Where living rooms and family rooms once dominated, today’s kitchen has become the center of attention for most families. So it’s no surprise that despite the workhorse that it is, we also want our kitchens to look good. When it comes to kitchen design, we look for comfort in design and functionality, and when considering décor, we tend to think of the various styles, colors, and personal touches that make the space our own. But we often overlook some of the small details in the kitchen that, if done correctly, can have a big impact on the overall look of the room. One of these small details is the use of cabinet hardware.

Cabinet style can help determine your cabinet hardware

The style of your kitchen cabinets can add personality and ambience to your favorite room in the house, and hardware is the finishing touch. Matching the cabinet hardware to the rest of your kitchen isn’t difficult, though it may require some thought on your part to get right. Some cabinet doors can be quite plain and adaptable to just about any style of knobs and pulls you want, while others may have specific shapes or features that really limit your variations. Take, for example, the door panel of a shaker cabinet which is usually plain with just a raised wooden frame around the outside. It lends itself extremely well to any style of cabinet knobs and drawer handles. On the other hand, if your cabinets have a beadboard panel face, you may stick to a casual or French style. However, even within these styles, the cabinet hardware available is nearly limitless, so you’re sure to find something to make you and your cabinets happy.

Find a theme and stick with it

Of course, the idea is to match your cabinet knobs and drawer handles to the rest of your kitchen decor as well. If you have too many styles at once, the room will just look busy and confusing. So pick a theme and stick to it throughout the kitchen. If you love the Old World Tuscany look, think sun-kissed earthy colors like yellow, terracotta, and gold. Cabinet knobs and pulls should have a distinct antique look, so choose cabinet hardware that has an aged look, such as hammered wrought iron or bronze.

If your kitchen decor is modern it likely has very clean simple lines and this should be reflected in your cabinet hardware as well. You can’t go wrong with polished or brushed stainless steel or nickel knobs and pulls. On the other hand, if your kitchen has a definite country theme, you’ll have plenty of other options to choose from. Country can cover a wide range of styles, including French Country, Shaker, and Arts and Crafts. Depending on your specific country style, you can choose from clear or colored glass, hammered metal, brass, or wood drawer handles and cabinet knobs.

Finding the perfect cabinet hardware to match your kitchen decor is as close as your local home improvement center or online home hardware store and replacing your existing knobs and pulls is easy. All you need is a screwdriver. Just make sure you match up the existing holes in your cabinets and you’re good to go. While you’re at it, don’t forget about the often-neglected door hardware. People don’t usually think of door hardware as part of kitchen decor, but if you want a unified look, it’s important to match door hardware with cabinet knobs and drawer handles.