How to Pick Knobs for Your Kitchen

Posted November 6, 2019 by Elise Le Sage

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, hardware like knobs and pulls are the icing on the cake. These finishing touches can add flair to your cabinets and help you achieve your desired style. Having trouble deciding which knobs will complete your dream kitchen? Here are some variables to consider:

A modern kitchen with Metro Gloss Slate with an acrylic counter top and with black knobs and pulls.
Add your own personal touch to your cabinets by finding a style that best appeals to you.

Cabinet Style

What look are you going for in your kitchen? Traditionally styled cabinets look best with decorative hardware, while simple, flat-faced cabinets call for more minimalist hardware like simple finger pulls—or no pulls at all. Cup pulls compliment shaker cabinets in country and cottage-style kitchens. Likewise, if you’re going for a more ornate kitchen style—such as Old World or Mediterranean—baroque, ornamental hardware can really embellish the look.

Want individualized help matching your hardware to your cabinet styles? Visit our design experts at Cabinets To Go. Our one-on-one consultations and free 3D kitchen designs will help you hone your style.

A modern kitchen with Manhattan Graphite cabinets, Citadelle countertops, and silver pulls.
It’s important to consider color scheme for knobs and pulls, counter top, and cabinets to all match.

Color Scheme 

Metals

Before choosing your hardware, take note of the other metals in your kitchen. What colors are your sink, refrigerator, and appliances? Fans of uniformity may seek out hardware the same shade as these pieces, however, you don’t have to color-match perfectly to achieve a coordinated look. For example, if you’ve chosen a sink with the popular chrome or brushed nickel finishes, consider black, dark bronze, pewter, white, or glass hardware. These color combinations compliment one another without matching exactly.

Cabinets

Likewise, you’ll want to consider the color of your cabinets while you browse hardware selections. Are your cabinets warm or cool in tone? Warmer metallic tones like bronze, copper, and gold can either contrast cool-toned cabinets (think Metro Gloss Slate or Manhattan Graphite), or compliment warm-toned ones (like our Westminster Glazed Toffee collection), and vice versa. Whether you want to compliment or contrast is up to you. For decisions like these, our 3D kitchen designs really come in handy.

Closeup of Manhattan Graphite cabinets with flat black pulls and round knobs mixed with a metallic silver dishwasher and Windrock counter tops.
Finding the right hardware is important so you enjoy what you’re using every day.

Tactile Feel

Remember, you’ll be using this hardware every day; you want to make sure it feels comfortable. Visit one of our showrooms to try out our wide selection of knobs and pulls. This will give you a chance to see which pull length and knob shape feels best for you. Perhaps you’ll find you prefer the feel of cup pulls over finger pulls, or maybe you’ll fall in love with a certain style.

If you’re having trouble making up your mind, feel free to consult one of our kitchen experts. It’s always good to try something out in-person before it enters your daily routine.