Choosing the Right Cabinet Hardware
The right cabinet hardware can completely change the appearance of a kitchen, wardrobe or piece of furniture.
Cupboard knobs, handles and drawer pulls provide an important practical function, but they are also one of the most visible finishing details in an interior. When choosing cabinet furniture, consider the style of the cabinetry, size of the doors and drawers, required grip, fixing dimensions and the other metal finishes within the room.
Cupboard Knobs or Cabinet Handles?
Both cupboard knobs and cabinet handles work well on kitchen and furniture doors, and the best choice will often depend on the appearance you want to achieve.
Cupboard knobs provide a simple and traditional look and require only a single fixing point. They are particularly popular on painted kitchens, wardrobes and freestanding furniture.
Cabinet handles provide a larger gripping area and can be especially useful on larger or heavier doors and drawers.
Many kitchens combine both, using cupboard knobs on cabinet doors and handles or drawer pulls on drawers to create a practical and coordinated design.
Drawer Pulls
Drawer pulls provide a distinctive alternative to conventional cabinet handles.
Traditional cup-style and decorative drawer pulls work particularly well in painted kitchens, utility rooms, period properties and traditional furniture. More contemporary recessed or concealed pulls can create a cleaner appearance.
When replacing existing drawer handles, check the fixing arrangement carefully. Some pulls use a single fixing while others require two fixing holes at a specific distance apart.
Cabinet Turns
A cabinet turn provides a simple way of securing cupboard doors while adding a decorative piece of visible hardware.
They can work particularly well on traditional cabinetry, cupboards, wardrobes and bespoke furniture where the closing mechanism is intended to form part of the overall design.
Cabinet turns can also be coordinated with matching cupboard knobs, drawer pulls and other ironmongery to create a consistent finish.
Choosing a Cabinet Hardware Finish
The finish has a major influence on the final appearance of cabinet furniture.
Aged Brass, Antique Brass and Aged Bronze provide warmth and character and can work particularly well with painted timber, traditional kitchens and period-style interiors.
Polished Brass creates a brighter, more decorative appearance, while Satin Brass gives a softer and more understated finish.
Black cabinet hardware provides a strong contrast against light-coloured cabinetry and can suit both traditional and contemporary kitchens.
Nickel, chrome and other cooler metallic finishes can work particularly well where the interior has a cleaner or more modern design.
There is no requirement for every finish within a room to be identical, but choosing complementary finishes generally creates a more considered overall appearance.
Choosing the Correct Cabinet Handle Size
When selecting a cabinet handle, consider both the physical size of the door or drawer and the visual proportions of the handle.
Small handles can suit narrow drawers and compact cabinet doors, while larger doors and wide drawers can often accommodate longer handles or pulls.
For handles with two fixing points, check the fixing centres — the distance between the centres of the two screw holes.
If replacing existing cabinet handles, matching the existing fixing centres can make installation much easier and avoid leaving old holes visible.
Coordinating Cabinet Hardware
One of the easiest ways to create a professional-looking interior is to coordinate cabinet furniture with other visible ironmongery.
Cupboard knobs and handles can be selected to complement door handles, door knobs, shelf brackets, window furniture and other architectural hardware used throughout the room or property.
Using products from the same collection or finish family can be particularly effective in open-plan kitchens and living spaces where several different types of hardware are visible together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cabinet hardware?
Cabinet hardware is the collective term for the functional and decorative fittings used on cupboards, drawers and furniture.
It commonly includes cupboard knobs, cabinet handles, drawer pulls, cabinet turns and other furniture fittings.
What is the difference between cabinet hardware and cupboard hardware?
There is generally very little difference. The terms cabinet hardware, cupboard hardware and furniture hardware are often used interchangeably.
Cabinet hardware is simply a broader term covering knobs, handles, pulls and other fittings used on cabinetry and furniture.
Should I use knobs or handles on kitchen cabinets?
Either can work well.
Knobs provide a simple appearance and require only one fixing, while handles provide a larger gripping area. Many kitchens successfully combine knobs on cupboard doors with handles or pulls on drawers.
How do I measure cabinet handles?
For a handle with two fixing points, measure the distance from the centre of one fixing hole to the centre of the other.
This is normally referred to as the fixing centres or centre-to-centre measurement.
If replacing existing handles, matching this measurement can avoid having to drill new holes.
What size cupboard knobs should I choose?
The right size depends on the proportions of the cabinetry and personal preference.
Knobs around 25–40mm are commonly used on kitchen and furniture doors, with smaller knobs suiting compact cabinets and larger knobs creating a stronger visual feature.
Can I mix knobs and handles in the same kitchen?
Yes. Combining cupboard knobs, cabinet handles and drawer pulls can create a very attractive and practical kitchen.
The key is to maintain consistency through the finish, design style or product collection.
Which cabinet hardware finish should I choose?
Consider the colour and style of the cabinetry as well as the other visible fittings within the room.
Traditional interiors often suit Aged Brass, Antique Brass, Bronze and Pewter, while Satin Brass, Black, Nickel and Chrome can work particularly well in contemporary spaces.
Can I replace cabinet hardware without replacing the cabinets?
Yes. Changing cupboard knobs and handles is one of the simplest ways to update existing kitchen cabinets or furniture.
If replacing handles with new handles, checking the existing fixing centres before ordering can significantly simplify installation.
Need Help Choosing Cabinet Hardware?
With a large selection of designs, sizes and finishes available, choosing the right cabinet furniture can sometimes be difficult.
Roundtower Hardware supplies cabinet hardware throughout Ireland, including cupboard knobs, cupboard handles, drawer pulls, cabinet turns and complementary architectural ironmongery.
Browse our individual cabinet hardware collections online or contact our team if you need help coordinating styles, sizes and finishes for your kitchen or furniture project.
