How to Choose Handles for Your Kitchen Cabinets
The right hardware on your kitchen cupboards and drawers can make or break your new design
When you’re designing your kitchen, picking the perfect hardware for your cupboards might be one of those ‘save it until last’ details. Yet it pays to think ahead, as what you choose – or whether you decide, instead, to go for a handleless kitchen – will have a huge effect on the finished look. So get it right and factor in your choice from the start.
For practical reasons, cup handles are mostly just for drawers. But for cupboards? As you can see in this kitchen, the doors are finished with small round or oval metal knobs. As with drawer-cup handles, this is the convention.
Consider what you’ll pick for pull-down doors (used, for example, on integrated dishwashers), as Shaker cabinetry would happily sit with either a knob or a cup-style handle. Ask your kitchen designer for advice on small details like this in case there are practical considerations they can share to help you make your decision.
For less frequently used cupboards – a glass display cabinet, for example – a small, turn-latch handle is a nice addition. These are a bit fiddlier to open, so don’t have one on the doors of your other cabinetry or bins!
Consider what you’ll pick for pull-down doors (used, for example, on integrated dishwashers), as Shaker cabinetry would happily sit with either a knob or a cup-style handle. Ask your kitchen designer for advice on small details like this in case there are practical considerations they can share to help you make your decision.
For less frequently used cupboards – a glass display cabinet, for example – a small, turn-latch handle is a nice addition. These are a bit fiddlier to open, so don’t have one on the doors of your other cabinetry or bins!
Introduce the unexpected
Having said that, rules are for breaking, right? In this stylistically interesting kitchen, the Shaker aesthetic has been given a few characterful touches.
The chunky brass benchtop on that very modern island and the geometric pendant may be the first things you take in, but what about the handles on those drawers? The ornate brass bail pulls (as these handles are known) are the sort you might see on something like a Victorian mahogany writing desk. As such, they provide a playful contrast to the otherwise clean, boxy profile of the unit.
Having said that, rules are for breaking, right? In this stylistically interesting kitchen, the Shaker aesthetic has been given a few characterful touches.
The chunky brass benchtop on that very modern island and the geometric pendant may be the first things you take in, but what about the handles on those drawers? The ornate brass bail pulls (as these handles are known) are the sort you might see on something like a Victorian mahogany writing desk. As such, they provide a playful contrast to the otherwise clean, boxy profile of the unit.
Update the cup handle
Brass cup handles are a very popular choice for Shaker-style kitchens and look lovely against dark painted units like these.
However, if you love brass but want something that feels more modern with all the solid gravitas of tradition, you could try a design like this.
These diamond-cut brass bar handles appear to take inspiration from engineers’ files; nice, sturdy objects that have been in many generations of toolboxes and so feel suitably ‘proper’.
Brass cup handles are a very popular choice for Shaker-style kitchens and look lovely against dark painted units like these.
However, if you love brass but want something that feels more modern with all the solid gravitas of tradition, you could try a design like this.
These diamond-cut brass bar handles appear to take inspiration from engineers’ files; nice, sturdy objects that have been in many generations of toolboxes and so feel suitably ‘proper’.
Keep it contemporary
Want to ensure a sleek, modern finish? You can’t go wrong with practical oversized bar handles, partly because they’re the opposite of traditional.
Opt for an easy-to-clean finish, such as brushed steel, and enjoy the multi-functional nature of your hardware (you can hang tea towels from them, too).
Here, paired with an all-white bank of units, plus a pale timber floor to soften the overall effect, the handles tie in with other fittings – ovens, lighting and tap – so the kitchen feels pulled together, as well as fresh and contemporary.
Want to ensure a sleek, modern finish? You can’t go wrong with practical oversized bar handles, partly because they’re the opposite of traditional.
Opt for an easy-to-clean finish, such as brushed steel, and enjoy the multi-functional nature of your hardware (you can hang tea towels from them, too).
Here, paired with an all-white bank of units, plus a pale timber floor to soften the overall effect, the handles tie in with other fittings – ovens, lighting and tap – so the kitchen feels pulled together, as well as fresh and contemporary.
Cut it out
Who says you need hardware for your handles? With the right doors (solid wood, for example, rather than a laminated finish) a simple hole, strategically positioned, can look beautifully understated.
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Who says you need hardware for your handles? With the right doors (solid wood, for example, rather than a laminated finish) a simple hole, strategically positioned, can look beautifully understated.
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Go hell for leather…
Leather handles add an organic, handmade feel to even the plainest cabinets and drawers. They’re a savvy option if your new kitchen fund is tight, too. As with fashion, splashing out on the smaller details can elevate even a budget backdrop.
Consider how the visible metal of your fixings will coordinate with your tap, and, if you can, incorporate some bare timber, as seen here – it will be a natural partner for the leather.
Leather handles add an organic, handmade feel to even the plainest cabinets and drawers. They’re a savvy option if your new kitchen fund is tight, too. As with fashion, splashing out on the smaller details can elevate even a budget backdrop.
