How to Choose Kitchen Cabinet Hardware

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Design Rules That Work Start With Your Cabinet Color Use Contrast to Define Your Cabinets Apply the 1/3 Rule for Hardware Size Popular Cabinet Color & Hardware Pairings Personalize Your Space with Cabinet Color & Hardware Finishes Design Rules That Work To match cabinet hardware to your cabinet color, focus on the Big 3: contrast, undertone, and proportion. By balancing these three elements, you can achieve a professional, cohesive look for your kitchen or bathroom. 1. Create Contrast Light Cabinets: Use darker finishes like matte black, oil-rubbed bronze, or other dark, aged bronze tones to create a crisp, fresh look. Dark Cabinets: Choose lighter or warm metallic finishes like champagne bronze, any gold finish, or satin nickel to add brightness and a touch of luxury. 2. Match Undertones Instead of overt contrast, you can match the "temperature" of your hardware with your cabinet paint or stain. This means cool toned cabinets go with cool toned hardware and warm paints or stains with warm hardware tones.  Cool Undertones: Grey, blue, or white cabinets pair well with cool silver-toned hardware (chrome or stainless steel). Warm Undertones: Pair wood grains, creams, or forest greens with gold, brass, or bronze finishes. Pro Tip: White or cream cabinets pair well with nearly any cabinet hardware finish. Cooler finishes will create a crisp, fresh vibe whereas warmer ones lend a balancing contrast. White cabinets can be thought of as your favorite pair of blue jeans that go with everything. 3. Use the 1/3 Rule for Proportion For a balanced and functional aesthetic, the length of your cabinet pull should be approximately one-third (1/3) of the total width of the drawer or the height of the cabinet door. This ensures the hardware has a balanced, professional look and provides enough leverage for comfortable daily use. Key Takeaways: If you want to show off your cabinetry: Use contrast If you want to be more subtle and streamlined in your decor choices: Match warm cabinets with warm finishes, cool cabinets with cool finishes Looking to make placement a no-brainer? Size hardware proportionally using the 1/3 rule (or feel free to go bold with longer pulls for a contemporary look!)  Start With Your Cabinet Color Cabinets take up a large proportion of the visual elements in your home, especially in the kitchen. Therefore, cabinet colors can strongly influence the mood and style of your space. There are 3 main color families for cabinets: light, dark, and wood tones. The color family will help guide your choice of pull and knob finish.  Light & Neutral Cabinet Colors When choosing hardware for light-toned cabinetry, balance the cabinet’s undertone with the metal’s finish to create either a crisp contrast or a sophisticated blend. White Cabinets for Maximum Versatility White cabinets serve as a neutral canvas, allowing for the widest range of hardware styles. For High Contrast: Matte black is the premier choice to pair with white cabinets. It creates a sharp, modern silhouette that anchors the room. For Warmth: Polished brass, gold, or bronze finishes prevent white cabinets from feeling too clinical, adding balance and a touch of luxury. Cream Cabinets: Softness and Warmth Cream cabinets can have yellow or red undertones, making them feel richer and more traditional than pure white. The Best Match: Champagne bronze or tumbled brass finishes complement the creamy base without clashing. Avoid: Bright, cool chrome, which can make cream paint look "muddy" or worn by comparison. Light Gray Cabinets: Sophisticated Transitions Gray is a "cool" neutral that looks best when paired with hardware that mimics its sleek, modern profile. For a Monochromatic Look: Satin nickel is the standard pairing for light gray. The brushed texture provides a subtle, professional finish that blends beautifully with the cabinet’s cool tones. For Depth: Gunmetal or dark pewter can provide contrast while staying within the same cool color family. Greige Cabinets: The Ultimate Neutral Greige (a mix of gray and beige) is highly adaptable because it contains both warm and cool properties. The Flexible Choice: Because greige is transitional, it pairs exceptionally well with oil-rubbed bronze for a rustic feel, or champagne bronze for a contemporary, "organic modern" aesthetic.  Dark Cabinet Colors Dark surfaces absorb light rather than reflecting it, so the hardware you choose becomes the jewelry that completes your cabinetry style. The right finish prevents a dark kitchen from feeling heavy, instead making it feel layered and inspired. Brushed or Polished Finishes: These are your best friends in a dark space. By introducing a metallic sheen, you break up the "weight" of the dark paint, adding a glimmer that keeps the eye moving. The Depth Factor: Darker paints show off the undertones of your metal more than whites do. A warm gold will pop against cool blues, while a cool silver will make a deep grey look crisp and modern. Choose the look that works with your style and decor theme.  Perfect Pairings Not sure which direction to take? Here are three designer-approved combinations that celebrate quality and style: Natural Wood & Stained Cabinets Wood brings organic, soulful energy to a home that no other material can replicate. But because wood is a living material, it carries undertones (subtle hints of yellow, red, or grey that live beneath the surface). Pro Tip: Match the tone temperature of your hardware with the temperature of your wood. It’s the secret to a space that feels deeply personal, yet carries that effortless, designer-level cohesion.  