6 Golden Rules Pros Use for Choosing Hardware for Your Kitchen
One of the easiest things you can do to level up the look of your kitchen is to add pulls and knobs to your cabinets. There are hundreds of choices, and finding just the right hardware for your space can be a tough decision.
We asked some home design and cabinetry experts for their best tips, read on to find out how you can choose the right kitchen hardware.
Plan Ahead
First, consider things like the spacing of a drawer pull or the size of the hole needed to install a particular knob. Then, when you're looking around for options, make sure they fit all the necessary measurements. Be sure to bring your top choices home for a preview before making a final decision. What looks great in the store might not fit your particular design.
“Before installing, make sure to hold it up to the space,” Madison Popper, interior designer and founder of Chill Casa, says. Popper recommends knowing exactly how you want the hardware to be placed since it will help you install it more easily without damaging the cabinets.
Look for Quality
If you want to elevate the look of your kitchen by adding knobs or pulls to your cabinets, take your time finding the right set—this isn’t a place to cut corners. Hardware is a heavy-use material, and you want to be sure to buy pulls or knobs that will last.
“I've been a designer for nearly 30 years and I've seen it all, especially living at the beach,” Deana Duffek, the principal designer and creative director of Duffek Design, says. “If you don't use quality cabinetry hardware, it will not withstand the test of time."
Consider Heavy Metal
You can find hundreds of different types of metal designs and materials for your cabinets. They range through a wide variety of styles and are a solid choice for an accouterment that has staying power. You want to add hardware that cleans easily and isn’t easily breakable.
“Metals are the new darlings of the design world,” Artem Kropovinsky, founder of Arsight, says. “They bring in that edgy, urban vibe, especially for those looking to make a bold statement.”
Kropovinsky personally has a soft spot for brushed brass because it's warm, chic, and can elevate a space without making it to flashy.
Go for Durability
Hardware on your kitchen cabinets gets a lot of hands-on work. Pulls and knobs with a shiny surface will show every single fingerprint.
Kropovinsky explains how you don't want your hardware to show obvious fingerprints every time anyone touches it. He recommends going for a grainy or textured finish.
Respect the Space
As with anything else in your home’s decor, you will want to select kitchen cabinet hardware that enhances the space while at the same time blending in seamlessly. If your cabinets are a shaker, modern, or avant-garde style, the hardware might make everything look a bit off.
Let your kitchen’s overall design dictate what you choose for hardware. “Don’t let the allure of the 'new and shiny' divert you from your space's essence,'” Kropovinsky says. “Stay true to the space's soul.”
Understand Hardware’s Importance
Adding pulls and knobs to your cabinets will entirely change the look and feel of your kitchen. While you are shopping for hardware, keep this in mind—hardware is much more than just a decorative addition.
John Starck, president and CEO of Showcase Kitchens, explains how cabinet hardware is both a functional and decorative element.
“The difference will come in the design of the pulls or handles. Larger handles will be more suited toward contemporary or transitional, while pulls and more ornately designed handles and pulls will work in traditional," he says. "Hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen, some homeowners like to have fun with them.”
You can find hundreds of different types of cabinet hardware, so it's essential to take your home’s decor style and personal tastes into consideration. This way, you'll have a better idea of what kind of hardware will be suitable for your kitchen space.
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Read the original article on The Spruce.
