For cabinets, knobs should be installed on the cabinet stile opposite the hinges in corners that are 2 1/2" - 3" from the edge of the door. Place them on the bottom corners of top cabinets and on the upper corners opposite the hinges on bottom cabinets.
When it comes to kitchen cabinets, there are a lot of decisions to make. You may wonder how to reduce the cost of painting kitchen cabinets that come with quality hardware, but you’ve also got to decide which type to purchase and which color to paint them. One of the most important decisions is where to put the knobs and handles to maximize functionality without compromising on aesthetics.
In this post, we'll lay out general guidelines for placing knobs and handles on your new kitchen cabinets–but first, let's take a look at the different types of knobs and handles available in the market today.
The Different Types of Cabinet Knobs
Kitchen cabinet knobs come in multiple shapes, colors, and materials. You can find round, square, oval, and even heart-shaped knobs. If you want to maximize the functionality of your kitchen cabinets, you should choose knobs that are easy to grip and offer a good surface area.
As far as colors go, you can find knobs in almost every color under the sun, but it's important that the color you choose complements the overall color scheme of your kitchen. If you're not sure what color to choose, we recommend sticking with classic white or black knobs. Black and white knobs go especially well with modern kitchen cabinets, such as one of our aluminum glass or solid color cabinet doors.
As for materials, you can find knobs made from glass, ceramic, wood, and plastic. None is better than the other, and it really comes down to your personal preference. The good thing about installing knobs instead of handles is that they require only one hole–this makes installation a lot easier, especially if you're doing it yourself. Still, many people prefer handles to knobs, so let's take a look at the different types you can install.
Handles are great if you want to add a touch of elegance to your kitchen cabinets. Just like knobs, they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and materials. Some popular types of cabinet handles include:
- Bar pulls - These are classic handles that are long and flat. They're usually made from metal or wood, and they offer a timeless look.
- Cup pulls - These handles are shaped like a cup, and they're a great option if you want to add a vintage touch to your kitchen cabinets.
- Finger pulls - These are handles that are recessed into the cabinet door. They're a great option if you want to keep the look of your cabinets clean and minimalist.
- Hanging pulls - These are handles that drop down; you have to lift up these handles and pull on them to open the cabinet. Hanging pulls are a great option if you want to add a decorative touch to your cabinets.
Now that we've looked at the different types of knobs and handles available, let's talk about where to put them.
Where to Put Knobs on Kitchen Cabinets
As a general rule, knobs are placed on cabinet doors while handles are placed on drawers. Of course, this isn't a hard and fast rule, and you can certainly put knobs on drawers and handles on doors if you prefer.
When it comes to deciding where to place a knob or handle, it's important to think about functionality. The goal is to make it easy to open and close the cabinet doors and drawers. With that in mind, here are some general guidelines for placing knobs on your kitchen cabinets:
- Knobs should be placed on the stile of a cabinet door opposite the hinges. If you're confused, stile is the vertical frame of the cabinet door and rails are the horizontal frames.
- Knobs should be around 2.5 to three inches away from the corner of the door. For lower cabinets, place the knobs 2.5 to three inches away from the upper corner. For upper cabinets, place them 2.5 to three inches away from the lower corner. Again, the goal is to make it easy to open and close the doors.
- For drawers, you want to place the knob in the center—both vertically and horizontally—if the width of the drawer is less than twenty-four inches. If it's longer, you want to use two knobs to increase functionality. You can do this by dividing the cabinet into three equal parts, and placing the knobs at the center of the first and last thirds.
Where to Put Handles on Kitchen Cabinets
Generally, you want to follow the same rules for handles as for knobs. On cabinet doors, you want to place them vertically on the stile, 2.5 to three inches away from the corner. If you're installing them on an upper cabinet, the bottom screw will be in that range, while the top screw will depend on the handle's type and length. For lower cabinets, the top screw will be in that range. For cabinet drawers, the only thing you want to ensure is that the handles are placed centrally, both vertically and horizontally.