The Golden Rule: Warm Likes Warm If your cabinetry features woods like oak, walnut, or cherry, you are working with a warm palette. These woods radiate a natural glow that thrives when paired with metals that share that same sun-kissed tone. Why it Works: Instead of opposites attracting, the hardware and the wood finish each other’s sentences. The result is a kitchen or bath that feels bright and welcoming, regardless of the time of day. Your Perfect Pairing Every wood species tells a different story. Use this guide to find the hardware that best supports your cabinet’s story.  Use Contrast to Define Your Cabinets By playing with the relationship between your cabinetry and your hardware, you control the "pace” of the room. Lots of contrast can create a lively and energetic space, while low contrast is more subtle and mellow. Whether you’re looking for a sharp, defined statement or a soft, calming sanctuary, contrast is the key to a kitchen that functions as beautifully as it looks. High Contrast: Bold Statement Choosing hardware that stands out against your cabinetry, like matte black pulls on crisp white drawers, creates a high-contrast environment. The Style: A bold, modern look that feels fresh and energized. The Benefit: It improves usability by giving obvious visual cues, making touchpoints easy to find at a glance. It’s perfect for busy households where efficiency is just as important as aesthetics. Low Contrast: Subtle Harmony If you prefer a look where the hardware blends with the cabinetry, such as satin nickel on light grey or brass on warm oak, you’re leaning into low contrast. The Style: A subtle, cohesive appearance that feels airy and expansive. The Benefit: By minimizing visual "noise," low contrast allows the architecture and the materials of the room to take center stage, lending a sense of calm. Apply the 1/3 Rule for Hardware Size Visual example of 1/ 3 rule where pull handle length of a drawer is ⅓ scale Example: 30" drawer → ~10" pull Finding the right scale for your hardware is the final step in making your cabinetry feel custom-built. A timeless designer secret is the 1/3 Rule: aim for a pull length that is approximately one-third the total width of your drawer. For example, a 30" drawer shines with a 10" pull. This creates a sense of effortless proportion and ensures maximum comfort for daily use.  Popular Cabinet Color & Hardware Pairings Do you have decision fatigue? We’ve got you covered. You can’t go wrong with these timeless cabinet and hardware pairs.   Start Personalizing Your Space with Cabinet Color & Hardware Finishes At the end of the day, creating a beautiful home is about balance, not chasing trends. Mastering the simple harmony of contrast, undertone, and proportion helps you choose hardware that looks intentional and feels professionally curated. By following these timeless principles and trusting your own style, you can easily create a space you love.  Are you ready to find your perfect match? Shop by finish now. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Start Early and Have a PlanDeclutter Before You Decorate Organize Entryway for GuestsMaximize Space with HooksMaintain Organization All Year Long Hosting the holidays shouldn’t feel like a marathon. Are you tired of running around instead of soaking up the joy? If the thought of guests makes you want to hide, or your décor feels flat, it’s time to reclaim the magic. One thing can make all this a little smoother this holiday season. Organization. With a well-organized home, it's easier to host friends and family, whether it's for one day or one week. With less clutter, you can be more inspired by your decor and see how to use your space.Let's explore some holiday home refresh ideas that will help you be more joyful this season. 1. Start Early and Have a Plan Starting early is essential for a stress-free holiday season. A proactive approach reduces last-minute chaos.   Begin by creating a general plan of attack. Ask yourself:  What rooms or areas of the house have the most clutter or are in need of organization?  What about that table that always seems to attract clutter? Or the entryway where things end up on the floor? Think of kitchen counters that lack prep space. Outline what needs organizing and allocate time for each task. Break tasks into manageable parts. This prevents overwhelm and ensures steady progress.  Organization Outline Tips •    Create a holiday calendar with key dates •    List tasks and set realistic deadlines •    Delegate, delegate, delegate •    Prioritize tasks by urgency and importance •    Schedule breaks to enjoy your hard work  Urgency vs. Importance  Confusing urgency with importance is common. This is a major pitfall in keeping up with your to-do list. Urgency means it has a stricter timeline, or it needs to happen before something else does. It has more priority than importance. Importance means it's meaningful to get it done, but it’s not critical.  Installing new coat racks is important, but first, you should declutter. Then, decide on the best room and wall to mount the rack. The urgency is to declutter!Make sure you prioritize urgent tasks and don’t let important tasks get in the way. 2. Declutter Before You Decorate  Decluttering lays the groundwork for an organized holiday home. It creates a clean slate for decorations and eliminates unnecessary chaos.  