If you want a space that leans towards more of the traditional side, the general rule to follow is knobs on doors and pulls on drawers. However, because bathrooms have small drawers and spaces, it is perfectly acceptable to use all knobs or pulls while still maintaining a traditional or modern look.
It's much easier and safer to mix different shapes of knobs and pulls in one matching finish. Think about the number of drawers and doors. It can be easier to make multiple styles of hardware work in a larger kitchen with many doors and drawers. Use one style for upper cabinets and a different style for lower cabinets.
Why Mix Cabinet Hardware? The two main reasons you may want to use more than one style of cabinet knob and pull are simple: style and function. From a style perspective, mixing different types of hardware can give a kitchen lots of character, adding subtle visual interest.
Matching hardware isn't necessary. In fact, I wouldn't argue against it — a home with all the same hardware finishes will look basic and maybe even boring. However, it is essential to have a plan that ensures commonality throughout the house.
The 3 simple rules for mixing cabinet hardware styles: 1) Keep the same finish for all hardware 2) Choose different styles for drawers and doors 3) Use the same pattern for all cabinetry. Choosing the right cabinet hardware is key to giving your entire chic interior design a distinctive personality.
On wall cabinets, knobs are usually placed 2-1/2” to 3” from the bottom corner of the door. On base cabinets, they are placed 2-1/2” to 3” from the upper corner of the door. On drawers and pull-out cabinets, drawer pulls and knobs are typically centered on the drawer front.
Most interior designers prefer the uniform look that matching fixtures give so that the focal point of the room design isn't interrupted. For homeowners, this is considered a personal choice; however, the design rule of thumb is regardless of style, you want to use the same metal and finish for all hardware (fixtures).
Bathroom faucets do not need to match light fixtures and doorknobs. In fact, by mixing finishes on your bathroom faucets, fixtures and doorknobs, the decor will be intriguing and layered instead of monotonous. However, take care that the finishes compliment each other. Aim for a cohesive style.
What usually looks best is a pull length that is about 1/3 the height of the cabinet door and 1/3 the width of the cabinet drawer. Your eyes follow the length of the pull up the height of the door or across the width of the drawer. Pulls don't have to all be the same length as long as the pull design is the same.
Take Cabinet Placement into Account
In many instances, knobs make it easier to open upper cabinets. Pulls, on the other hand, offer easier operation of lower cabinets.
Knobs tend to be used for cabinet doors, pulls tend to be used with both doors and drawers. They serve both function and style – You want to be able to open your shaker style drawers and doors easily, making all the handles within reach. You of course, also want them to play into the aesthetics of the room.
There is nothing wrong with mixing door knobs and door handles, although you may still want to keep the same finishing. Look at how you want to open the door and who should have access to a specific room: Door handles: Press down and pull/push the door open.
There are no strict rules to follow when choosing whether to select a knob or a pull or both. One preference is to use knobs for all doors and pulls for all drawers.
'Think of your cabinet hardware and kitchen faucet like jewelry,' says Xander Shreenan of Dowsing & Reynolds. 'One should complement the other; creating a beautiful and decorative kitchen that has been tailored to perfection. ' However, bear in mind that anything too matchy-matchy can look contrived.
The general rule of thumb is that knobs are best for cabinet doors, though you can certainly break said rule. “We might do a single knob on a smaller drawer,” says Gorsline.
It's fine to mix brass and chrome fixtures together, as well as brass and nickel. As the two most popular metallic shades, brass and chrome (or gold and silver) go well together and can be combined to add stylish contrast in the bathroom.
The toilet, tub, and sink are the three anchor points of your bathroom, so to make the room as visually appealing as possible, we do recommend that you choose matching colors and finishes for these three appliances. While there is a time to mix and match elements in the bathroom, we typically say this isn't it.
Generally, your hinges and knobs do not always have to match. There is nothing off-putting about the combination of bronze-colored knobs and silver hinges. However, like most things in interior design, it's all about your taste.
Try pairing shiny, polished fixtures with matte metals for a clean, modern look. For a sleek bathroom, try brushed finishes in complementary colors. Oil-rubbed bronze allows you to see just hints of bronze, so look for other warm-toned metals like polished bronze, copper, or even gold.
Neutrals like chrome, nickel and stainless look good on anything. Think of them as the classic white shirt of the bath—subtly sophisticated and easy to match with other accessories like towel holders and door pulls. Shiny chrome is the most popular bath finish and comes with an affordable price tag.
The rule – if your colors are different (silver tones, brass tones, brown tones, black tones) then you can mix the finishes. Here we mixed chrome and matte black. The plumbing fixtures, mirrors, and cabinet hardware are matte black, and we popped in a bright polished chrome on the light fixture.
Cabinet pulls and handles have certainly taken a more subtle track in recent years, but today's trends are even more forgiving. “After years of matte black hardware, we're starting to see a softer, edgier take on the shade: think charcoal, gunmetal, and nickel grays,” says DeRose.
Choosing Color and Finish Based on Tone
Hardware on white cabinets will stand out and steal the show, so it's a great opportunity to go bold! If you have warm tones, go with gold, black, or bronze hardware. If you have a cold grey tone, then silver, pewter, black, and stainless steel hardware will work.