How to Choose Cabinet Hardware – If you’re remodeling your kitchen, you’ve probably already considered the color themes, the wood you want to use, and the different textures you want to incorporate into the space. But what about the cabinet hardware? Cabinet hardware may seem like a miniscule detail, but it can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your kitchen.
When working with custom cabinets, you’re in control of every last detail. And the details are important. Continue reading to learn more about how to choose cabinet hardware for you to use.
Consider Shape
Cabinet hardware comes in many different shapes and sizes. You can choose between knobs and pulls, but both have a limitless amount of shapes. Knobs can be the standard look and size, almost the shape of a button mushroom. But you could also have cylinders, squares, circles turn on their sides, or semi-circles.
Pulls also come in many different shapes. The standard handle is always a classic choice, but if you’re interested in something more unique, look for rods, half-moons, or flat rectangles.
You can also get custom hardware in the shape of anything you want — flowers, stars, different plants or even animals.
You also want to take comfort into consideration here, as not everyone can grab onto small shapes. Or, if you have a small child and are concerned about them opening drawers, you might want to go with something that they can’t easily grab onto.
Consider Material
The material of your hardware will influence the aesthetic of the entire kitchen, and should match or be influenced by the material of the cabinets. To help you better plan for and choose hardware material, think about the overall theme you’re trying to convey.
If you’re going with a rustic or industrial design, then you might want to go with something like iron. Iron is used in both decor styles as it references old factories or barns. You can make black iron chic by pairing it with clean, white cabinets or you can enhance the rustic look even further by going with distressed wood.
Try something like brass or glass if you want to try imitating 18th century French decor. Gold and silver accents pair well with these materials, as well as red hues and or royal blues. Balancing rich colors with something light like crystal, glass or brass makes the room more energetic.
Darker materials tend to fit better with lighter colored cabinets and vice versa, so you can keep this general rule in mind if you don’t have a complete concept figured out yet. In-between materials like bronze is a perfect match with neutral tones, such as gray, cream, or beige.
Consider Creativity
At the end of the day, you don’t have to follow any set of rules if you don’t want to. But once you know the rules, it’s much easier to break them. Spend some time looking through design magazines and browsing through custom cabinet builders’ websites to gain a deeper understanding of what is possible so you know your limitations. Then, once you know what you’re working with, you can start to color outside the lines.
For example, if you want to pair glass knobs with white or cream cabinets, go for it! Typically, light hardware on light cabinets makes everything blend together, and there’s not much depth to make it appeal to the eye. But as you learn more about design and color theory, you could compromise and have a pop of color, like azure, outlining the inside of one of the panels. Try a rich blue or purple glass knob, which is a playful way to incorporate color.
And who says all the hardware has to match? You can mix and match hardware as much as you want to create more intrigue in your kitchen. If you want your kitchen to be neutral toned, but want to find a way to incorporate color, mosaic knobs and pulls can add excitement to a muted kitchen. You can go a step further even and mimic the mosaic pattern by adding a backsplash with the same or similar pattern.
Consider Cost
The last thing you’ll want to consider when deciding on hardware is the cost. Some materials are more expensive than others, so make sure you do your research before getting your heart set on a specific piece. You might be able to find materials that imitate more expensive materials, which is a great workaround. Ceramic is a good material for this as it’s generally cost-effective and can be similar to material such as marble in look.
It seems like a small thing, but hardware can really add up so it’s important to explore all of your options before making a decision.
Design the Kitchen of Your Dreams
Kitchen hardware can turn a drab kitchen into an exciting and electric space in your home.
When planning your kitchen redesign or makeover, put as much thinking into hardware as you would the rest of the items on your list.
Since hardware and cabinets go hand in hand, you’ll most likely be upgrading your cabinets along with your hardware during a redesign. It’s always good to speak to a professional and shop around before making a purchase to ensure you get great deals and service. Builders Cabinet has served Chicago for over 35 years and they’re a trusted, affordable custom cabinet manufacturer that has a wide selection of materials. If you have any questions about hardware or cabinet design, get in touch! – How to Choose Cabinet Hardware