A Guide to Updating Your Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

What kind of new hardware should you install in your updated kitchen? There are so many choices out there it can be overwhelming. Knobs or Pulls? Nickel or Brass? Will you be able to see the holes from the old hardware? Because I am being asked these questions on a daily basis I’ve put together a general guide to updating hardware and have included some of my favorites to share with you.

What metal should my new hardware be?

Let’s talk first about metals. As a general rule, I like to keep the different metals in a kitchen to no more than two. If you have stainless steel appliances, that counts as one metal. So that leaves one other metal you can bring into a kitchen. If you’ve got brass light fixtures, that’s your one other metal. Your new hardware should be nickel or brass.

Blue distressed cabinet by Bella Tucker Decorative Finishes

When I’m talking about metals, I consider the silver metals as one grouping. So, when you have stainless appliances (silver), a chrome faucet (silver) and brushed nickel lighting (silver) those all count as one metal in my book- SILVER. I personally think Nickel is the most timeless of the metals. Brass has really gained in popularity with interior designers, but is probably a trendier choice. I’ve seen a rise in the popularity of black hardware especially in this age of farmhouse- EVERYTHING (Thanks Chip and Joanna). I think every room in your house should have a little black in it, so if you can bring in the black with your second metal in your kitchen, DO IT!!

While we are on the subject of metals, when I say black- I mean BLACK- NOT, Oil Rubbed Bronze. ORB is on the way out. Remove that metal from your shopping list. It has seen it’s day.

Knobs, Handles or Bin Pulls?

Generally speaking, I like to see a combination of knobs and handles/pulls. Knobs or handles for the doors and handles or pulls for the drawers. If you are painting your kitchen, the extra holes can be filled, sanded, and smoothed prior to painting so you can start with a clean slate and choose any hardware for your update. I say “generally speaking” because lately I’m drawn to kitchens that have all handles like this “before” photo of a kitchen we recently updated.

kitchen cabinet refinishing before painting

Kitchen Before

The client chose handles and knobs for the new kitchen and I love that configuration too. Check out the full before and after HERE.

Farmhouse style kitchen with two color blue and white painted cabinets.

Updated black Farmhouse style cabinet hardware and new countertops.

I recently updated our kitchen hardware and decided to use cup pulls and hexagon knobs.

A combination of knobs and bin pulls

For our master bath update I used brass knobs and handles paired with chrome faucets.

A combination of brass knobs and handles.

For our basement bathroom update I choose a combination of white marble pulls and handles from CB2. I love the contrast of the white on the black vanity.

A combination of handles and knobs

My Favorite Kitchen cabinet Hardware

Since I am often asked to recommend new cabinet hardware, I put together these lists with links to the products under each graphic. These contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you.