Kitchen hardware is a bit like jewellery for your kitchen. It might seem like a small detail, but it can completely change the look and feel of a space. The tricky part? There are approximately one million options, and somehow they all start looking the same after you've been scrolling for two hours.
Here are my top five tips for choosing hardware you'll still love long after the renovation dust has settled.
1. Start With Your Overall Style
Before you choose a handle, think about the feeling you're trying to create.
Design tip:
A shaker kitchen suits classic cup pulls or traditional handles. Contemporary kitchens often look best with streamlined bar pulls or integrated hardware.
If your style is somewhere in between (which most of us are), simple timeless designs are usually the safest bet.
Remember: hardware should complement the kitchen, not compete with it.
2. Test It With Your Actual Hands
This sounds obvious, but I can't tell you how many beautiful handles I've seen that are surprisingly awkward to use.
Design tip:
If possible, visit a showroom and physically try them. You'll be opening these drawers and cupboards every single day. If the handle digs into your fingers, catches on your clothes or feels awkward now, it won't improve with time.
A kitchen should work beautifully, not just photograph beautifully.
3. Mix Metals Carefully
Yes, you can absolutely mix metals. No, it doesn't mean every finish in the showroom needs to come home with you.
Design tip:
Stick to two finishes maximum. For example, brass hardware with black tapware can look beautiful. The secret is making it look intentional rather than accidental.
Think curated, not confused.
4. Bigger Is Usually Better
One of the biggest mistakes people make is choosing handles that are too small for the scale of the cabinetry.
Design tip:
Longer handles on larger drawers often look more balanced and are easier to use. Tiny handles can make a beautiful kitchen feel a little underdone — a bit like wearing runners with a ball gown.
Scale matters more than most people realise.
5. Don't Forget Maintenance
That gorgeous polished finish may look stunning on Day One. Day Thirty? Maybe not so much.
Design tip:
If you have young children (or husbands who never seem to have clean hands), consider how the finish will wear. Brushed brass, brushed nickel and matte finishes tend to be more forgiving than high-shine options that show every fingerprint.
Because while a pristine kitchen is lovely, a kitchen that's actually used is even better.
The takeaway?
Kitchen hardware is one of the smallest decisions you'll make during a renovation, but it has one of the biggest visual impacts. Choose something that feels timeless, works well, and makes you smile every time you walk into the room.
And if you're stuck deciding between 47 nearly-identical brass handles... welcome to the club. ✨🏡