed, casual look in a kitchen.
Choose Your Metal
Cabinet hardware comes in a variety of finishes. Contrasting your finish can make more of a statement, too. Darker cabinet finishes tend to fit better with lighter hardware, while lighter cabinets—like your white kitchen—tend to work better with darker hardware.
Traditional favorites: Chrome or brushed nickel have long been favorite finishes in cabinet hardware. But gone are the days where you need to worry about matching your faucet to your cabinet hardware. The Spruce website offers some insights on popular finish combos: For a brushed nickel or brushed stainless faucet, opt for antique pewter, bronze, satin brass, or oil-rubbed bronze for the cabinetry hardware. For a chrome faucet, you might pair it with black, pewter, or a dark bronze.
Polished brass hardware: To make a bigger statement with a contemporary twist for your cabinets, try brass. This will make hardware look like jewelry for your kitchen.
