There used to be a certain rule to follow when selecting hardware for kitchen cabinets. You would use knobs for all doors and pulls for all drawers. But today we have so many hardware choices and combinations that we can create just about any look that you may want. There are some pros and cons to each selection, so let’s take a look.

Knobs Only

When you pull a door or drawer open with a knob, you use your thumb and one or two fingers and your hand is rotated. For some people, that just feels more comfortable. Knobs also are easy to clean and they don’t distract your eye in a small kitchen. The cons would be that they loosen more easily than other types of hardware, and on cabinet doors that are next to each other you can get your fingers caught between them. I’ve also had clients who have had their clothing hung up on lower knobs.

Pulls Only

Pulls look great on Shaker style cabinets and they are definitely easier on older hands. You can also use more force with a pull because you open it with your whole hand. That helps if you’re opening a larger cabinet or drawer. You can use pulls that are all the same size, or vary them for smaller drawers or cabinets. The cons of pulls can be that they have to be cleaned more often and they can be distracting if you don’t choose the right finish.

Knobs + Pulls

You can always mix things up use knobs for drawers and pulls for cabinets, as I did above. This is the best of both worlds and gives you the best hardware for the job in each case. One key to keeping it cohesive is to use square knobs with squared-off pulls or rounded knobs with rounded pulls.

I also like to use knobs only on small cabinets, where pulls would be too overwhelming. The key thing in all of these ideas is to choose the hardware that works best for how you’re going to use your kitchen. Remember that comfort is just as important as how it looks!

Warmly,

Beth