The cabinet hardware finish should coordinate with the cabinet color. White cabinets look great with just about any hardware finish, but light- and dark-colored cabinets should be paired with hardware finishes that make the pulls—and hinges if they're visible—pop.
Does cabinet hardware have to match your faucet? No. But, traditionally kitchens and bathrooms will match hardware finishes to the faucet to tie the finishes in the room together. Matching cabinet hardware to your faucet creates a cohesive look.
MIXING HARDWARE METALS
Always match your hardware finishes! If the cabinet knobs are polished nickel, then the appliance pulls must also be polished. If you want to make a particular area stand out (such as the hutch that holds your fine china), use distinct hardware.
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.
Cabinet pulls give a sleek visually appealing look to cabinet doors and 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.
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.
The quick answer is no, they don't, but they should complement each other and blend with the rest of the house. For instance, brushed nickel hardware in a kitchen with chrome lights doesn't work because the finishes look too similar, and they are different styles (traditional vs. contemporary).
The beauty of black hardware is that it is timeless. Black is a classic color and will add elegance to any kitchen. Brass is another very trendy hardware option. Just like black hardware, brass works with all decor styles.
Update Hardware and Fixtures
Look for warm metals like bronze, copper, gold, and brass. They'll look stunning against the warmth of your oak cabinets.
Don't underestimate the power of black hardware. "Black and white is a classic and timeless combination, so black hardware in a white kitchen will never go out of style," says Laura Roberts of Laura Roberts Interiors.
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.
Contrasting colors will make the new hardware stand out and give some visual breaks in the monotony of overwhelming golden oak (this is the magic power of distraction) - black, dark oil-rubbed bronze and bright chrome offer the best contrast.
We often get asked if all of the finishes in a room need to match perfectly. To that, we answer: absolutely not. Don't be afraid to pair natural brass cabinet hardware with black pendants, surface mounts, or wall sconces.
And there's no hard and fast rule when choosing, generally if your hinges are exposed they should match your handles and knobs finishes. But, of course, not everything has to match, it's common for finishes on door handles and other hardware to blend but necessarily be exact matches.
Most of the time the kitchen faucet should match cabinet hardware!” But, sometimes strategically placing different metals next to each other can work for you, add interest or even make a statement.
Matte Black & Gold Cabinet Hardware
Whether separate or together these colours are dominating the 2023 kitchen trends. Perfect for modern or traditional hardware these colours are complimentary to all types of cabinetry colours.
Matte Black Continues
Matte black hardware will continue its dominance in 2023, and we can't get enough! This trend is ideal when used as part of a monochrome decor scheme or as a statement piece against bright colors.
White is the most timeless cabinet color of all, with popularity dating back over half a century. It's hard to beat the crisp, clean beauty of bright white cabinets. They lighten the entire room and lend a refreshing, airy feel.
BRUSHED NICKEL
Brushed/Satin nickel will never go out of style. It is very versatile because it goes with almost any cabinet color and matches great with stainless steel appliances.
White. Few paint colors stand the test of time quite like white. "Honestly, the only color in my opinion that will never go out of style—in the sense that you can never really pinpoint when it was done—is white cabinets," says Shaolin Low, principal and founder of Studio Shaolin.
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.
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.