38 Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Ideas

2021 Idea House Scullery — Photo:
Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

There are so many aspects to consider when designing or renovating a kitchen, so cabinetry hardware can often go overlooked. However, it's the finishing touch—the cherry on top, if you will—that completes the room.

Whether you're working with custom millwork or creatively painted stock cabinetry, selecting the just-right hardware goes a long way. The options are endless: Knobs and pulls come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention all the material options, from chrome to glass. And then you have to consider finishes: polished, burnished, or lacquered, just to name a few.

Hardworking spaces like the kitchen see a lot of action daily, so beyond aesthetics, you'll also want to consider your hardware's ease of cleaning, durability, and where to place it. Here are 38 kitchen cabinet hardware ideas, from paint combinations to styles that'll dress up any workhorse kitchen.

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Bold Blues and Brass

Dorothy Shain Henderson kitchen — JAMES RANSOM; STYLING: Veronica Olson

When you get super creative with paint like artist Dorothy Shain did in her home, the hardware is the cherry on top. These burnished brass cup pulls are the perfect pairing for the blue cabinetry, which is coated in Sherwin-Williams’ Blustery Sky, SW 9140.

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Traditional Latches

Open Kitchen Shelving with Sliding Ladder — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Traditional turn latches lend an old-school feel. In this kitchen, designer Stephanie Sabbe used a combination of latches and double knob drawers to give the farmhouse style an elevated look.

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Edge Pulls

2022 Idea House wet bar — PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE

This style of hardware can give you a clean, barely-there look, or they can add ample interest, like these coastal-inspired, polished brass edge pulls from Modern-Matter did in the 2022 Idea House.

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Polished Nickel on Black

Alabama Cabin Kitchen with Black Walls and Natural Wood Island Table — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Kiera Coffee

It doesn't take a lot to add contrast to a dark backdrop. A mix of simple silver hardware (also used throughout the kitchen) on black cabinetry makes a just-right statement in this minimalist, modern-style Alabama cabin.

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Recessed Pulls

Rural Cottage Kitchen — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

For an extra seamless look and simplistic feel, consider recessed lifting handles that lie flush with the cabinetry. These matte black handles make an polished statement against the unstained wood without garnering too much attention.

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Rustic Tones

Madison Spencer Virginia Cottage Kitchen Backsplash Detail Over the Sink — Dane Tashima; Styling: Elly Poston Cooper

Detailed antique-looking hardware from Whitechapel in two styles adds interest to the natural wood. This Virginia home is filled with nods to the land, including the salvaged fence boards used for the custom-made cabinetry.

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Dual Direction Pulls

Lake Wylie Kitchen — Brie Williams Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene

Mix the placement of the hardware with pulls installed vertically on upper cabinetry and horizontal on lower. To further dial up the charm, pair the sleek handles with a calming shade of blue-gray (Sherwin-Williams’ Krypton, SW 6247).

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Chunky Silver and Bold Hues

Pantry with dark blue cabinetry and walls — Laurey W. Glenn

This kitchen bar nook is all about making a statement. Thick and shiny silver hardware ties together the deep blue paint selection and charcoal gray, metallic-like backsplash.

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Earthy Pairings

Idea House 2023 Breakfast Nook Breakfast Room — Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Consider the rest of your kitchen's color palette when making hardware selections. For this green (Sherwin-Williams’ Meander, SW9522) cabinetry, designer Laura Hodges chose matte copper-hued pulls and knobs.

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Exterior Hinges and Painted Knobs

Erin & Ben Napier's Kitchen — Larsen & Talbert

Let unique hinges shine while the knobs blend in with paint. Ben and Erin Napierwanted their new kitchen to feel like the rest of the 1930s home, which meant selecting exposed hinges.

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Swan Neck Drop Pulls

Bright kitchen with dark fixtures — James Ransom

Add elegance to a hardworking space with drop-handles. The V-groove cabinetry washed in Sherwin-Williams’ Black Fox, SW 7020 paired with a mix of hardware styles (mushroom knobs, cup pulls, and drop-handles) give this old home's kitchen an updated look.

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Small-Scale Knobs

Maison Studio WaterColor, FL Neutral Kitchen with Shiplap Wall Backsplash — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

If you're not looking to make a statement with metal accents, small knobs and skinny pulls will blend right in. Even if you have tall kitchen cabinetry, that doesn't mean your hardware also has to be larger in scale.

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Moody Black and Green

Green kitchen with rustic accents — Laurey W. Glenn

Two shades of green set the tone in this moody yet energetic kitchen, while a mix of matte black cabinetry hardware blends right in. Designer and homeowner Rali Classen tied in the black with a striped rug.

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Subtle Details

Vintage Style Kitchen — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Whether on the knob itself or a metal plate flush with the cabinetry, subtle details are an easy way to add character to your kitchen, no matter the color of the room.

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Wrought Iron Feeling

European Style Kitchen with opening shelving and moving island — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Lizzie Cullen Cox

Let bold hardware standout as a decorative element in any kitchen. In this light-filled kitchen, designer Whitney McGregor paired soft white paint and dark wrought-iron-mimicking exposed hinges and pulls to create contrast that catches the eye.

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Ring Pulls

Fran Keenan Birmingham Cottage Kitchen — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Designer Fran Keenen selected antiqued brass ring pulls to use throughout this farmhouse-inspired Birmingham kitchen, which complements the natural wood hues.

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Contrasting Colors

Idea House 2020 Back Kitchen Pantry — Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface

In the 2020 Idea House, designer Lauren Leiss opted for darker metal cup pulls on the hardworking drawers, while porcelain cabinet knobs on the doors add a nice contrast and elevated feel.

