Choosing Hardware for your Kitchen | My 5 Step Process

Choosing hardware can be tough! I’m sharing the 5 step process I used to pick the hardware for our new kitchen cabinets and giving you a glimpse at what it looks like.

There are so many choices when it comes to hardware, and the hardware in your kitchen can make a huge statement.  Let’s make sure your space says what you want it to.

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*This post and video are sponsored by Atlas Homewares. All opinions are my own.

The pulls and knobs I picked for our kitchen are created by Atlas Homewares.  This is the Browning collection and I opted for this matte Champagne color for the Browning Pull and the Browning Knob – which I just adore. 

But I gotta tell you when I was designing the kitchen, it took me a while to find the hardware that spoke to my soul and I understand it can be a process to make this decision.  After all, they say that hardware is like the jewelry of the home, so you want to be sure you pick something you feel comfortable wearing for a long time!

I’ve partnered up with Atlas to help walk you through deciding on the finishes you like, style options and hopefully you’ll come away with a process to take to help you find the hardware that suits your style best.

When I found myself overwhelmed by this decision, here are the 5 steps I took to decide on the hardware for my kitchen cabinets.

STEP 1 – RESEARCH, OBSERVE, AND BE INSPIRED

When I know I have a design decision to make, I begin my research!  I also start noticing products in other homes I visit and see, whereas I would have overlooked them before.  This is all a huge part of finding what you like best and discovering what you don’t like – which is equally important.

So first of all, start a Pinterest board for hardware, like I did – and start pinning your favorite images.  See if you can find a trend in what you pinned. Are you drawn to warm metals? Do you like your hardware big and bold or sleek and minimal?  What color are the cabinets that go with the hardware you like? Is it similar to the colors of your space?

All good questions to ask while you are researching hardware.  For me, there were a few exceptions but I was definitely being drawn to the warmer metal tones and hardware that was more simple and classic.  My eyes wanted to avoid high contrast like black hardware on white cabinets. Not saying that is a bad thing, it was just something I noticed I didn’t want for this particular home and space – which was an important observation for me to make.

STEP 2 – CONSIDER THE FINISH

Before I even began shopping for my selection, I narrowed down the finish I was looking for.  Making this decision first made finding the perfect piece much easier.

This can be as easy as deciding if you want black or white, gold or silver – something general that will get you in the right ballpark.  But be mindful, hardware finishes are never that simple!

You are going to be faced with decisions like polished nickel or brushed nickel, Venetian bronze or slate, french gold or lacquered brass . . . all of which might leave you a little confused and overwhelmed.

There might be a certain metal or finish you know you are after, but if you can at least go into your search knowing if you want, for example – a warm metal, a stainless steel metal, a matte black finish, etc. – you’ll be able to narrow down your search much quicker.  I really like how Atlas Homewares has the option to shop by finish, which made my job a lot easier. If just viewing the vast amount of finish options leaves you unsure, step number 4 will help you feel confident in that decision, but first let’s visit step number 3 . . . 

STEP 3 – CONSIDER THE STYLE

Hardware companies are very creative these days, and there is a multitude of styles to pick from.  You should be able to find some that suit the style of your home, whether that be industrial style, rustic, traditional, modern, or what have you.

You may want simple and minimalistic, or you may want to bring home all the glam.  Finding your style is mostly just about viewing the options and seeing what your eye is drawn to, but you’ll also want to consider function.

Do you like a cup-style pull, where you open in an underhand position?  Or do you need a T-bar style pull because you might find yourself with full or dirty hands and a foot comes in handy?  Do you want a curved pull so the edge doesn’t catch on your shirt or apron? Does the style you want have the finish option you want?  What style is going to be easiest to clean?

Just some helpful questions for you to ask as you are selecting the style you want.

STEP 4 – ORDER SAMPLES

Okay, step number four is so important!  Don’t skip it! Whether you plan to order online or from a store, you’ll want to bring home a selection to choose from.  It’s a lot like paint, and the finish or color might look different than you expect in your space, and you’ll want to make sure it coordinates with your cabinet colors as you hoped.  This is especially important when you order online.  

It’s hard to get an accurate depiction of the finish from the images on your computer.  I thought for sure I wanted the French Gold on this Browning collection, but I ordered a Champagne color just to see.  Once I got them in my hands, I didn’t hesitate and knew Champagne was exactly what I was looking for – a nice matte warm metal that wasn’t too brassy or too glammy.  Simple and understated, and yet noticeable and unique.

Had I not ordered several styles and finishes, I wouldn’t have found this beauty that works perfectly on my white and blue cabinets.

Order both knobs and pulls for the finishes and styles you like, and again, don’t skip this step and order at least a few that you think might work.  It’s nice to feel it in your hands before you make a big commitment. If you order from Atlas, you can always return the pieces you won’t be using.

STEP 5 – GET A COUNT OF KNOBS AND PULLS

Before you order all the hardware, it’s important to figure out how many knobs and pulls you need.  

There may be some hard and fast designer rule on where to place knobs and where to place pulls – but I didn’t care for that.  It may seem the obvious choice to put pulls on drawers and knobs on cabinets, but you can certainly get creative!

I opted to do 2 knobs on the longer drawers, single knobs on the shorter drawers, and pulls on the deep drawers – that would likely require the assistance of my foot on occasion.  I liked how the double knob mimicked what might be found on a bedroom dresser, and I felt like that many pulls would be too busy.

I also opted to keep with the same size of pull for the fridge panel ready cover, helping our wall of cabinets look more seamless.

Think about how you might open each cabinet if a pull or knob would feel best, and how they might look once they are all installed.  You’ll be grateful you ordered some samples of knobs and pulls to hold up and compare.

SUMMARY

There you have it!  My 5 step process for selecting hardware for your kitchen.  But perhaps my best advice is to just go with your gut. Resist the urge to ask 50 other people for their opinions – which will only leave you second-guessing yourself.

I hope this has been helpful!  I’d love to discuss what finishes and styles are your favorites in the comments below.  Or feel free to share images of your favorite hardware in your home or that you’ve seen online.  

When we all come together, we can find loads of inspiration for do-it-yourself living.

DID YOU SEE ANY FAVORITES?

Click around to see the listings for the hardware you see in my images. This could also be a good guide for discovering finishes you like.

1. Browining Pull in French Gold

2. Browning Pull in Champagne

3. Dot Pull Matte Black

4. Skinny Linea Pull Polished Stainless Steel

5. Steam Punk Pull Graphite

6. Tableau Brushed Nickel Squared Handle

7. Polished Cup Brass Pull

8. Browning Knob in French Gold

9. Browning Knob in Champagne

10. Robin Egg Knob Aged Bronze

11. High White Gloss Round Knob

12. Elizabeth Warm Brass Knob

13. Vintage Brass Round Knob

I hope that was helpful! Let me know if you found a piece or style that you really like in these images. Thanks for reading!