Cabinetry Hardware Placement Guide (With Easy Examples)
As we’ve been focusing on updating our basement kitchen, I’ve had a few people reach out about hardware. Cabinetry hardware is often an afterthought while renovating, until it’s crunch time and things are wrapping up. I’m here to say- plan ahead for hardware! Above all, hardware needs to be functional, as it’s constantly being touched, pulled, and used to open cabinet doors & drawers, but aside from that- it really is the jewelry of a space. Be it a bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets, thoughtful hardware selection & placement can make a big difference in terms of design and usability. Click through for my best tips, guidelines, and easy examples!
Having replaced and upgraded our cabinet doors in the basement kitchen, I just installed new hardware- using both knobs and pulls. Sharing that process produced some valid questions… when to use knobs versus pulls? What size should you buy? Where should they be installed on the cabinet… on the rail? In the center of the panel? Do certain cabinets require larger or more hardware? I wanted to share specific placement and hardware type suggestions for creating a space that is both beautiful and functional- because hardware is an easy and impactful update!
4 Quick Design Tips & Hardware Guidelines
A few guidelines that may help your hardware dilemma. Keep these in mind…
- Mix Hardware Types – Kitchens should have a mixture of cabinet pulls, knobs, latching hardware, or bin pulls for layered interest.
- Keep the Finish Consistent – Use the same finish for all cabinetry hardware (polished nickel, antique brass, matte black, etc).
- Consider Functionality – Above all else, the cabinet door or drawer must be functional and easy to open. This impacts hardware shape, size, and placement.
- Appliances Should Have a Specialty Pull – What does that mean? Panel ready cabinetry fitted for appliances should have an oversized pull that fits the scale of the appliance and is heavy duty for easy use (specifically for freezers, refrigerators, ice makers, dishwashers, etc).
Knobs or Pulls?
Knobs or pulls is really a personal preference! I’d say my aesthetic leans more traditional, so I prefer knobs on doors and pulls OR knobs on drawers. The good news is… you can use either and the end result will still look amazing! It’s more about the scale and placement, in my opinion.
Appliance Pulls
As I previous mentioned, many panel ready appliances require oversized pulls for functionality and aesthetics (for visual balance & proportion). You can search specifically for “appliance pulls” when sourcing hardware. Make sure to choose the same finish as your other cabinetry hardware, take scale into consideration, and when installing- make sure the placement is functional for easy use. An example? Place the hardware at a comfortable pull height for refrigerator door leverage when opening. On a dishwasher, I always make sure the hardware is installed near the top of the panel…
Placement Examples (1 Kitchen… 5 Looks)
I quickly sketched a kitchen vignette and wanted to show you five different looks using different hardware combinations.
My preference is the first one, but the other four also work well! Which is your favorite?
Scale
One of my biggest tips is to choose hardware that is appropriate for the scale of your cabinet drawer or door. When drawers are 24″ or wider, double up on hardware (that could be knobs or pulls, depending on your preference). Replicated hardware should be installed in thirds- like the example above.
Another option for oversized doors and drawers? An extra long pull centered in the panel… like the below example:
Knob & Pull Placement for Installation
Functionality will look a little different for everyone and there are many contradicting opinions on hardware placement. I’ll make it easy and share my own formula, then you can decide if that works for you (functionally and visually).
Knob placement on doors: I center the knob left to right on the rail / stile, then set it at the edge of the corner, or centered with that stile line. I think that looks most balanced and works well for opening doors. Both work well…
Knob placement on drawers: I center the knob within the panel (top to bottom), then either centered in the panel or on thirds (depending on how many knobs I’m using per drawer)…
Pull placement on doors: Though pulls on doors aren’t always my favorite, there is a place and time for them. I center the pull left to right on the rail / stile, then set it at the edge of the corner. Occasionally, I’ll also add an inch or two for functionality…
Pull placement on drawers: This is dependent on the function and size of the drawer, but more often than not, they’re centered in the panel. For longer drawers, I’ll use double pulls (set on thirds)…
Appliance pull positioning: For dishwasher appliance pulls (which are mostly doors), I’ll center it on the rail / stile at the top (for best functionality). For the refrigerator appliance pulls, it’s more depending on a comfortable reach for leverage, but something like this…
FAQ
It’s really just personal preference. I prefer knobs on doors and pulls OR knobs on drawers.
I always sketch it out. Seeing something on paper always helps. You can also take a photo with you phone, print it out, and mark the hardware accordingly.
I’d rather mix metals elsewhere in the space (plumbing fixtures, lighting, etc), but keep all of the cabinetry hardware consistent, in terms of finish. I always try to keep designing a cohesive home at the back of my mind, and I think consistency within a room is key.
Related
More renovating posts that may be helpful for your project? Be sure to check out the following!
- How to Replace & Upgrade Your Cabinet Doors
- Classic Brass Cabinetry Knobs from Amazon
- Breaking Down My Kitchen Cabinetry Hardware
- Your Complete Guide to Replacing Cabinetry Hardware
- How We Choose : Hardware
- How to Select Different Countertop Edge Profiles
I hope this post shared some valuable info, and made hardware placement a bit easier to understand! Be sure to save it, bookmark, or pin it for future renovations. I’m looking forward to continuing along with our basement kitchen renovation. I’ll be sharing as things progress. What home projects are you looking forward to? Have anything fun on your home to-do list this year? I’m happy to answer any hardware questions in the comment section below…