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Oversized Pulls

Oversized cabinetry handles are a fun way to make a statement without causing a kitchen feel too busy or crowded. The contrast between dark metal and a lighter paint color, like this gray-blue, also adds personality.

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Natural Hues and Gold

Kitchen with green cabinets and woods floors and antique table — Alison Gootee

Bring the outside in by selecting a natural shade to paint your cabinetry and pairing it with gold-toned hardware. In designer Caroline Brackett's renovated kitchen, she used a mix of knobs and pulls.

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Patinaed Brass

Small kitchen with white cabinets and brown elements — âI like to use Charlieâs grand- motherâs silver teapots as flower vases and vessels around the house,â says Williams.
Brie Williams

Sometimes all it takes to revamp a kitchen is simply updating the hardware and giving the cabinetry a fresh coat of paint. In this kitchen, Molly Williams opted for Sherwin-Williams’ Extra White, SW 7006 and real brass hardware to brighten up the space.

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Uniquely-Shaped Kobs

2021 Idea House Living Room Dry Bar — Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

To really elevate your cabinetry, select one-of-a-kind knobs. In the 2021 Idea House, designer Sarah Bartholomew selected these pill-shaped tortoise pulls from Modern Matter.

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Matching Shine

white kitchen with black and white checkered flooring — Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Energize your kitchen with paint and hardware finishes. Designer Jeremy Clark refreshed this kitchen with glossy cabinetry and just-as-shiny round silver knobs with detailed ridges on the edge.

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Simple Cup Pulls

Idea House 2020 Kitchen with White Island and Dark lower Cabinets — Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kendra Surface

For a timeless kitchen in our 2020 Idea House, designer Lauren Liess leaned into the natural surroundings, pairing dark stained wood with patinaed brass cup pulls from House of Antique Hardware.

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Minimalistic Knobs

Lindsey Ellis Beatty kitchen — LAUREY W. GLENN

These miniature round knobs leave room for adding detail in other ways. Designer Lindsey Ellis Beatty loves a fresh palette, so in her kitchen, she opted to keep it simple except for adding a patterned tile backsplash.

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Antique Hardware

2021 Idea House Scullery Storage — Marta Xochilt Perez; Styling: Page Mullins

A simple latch adds intention to any cabinetry. In this kitchen, designer Sarah Bartholomew uses two styles of burnished brass hardware, cupboard turns and knobs, from Armac Martin to elevate the glass-front cabinetry.

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Casual Finger Pulls

Natural wood cabinetry kitchen — Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason

For a contemporary look, pair laid-back, dark colored finger pulls with light-hued cabinetry, like the black hardware and white oak combination in this kitchen.

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Glass Handles

Bandron Ingram Florida Cottage — Hector Manuel Sanchez

From classic farmhouse-style to mid-century modern kitchens, clear handles (glass, acrylic, or crystal) are always a fun addition that lightens up the room without sacrificing on pretty design.

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Gold and White

French country kitchen — Design by Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Keyanna Bowen

You can't go wrong with a classic pairing of creamy white and glistening gold. In her galley kitchen, interior decorator Rashida Banks painted the cabinetry Creamy White (OC-7) by Benjamin Moore and opted for polished brass mushroom-style knobs.

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Cut-Outs

Galley Kitchen Lights — Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Frances Bailey

If you can't find a hardware option you love, consider skipping it altogether in favor of cut-out pulls as seen in this simple, laid-back coastal kitchen.

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Brass on Black

Glass Kitchen Light Fixtures — Photo: Annie Schlechter; Styling: Matthew Gleason

To accent the timeless black and white kitchen, musician and serial house-fixer-upper Holly Williams used brass accents throughout, including simple hardware from Rejuvenation for a touch of sophistication on the cabinetry painted Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258).

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Novelty Knobs

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen — Photo: Roger Davies

If traditional styles aren't punchy enough for your kitchen, look to novelty knobs which come in all shapes, sizes, and designs.

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Tone-on-Tone Gray

Deep Gray Kitchen — Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

A sophisticated gray palette is always a safe choice. To keep the kitchen space extra clean and simple, consider tone-on-tone selections for your cabinetry color and hardware.

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Mixed Styles

High Gloss Green Kitchen Cabinets — Photo: Hector M. Sanchez

Why settle for selecting a single type of hardware when you can mix and match throughout? Here, three styles (round knobs, cup pulls, and arched handles) in the same finish create a cohesive look.

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Monochromatic Look

This two-toned kitchen with a natural palette features honey-hued cabinets and simple, small round knobs to maintain clean lines.

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Classic Silver

7. Kitchen #2: Rustic Breakfast Table — Photo: Eric Piasecki/Otto; design by Steven Gambrel

There's something elegant about cabinetry pulls that skew larger than necessary. For this two-toned cabinetry, silver drop bail handles play off of the homeowner's silver serving piece collection.

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Glass Knobs

Small Space Kitchen with Blue and White Wallpaper — Laura Negri Childers

Lend a playful feel to any kitchen with clear hardware. The brass accents help to tie in with the rest of the room's fixtures.

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Rope Handles

Nautical elements, such as the handsome rope pulls and the sailcloth shades, give this tiny Cape Cod cottage kitchen plenty of personality. — Photo: Annie Schlechter; Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Nautical elements, such as the casual rope pulls, give this small cottage kitchen plenty of character. Find ways to infuse your house with meaningful accents that nod to the home's surroundings.

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