To start, tackle one area at a time. This method is less overwhelming and ensures thoroughness. Go through each room and decide what to keep or donate. Key Decluttering Tips•    Sort items into keep, donate, or discard piles •    Focus on high-traffic areas like the living room •    Prioritize where your guests will be spending most of their time •    Store away non-seasonal items to free up space  By clearing clutter, your home becomes more inviting. You'll also find decorating more enjoyable when you start with a fresh, open space. 3. Organize Entryway for Guests The entryway is the first impression guests have of your home. You want to organize it, especially for the holidays. This makes it easy to hang coats, take off shoes, and move into the house. The solution? Coat racks! They are a lifesaver when you have extra traffic in the house.  Liberty™ 27" 5 Tri- Hook Coat/Hat Rail Entryway organization is where these coat hook racks shine. They are the holiday hero and year-round darling of home organization. Coat racks come in various styles and finishes. They add elegance and provide storage on your walls with a simple DIY installation. This way, you won't need to rush to collect everyone's jackets and scarves. You can also avoid creating a messy pile later! The length and number of hooks will depend on your wall space. Choosing single hooks or double hooks has advantages. Single hooks will look more subtle and streamlined. Coat racks with single hooks will hold less, so they may be suited for homes in temperate climates where people aren’t wearing many layers.  Franklin Brass® Geometric Post Hook Rail Coat racks with double hooks typically use “coat and hat” style hooks. These have two prongs that stack vertically, allowing you to hang a coat on the bottom and a hat on top. Of course, you can use them to layer any items of different lengths in the same way. Franklin Brass® Pilltop 5 Hooks Hanging Hook Rail 4. Maximize Space with Hooks Efficient use of space is crucial during the holidays. Individual wall hooks are great for creating additional storage in bathrooms, kitchens, and closets.  Franklin Brass® Black and Champagne Bronze Decorative Wall Hook They can hold towels, coats, hats, umbrellas, dog leashes, and other commonly used outdoor items.  You can even use hooks for small space storage because they fit practically anywhere.  Tips for Increasing Storage •    Wall hooks for guest towels •    Expand closet storage with coat and hat hooks for hanging multiple items•    Wall-mounted key racks, so everyone knows right where their keys are!•    Clear up counter space by hanging mugs, cups, or kitchen accessories on hooks or hook racks•    Use the Extend-a-Hook foldable hook to hang many items (can even be used with hangers to maximize coat hanging). Simply fold up and away when you don’t need it! Franklin Brass® Extend-a-Hook Strategically using  wall hooks give you plenty of room for guests’ coats, purses, and bags. This means no piles or stacks on benches or tables.   Clear up counter space by hanging mugs, cups, or kitchen accessories on hooks or hook racks. Keeping your kitchen space more organized will help you keep what you need close at hand. It also gives you more room to prep those cute hors d'oeuvres.  With well-placed hooks, you can creatively organize any room in your home for the holiday rush. Wall hooks come in different sizes, offering versatility for organizing spaces but also adding a bit of decorative flair. Creative Uses of Hooks for Holiday Decor •    Use hooks to hang stockings by the fireplace •    Hang wreaths on doorways with decorative hooks •    Drape Christmas garland over the top of hook racks  Installing and decorating with Franklin Brass® Ruavista Coat Hooks Choosing the Right Hook for Your Style Franklin Brass® Classic Edge Coat And Hat Hook How do you choose hooks that blend with your decor style? The easiest way to coordinate is to choose a finish that matches your current hardware. This could be nearby cabinet handles, knobs, or bathroom fixtures. Popular choices include matte black, nickel, or bronze.   Franklin Brass® Casual Farmhouse Coat and Hat Hook Rack  You can also add a pop of contrast for a fresh style by mixing finishes like black and gold, or champagne bronze and white. Gold finishes will naturally add a more festive, warm, and luxurious feel to your holiday home decor.  Use the holiday season as a launching point to have a better organized home. When things have a place, it’s easier to do routine cleaning, and have more time to relax.   5. Maintain Organization All Year Long Keeping your home organized after the holidays can be easy. It just takes a few tips and a little discipline. Franklin Brass® Voisin Double Towel Hook Regularly tidying up helps maintain order and peace of mind. Quick daily tidy-ups prevent clutter from accumulating. Keep It Tidy Tips •    Allocate 10 minutes daily to clear surfaces •    Rotate roles among family members to share tasks •    Create checklists for accountability A tidy home helps create a relaxed holiday mood. This lets you focus on what really matters: enjoying the season with family and friends. Keeping your home tidy can keep that joy going all year long! Browse Franklin Brass® and Liberty™ wall hooks to inspire your holiday refresh. 

Whether you're staking down holiday inflatables, pitching a tent for a backyard campout, or bracing for hurricane season, one thing’s for sure: you need gear that stays put.