Consider how the visible metal of your fixings will coordinate with your tap, and, if you can, incorporate some bare timber, as seen here – it will be a natural partner for the leather.
…or make a modern mix
Like leather handles but don’t want them everywhere? Combine them with another design.
Here, the leather straps on the kitchen island work really well with the other natural materials at play, but the perimeter units have metal handles. These are fixed to the top edge of the door and drawer fronts, which makes for a clean, unfussy finish, as the handles don’t dominate.
A matt finish complements the kitchen’s other soft, contemporary finishes, including the strap handles.
Like leather handles but don’t want them everywhere? Combine them with another design.
Here, the leather straps on the kitchen island work really well with the other natural materials at play, but the perimeter units have metal handles. These are fixed to the top edge of the door and drawer fronts, which makes for a clean, unfussy finish, as the handles don’t dominate.
A matt finish complements the kitchen’s other soft, contemporary finishes, including the strap handles.
Take your position
Here, similar-shaped handles to those in the previous kitchen look very different thanks to a soft brass finish.
Note the positions of the handles on the cupboards: the under-sink door handle is pleasingly set away from the top edge, making it off-centre to the line of the drawer on its right (but inline with the floor-to-ceiling cupboards on its left).
Yet above, the wall unit has its handles right at the bottom of the doors with no gap.
In the tall cupboards to the left, the brass handles are positioned at the top and bottom of each door to create the effect of one long handle.
Here, similar-shaped handles to those in the previous kitchen look very different thanks to a soft brass finish.
Note the positions of the handles on the cupboards: the under-sink door handle is pleasingly set away from the top edge, making it off-centre to the line of the drawer on its right (but inline with the floor-to-ceiling cupboards on its left).
Yet above, the wall unit has its handles right at the bottom of the doors with no gap.
In the tall cupboards to the left, the brass handles are positioned at the top and bottom of each door to create the effect of one long handle.
Complete the circle
These round, inset handles were made to order by the designer (click on the image for more details). Circular shapes have been routed into each door and the handles – timber like the units – were then glued into place.
For something unique like this, choose a kitchen designer who’s happy to go bespoke, or find a good joiner or cabinet maker to make your doors and handles.
These round, inset handles were made to order by the designer (click on the image for more details). Circular shapes have been routed into each door and the handles – timber like the units – were then glued into place.
For something unique like this, choose a kitchen designer who’s happy to go bespoke, or find a good joiner or cabinet maker to make your doors and handles.
Ditch handles entirely
Handleless units are the ultimate in streamlined styling. While they’re a good option for minimalists, they’re also a surprisingly helpful choice if you love layering textures and accessories in your kitchen.
When you have enough decorative detail elsewhere – the flooring and bare bricks are very prominent here – handles could wind up looking fussy in the whole scheme of things.
Handleless units are the ultimate in streamlined styling. While they’re a good option for minimalists, they’re also a surprisingly helpful choice if you love layering textures and accessories in your kitchen.
When you have enough decorative detail elsewhere – the flooring and bare bricks are very prominent here – handles could wind up looking fussy in the whole scheme of things.
The designer of this texture-heavy kitchen has also made the most of the interesting surfaces by keeping them free of knobs and pulls.
The Ultimate Guide to a Handleless Kitchen
The Ultimate Guide to a Handleless Kitchen
Paint over it
Here’s another idea for the ever-popular Shaker look. Rather than metal knobs, go for wooden ones, so they can be painted to blend in with your units. The aesthetic is still traditional, but the lines are a little cleaner.
This is an especially good option in a compact kitchen, where keeping clutter to a minimum will help to visually expand the space.
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Here’s another idea for the ever-popular Shaker look. Rather than metal knobs, go for wooden ones, so they can be painted to blend in with your units. The aesthetic is still traditional, but the lines are a little cleaner.
This is an especially good option in a compact kitchen, where keeping clutter to a minimum will help to visually expand the space.
10 Ways to Highlight Heritage Style in the Kitchen
Choose colour continuity
Painted timber knobs aren’t the only way to go with a colour-matched door/hardware combination. Here, fixed to the edge of each door, vertically positioned long handles blend in, making them almost invisible. If you’re undecided about handleless, this could be a slick compromise.
Your turn
What kind of handles did you choose for your kitchen and why? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen design advice? Read up on Clever Tips and Tricks to Steal From UK Kitchen Stories
Painted timber knobs aren’t the only way to go with a colour-matched door/hardware combination. Here, fixed to the edge of each door, vertically positioned long handles blend in, making them almost invisible. If you’re undecided about handleless, this could be a slick compromise.
Your turn
What kind of handles did you choose for your kitchen and why? Share your experiences in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen design advice? Read up on Clever Tips and Tricks to Steal From UK Kitchen Stories
Sponsored
The painted, solid timber, Shaker-style kitchen is a trend that’s showing no signs of going anywhere. It’s a classic, after all.
For that reason, choosing the right hardware for your traditional kitchen can be a no-brainer; for drawers, brass-cup handles, like these, will lend an authentic feel.
Find a kitchen designer and renovator near you on Houzz, see images of their work and read reviews