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.
Door handles, fixtures and fittings, and other hardware don't have to match exactly, but they should blend together to make a harmonious space.
Yes, mixing knobs and pulls on kitchen cabinets will help you use them more easily. You can always choose to purchase only knobs or pulls for all of your cabinet hardware, but we advise homeowners to consider how practical your choice will feel on a daily basis.
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. Every so often we will break this rule for small drawers or small spaces, such as bathrooms. But you really cannot go wrong when sticking to this overall guideline.
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.
Traditionally knobs are used for cabinet doors and pulls are used on cabinet drawers however these days anything goes. You will often see people using knobs for drawers for consistency or based on the size of the drawers.
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.
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.
Rather than using two pulls on wide drawers, you can use a single pull that is longer in length. This can offer a cleaner, more contemporary appearance and it also is easier to operate your drawers with. Using a pull that is approximately 1/3 the length of the drawer is a good rule of thumb.
A smaller sized knob or pull is appropriate for a smaller door or drawer. A good rule of thumb for traditional or transitional style pulls is that they should be about one-third of the length of the cabinet drawer. Drawers larger than eighteen inches wide may require more than one pull or knob.
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.
You can always mix things up use knobs for drawers and pulls for cabinets, as I did above. This is the best of both worlds and gives you the best hardware for the job in each case. One key to keeping it cohesive is to use square knobs with squared-off pulls or rounded knobs with rounded pulls.
Overall, to cut a long story short, contemporary and modern cabinets work in harmony with simple knobs and pulls. You can also mix and match them to create a complementary look, like the transition kitchen. Traditional-style spaces demand much more intricate hardware, making pulls the more common selection.
Do I have to use the same finish throughout the house? Matching hardware isn't necessary.
All types of hardware look good on shaker cabinets. Yet, the hardware that looks best depends on the style of your kitchen space. For a modern, classic, and simple look, pulls are the best option. For a contemporary or vintage look, knobs or ornate hardware would look best.
Color: You'll generally want your floor guide to blend in, so choosing a color like matte black, stainless-steel silver, or white is common. For a fun color pop, choose a color that is opposite the dominant color of your door.
For really wide drawers, we always recommend using two cup pulls, and then evenly space them. As a general rule of thumb, if your drawer is 30″ or wider, I like to use two cup pulls.
Drawers wider than 18″ need two knobs/pulls, whereas drawer narrower need only one.
For standard size cabinetry (dimensions of 12″ – 36″) the most common pull sizes are 3”, 4”, 96mm, and 128mm center to center (from one screw hole to another).
Sleek Modern Pulls. Slim and sleek pulls are still the most popular cabinet hardware style. Modern bar pulls, whether tubular or square are top sellers, and for good reason. They look great on most cabinets, come in many finishes, and are a flexible design choice.
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.
Replacing Cabinet Knobs With Handles
Knobs require one hole; pulls usually require two holes. Going from one hole to two holes on cabinet doors is usually a simple matter since the holes are aligned vertically. You can reuse the previous hole and add a second hole.
Yes, metals like brass are classic, and lucite pulls are glamorous, but a pop of color is where it's at in 2023. Introduce a touch of whimsy into your kitchen with turquoise pulls that pop against white slab cabinets, as seen here in Parisian flat designed by Fabrizio Casiraghi.
Choosing Color and Finish Based on Tone
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. Take note of lighting, appliances, and other metal accents in the room and stick to the same tone.