Cabinet Knob Placement You can place the knobs in the lower corner of the cabinet door frame. This is the truest-of-true traditional looks. You can place the knobs just above or below the corner of the cabinet door frame.
Knobs can be placed on both cabinetry doors + drawers. Mounted on the door stile, cabinet knobs are placed on the opposite side of the door hinge + typically 2-½” to 3” from the bottom corner of the door for upper cabinets. While on base cabinets knobs are usually placed 2-½” to 3” from the upper corner of the door.
The 1/3 rule in cabinet hardware is a design guideline that helps achieve balanced proportions when selecting drawer pulls and cabinet handles. According to this rule, the length of the pull should be approximately one-third the width of the drawer or cabinet door.
The traditional approach typically involves centred handle placement on the inset panel, about 2.5 inches from the bottom of the cabinet door. This classic placement creates a sense of balance and time-honoured elegance within the kitchen.
Using a pull that is approximately 1/3 the length of the drawer is a good rule of thumb. When in between sizes, size up. Cabinet doors do not follow the 1/3 rule. Generally, pulls between 5 - 7" for uppers are a safe choice - go larger for a more contemporary look.
Matte black kitchen hardware remains a top choice for 2024, continuing to dominate as a versatile and sophisticated option for modern kitchens. This sleek finish adds a touch of elegance that pairs beautifully with various cabinet colors and styles, and offers the perfect balance of boldness and refinement.
CUP HANDLES
' A cup handle is generally used on drawers, or cabinets that pull out such as a dishwasher, and would be placed central on the drawer and top centre on a pull out door. Should you have a wide pan drawer, you could use two cups per drawer, but usually this would be for drawers over 800 wide.
The best handles for shaker style kitchen cabinets can depend on personal preference and the desired aesthetic, but popular choices include oil rubbed bronze cup pulls, tubular bar pulls, and matte black hardware. These options complement the classic look of shaker cabinets while adding a touch of modern elegance.
Your door handle, along with any latches, pulls, or locks, should be placed at least 34 inches from the floor and no higher than 48 inches from the floor. This gives you a bit of wiggle room on where to place your handles. However, it's important to note that you'll ideally be measuring from a finished floor.
There are many ways to mix and match hardware! And although there's no one hard and fast rule on when to use knobs versus pulls, consistency is important. You want to make sure your hardware size is appropriate to the drawer width, but from there you can carve out a plan based on personal preference.
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.
Small Drawers that are 12” or less typically work best with a pull that is 3” to 4” long or a knob that is 1” in diameter. Large Drawers that are 30” to 48"will require a pull that is longer than 8" or a knob that is 1" in diameter or greater. Using two pulls or knobs for a large drawer also works great.
“Wood Knobs, in either walnut, white oak, or painted to match the cabinetry, are a cornerstone of cottagecore kitchens,” she says. “They nod to traditional millwork, but in updated playful colors and elevated wood materials, can add a casual modernity to any simple cabinet door styling.”
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. Lastly, if you have tall drawers, you can either center them in the overall drawer, or install them on the top rail.
Cabinet knobs should be installed on the side opposite the hinges. The general rule is to place a knob 2 ½ to 3 inches from the corner of the door. For upper cabinets, install knobs in the bottom corners of the door. For lower cabinets, place them in the upper corners.
Use bold colours
Traditional Shaker kitchens feature decorated furniture in shades of blue, green, red and yellow, while neutral shades like grey and cream are also popular. Bold colours will instantly modernise a Shaker kitchen and draw attention to the cabinetry, as seen in our green Shaker kitchen.
Hardware Placement on Cabinet Doors
Both knobs and pulls are almost always centered horizontally on the door stile (the frame piece that runs vertically). Some companies place knobs a little higher or lower on the stile than others, with the range typically between 2″ and 4″ from the bottom or top edge of the door.
Centered on the Inset Panel: This is where you place the knob or pull handle on the center of the recessed drawer panel (the inset). This is the most common hardware placement on Shaker cabinets. Center of the Top Rail: You can place the knob or pull handle on the center of the top rail portion.
Another common mistake is ignoring the proportions of your cabinet doors and drawers. Handles that are too large for small cabinets can overwhelm the design, while tiny handles on large cabinets may look disproportionate. Aim to strike a balance by choosing a handle size that complements the scale of your cabinetry.
Practical Tips. Keep Functionality and Comfort in Mind: Handles are better equipped to deal with heavier items like pulling a drawer, while cabinet knobs are better suited for doors.
Start by storing items as close as possible to their most frequent “point of use.” For example, place glassware near the sink and mugs near the coffee maker. Keep flatware, plates, and bowls in the drawers and cabinets nearest to the dishwasher to make unloading easier.
The center-to-center sizing is usually expressed in inches or millimeters. Common measurements include 3 inches (76 mm), 3.75 inches (96 mm), 4 inches (102 mm), and 5 inches (128 mm), although other sizes are also available.