Popular Kitchen Hardware Styles
A cabinet hardware style helps create or complement the look of your kitchen. Some of the most common hardware styles include traditional, modern, farmhouse and rustic designs.
Traditional Hardware
You can often recognize traditional drawer pulls and cabinet knobs by embellishments, ornamentation and details that go beyond just function.
Modern Hardware
A clean, minimalistic look characterizes modern kitchen drawer pulls and cabinet knobs. These pulls and knobs are simple and sophisticated rather than showy.
Farmhouse Hardware
Farmhouse pulls and knobs help give you a welcoming, cozy feel and create the look of a country kitchen.
Rustic Hardware
Rustic drawer pulls and cabinet knobs give your cabinets an old-fashioned look and a rugged appeal. You can also find novelty rustic hardware in outdoor themes with shapes ranging from leaves and branches to fish and bears.
Popular Kitchen Hardware Finishes
Within the different styles, you’ll find a range of finishes. Different finishes contribute to the overall look of the hardware. Here are some of the more popular finishes to consider:
Chrome
Chrome knobs and drawer pulls offer a stylish look. If you’re concerned about fingerprints or want the look without the gloss, try satin or brushed chrome.
Polished Nickel
Polished nickel cabinet knobs and pulls have a similar gloss and sophistication to chrome but offer a warmer look. Again, look for satin or brushed nickel to reduce fingerprints.
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
Oil-rubbed bronze cabinet knobs and drawer pulls give you the look of well-worn refinement and elegance that works especially well with natural wood cabinets.
Matte Black
Matte black finishes on knobs and pulls for kitchens present a modern look, offering high-contrast hardware for white cabinets or a more minimalist, understated appeal for dark cabinets.
Brass
Brass knobs and pulls add warmth to a kitchen and look particularly elegant against navy cabinets. Options run from antique and brushed to distressed and polished. Or, for a finish that’ll change as it ages, look for unlacquered brass.
Cabinet Hardware Ideas
Ready to see the pieces come together? Browse some trending kitchen hardware ideas to see which style would look best in your space. Remember that hardware is just part of the total look of your kitchen, so whichever hardware style or finish you choose, make sure it works with other elements, such as appliances, countertops and fixtures.
Matte Black Cabinet Hardware
Using matte black or flat black drawer pulls and cabinet knobs adds dramatic contrast with a white color scheme. Against the backdrop of a white farmhouse sink, white backsplashes and white cabinets, the black, round cabinet knobs give this kitchen a classic look.
Modern Cabinet Hardware
For an updated look, keep the look of white cabinets and black hardware but swap round pulls for modern cabinet hardware, like this wrapped bar design that has pulls installed as handles on kitchen cabinets instead of knobs. Matte black also works on natural wood and navy blue.
Gold Cabinet Hardware
Gold cabinet hardware, like these brushed brass drawer pulls and cabinet knobs, pair stylishly with darker cabinets, such as navy or this slate gray. Gold cabinet hardware with a glossy finish adds elegance and reflects light, creating a look of contemporary luxury.
Two-Tone Hardware
Combining finishes, as with these gold and chrome pulls, capitalizes on the look of mixed metals. These pulls pair a matte gold with the shine of chrome, blending finishes and texture. And oversized pulls aren’t just on trend, they also make a small kitchen feel larger.
Cupboard Latches
External cupboard latches give a traditional look and extra depth. Shown here in a bathroom, these latches also look great on glass-front kitchen cabinets with traditional-style drawer pulls. Give old-world style a modern twist with a satin chrome finish.
Rustic Kitchen Hardware
Rustic and farmhouse cabinet hardware gives your kitchen an old-fashioned appeal. The textured, handmade look of these distressed black iron cabinet knobs and drawer pulls complements this gray drawer or works in contrast with white Shaker-style cabinets.
Old-World Style With Modern Design
The modern design of these clear and oil-rubbed bronze knobs bridges early 20th century style with contemporary elegance. Installing ceramic knobs is another way to add old-world charm. White knobs and pulls look great on stained-wood Shaker cabinets, and a touch of chrome adds modern appeal.
Don’t forget to update your cabinet hinges. Whether you choose hardware that looks best with the traditional appeal of flush hinges, prefer a more minimalist look with concealed hinges or want the functionality of soft-close hinges, you can find the right option for your kitchen hardware.
Go Beyond Cabinet Hardware
Once you’ve chosen your new cabinet hardware and updated the doors and drawers with their new look, take the project a little further. This is a great time to consider upgrading your kitchen sink’s faucet, which is another relatively easy DIY project. Round out the room’s fresh features by choosing a faucet that complements or matches the hardware and creates a cohesive look. A copper faucet could pair perfectly with bronze cabinet hardware with copper undertones. Or if you just added black knobs, consider a matching black faucet. This is also a good time to decide if you’d like a different type of faucet. Think about options like pull-down or touchless models, and choose one that’ll best suit your needs and make kitchen tasks easier — and more stylish.