Today I want to talk about decorative hardware. Often referred to as the “jewels” for cabinets and drawers, I’m here to tell you they really can make or break the design of a space!

As with any interior design project, there are lots of decisions to make, and it doesn’t stop with the hardware for your cabinets either. In fact, there are so many different options available – styles, finishes, sizes – how can you possibly decide?

If you’re struggling with these decisions around decorative hardware or you’re not sure about knobs versus pulls, I’m going to cover it all in this blog post!

Let’s have a look at the options available and explore how you can make the right decision for your home!

 

Hardware in General

 

So what is hardware? Hardware refers to the knobs or pulls that are installed on both your cabinets and drawers. The hinges are sometimes included in this terminology too. Therefore hardware refers to anything that allows your cabinets and drawers to open.

The most common pieces of hardware are knobs and pulls. Knobs are generally small circular pieces used on cabinet doors and pulls are long handles often associated with drawers. There’s no hard rule on where knobs or pulls should be installed, you can actually mix and match them depending on your preference!

 

Choosing A Hardware Style

 

The main aim of hardware is function and being able to easily open cabinet doors and drawers. Even so, the hardware also helps to define your home’s style and can truly finish off an interior. 

When choosing hardware you should consider your personal interior design style. Are you drawn to more of a traditional or modern home? What is your home’s style currently and what are you trying to achieve? These questions should all be considered before shopping around for hardware.

If your home is more classic or traditional, ornate hardware pieces should be your go-to. On the flip side, simple knobs or pulls should be used for modern spaces. For more rustic spaces there are options that feature texture and make them more rustic in appearance (we’ll take a closer look at these options later on).

A question that often comes up with clients around hardware is whether they should mix hardware styles or not. There’s no right or wrong answer here, as you can absolutely mix the styles with great success or create an equally beautiful space by using the same style throughout. It really is down to personal preference. However, if you do consider mixed styles, I recommend using knobs for cabinet doors and pulls for drawers.

 

Functionality

 

An incredibly important part of your hardware is its functionality. So the goal should always be finding pieces that make opening, closing, and generally using cabinets and drawers easy. Shape, size, and design all come into play here.

Cabinet knobs are typically round but are also available in other shapes, such as square and oval. If you do consider alternative shapes, I always recommend testing one or two in-situ so you can feel them in your hands before purchasing a whole set for your kitchen or bathroom.

A similar message is applied to pull handles, as rounded edges are less likely to scratch you than sharp square edges.

 

Choosing A Finish

 

Choosing a finish for your hardware is similar to choosing a style. Explore options that fit with your interior’s design style. Here are some pointers to keep in mind:

Gold finishes have been associated with traditional interiors up until recently when more modern designs have been available. For traditional interiors, choose an ornate design finished in gold. Alternatively, use simply shaped hardware in gold for modern spaces.

Then we have the silver finishes: nickel, chrome, and stainless. All visually similar, but quite different too especially when you take into account the brushed and polished options for each. Polished hardware looks premium and luxurious, while silver hardware in itself is often well suited to more modern interiors.

Brushed nickel is by far the most popular choice among homeowners and designers because it complements all styles, colors, and materials.

Top Tip: Finishes can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer so try to stick to the same manufacturer to ensure cohesiveness throughout.

 

Other Hardware Options

 

Aside from the main hardware pieces that are used in kitchens and bathrooms, we need to add some fun and creative hardware options into the mix too! If you fancy doing something completely different then this section is for you.

Hardware is an opportunity to get creative. Particularly for powder room vanity units, closets, and dressers you can easily inject some personality into these areas through the hardware you choose. There are fun options on the market for kids’ rooms that can set their furniture pieces aside from others.

For anyone who prefers a more rustic or farmhouse feel to their home, consider using leather pull handles or even cup handles to really tie in the design. These are fun options that are completely different from the traditional options on the market.

 

What is your favorite style of hardware? Or your go-to finish? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments and I hope this blog post has helped and inspired your next hardware decision-making!