As one of the most frequent touch-points in your home, hardware – normally categorised as your door and cabinet handles – play a bigger part in your interior design than you might think. Often forgotten, or chosen at the last minute, the reality is it can make or break the finished look.
I know, because I've made some questionable choices in the past, swayed by budget or appearance, only to regret my decisions pretty quickly. Glass mortice door knobs being a particularly memorable example which looked good, but quickly fell apart and were unrepairable – and let's not even go into the fingerprint marks they accumulated on a daily basis.
So, using my experience, love of interiors and some expert advice, here's what to consider when selecting your knobs and handles for an interior design scheme, along with some of the stores I love to browse for ideas and inspiration.
Article continues belowHow to choose hardware
With handles needed for a whole host of items in your home, ranging from internal doors to choosing kitchen cabinet handles, it can be hard to decide what you want in each location.
Do you match throughout the home – usually the preferred choice for internal doors – and then attempt to get some cohesion with other types of handles, or do you mix and match as befits each room?
I asked Gareth Hull, design lead at Hendel & Hendel what we should all be considering when choosing hardware, and here's what he shared.
1. Think about it early on in your design plans
“Hardware tends to be one of the last decisions in a project, often chosen once cabinetry, surfaces and finishes have already been resolved," agrees Gareth, "yet it is one of the few elements you come into contact with every single day, which gives it a disproportionate influence over how a space feels to use and live in.
"When it is right, it sits quietly within the scheme and supports everything around it without drawing attention to itself, but when it is not quite right, whether that comes down to proportion, weight or finish, you become aware of it in a subtle but persistent way," he warns.
"That is why we always encourage people to think about hardware earlier in the self build or renovation process," says Gareth, "because it is not simply a final layer, it is part of the experience of the room and the way it is handled over time.”
2. Drill down into the details of proportion, size and finish
“When choosing hardware, proportion is always the starting point," advises Gareth, "because it governs both how something sits on the cabinetry and how it feels in use, and that relationship between scale and function is what determines whether a piece feels instinctive or slightly off.
"A handle needs to relate to the size of the door or drawer, but also to the depth of the joinery, and the natural movement of the hand, so even small adjustments can make a noticeable difference," he says.
"From there, finish begins to shape the mood of the piece, with brushed and burnished surfaces softening light and settling more easily into a scheme, while darker tones introduce depth and contrast, and brighter finishes bring a sharper, more defined edge.
"Style tends to work best when it is restrained, allowing the material and proportion to carry the design rather than relying on unnecessary detail.”
3. Don't dismiss the importance of texture
“Tactility is something that becomes more important the longer you live with a space, because hardware is handled constantly and that repeated interaction builds a sense of quality over time, even if it is not something people consciously analyse," explains Gareth.
"Weight plays a key role in that, as it needs to feel balanced in the hand, with enough substance to feel reassuring, but not so much that it becomes cumbersome, and that balance is something we refine carefully through prototyping and testing.
"It is often these quieter details, the way an edge meets the fingertips or how a surface responds to touch, that define whether something feels resolved and comfortable to use.”
4. Think about the 1-3 ratio when choosing your hardware
When researching hardware you may also come across something that's referred to as the 1-3 rule. It's usually in relation to cabinet handles rather than door handles, and some use it as a sizing tool, stating that cabinet handles should be one third of the width or height of a cabinet door in order to achieve the right visual proportions. Others say it's about dividing the door into three and placing the cabinet handle in one of the thirds, or fitting a third away from the edge of the door. But, much like the 60:30:10 decorating rule, it can be open to interpretation depending on your overall visual goals.
“For us, the idea of the ‘1-3 rule’ is something we often refer to when guiding people through a scheme, and it is essentially about restraint and cohesion, allowing a small number of finishes to run throughout a space rather than introducing too many competing elements," says Gareth Hull.
"In most cases, keeping to one primary finish and then introducing one or two secondary accents is enough to create interest without overwhelming the design, so you might have your main bathroom cabinet hardware in one tone, with a complementary finish appearing in lighting or bathroom taps, and perhaps a third used more sparingly.
"It gives the scheme a sense of continuity while still allowing for variation, which tends to feel more natural than trying to match everything exactly or, at the other end, mixing too many finishes without a clear relationship between them.”
Where to shop and look for hardware
When seeking inspiration for new handles for doors or cabinets of any kind, I always start with a browse through the following stores. Some require more of an investment than others, so it depends if you're looking for handles to last or a way to switch up your decor without breaking the bank.
One of the most practical points to think about when replacing handles of any kind is making sure your new handles fit the same screw holes, or will cover the old ones if you need to create new ones.
I know as it's another mistake I made when replacing some internal door handles a few years ago. What started out under the guise of a quick switch, turned into an exercise in filling holes, sanding and painting wooden doors, rather than simply replacing handles.
Plank Hardware – great for dressing up something simple
Plank Hardware has been on my radar for a number of years, as they have a range of handles, backplates and accessories that can turn the ordinary into something a little more special.
I particularly love the ADA Star Knob Backplate, which can turn a simple cabinet knob into a feature. Also the Bobbin D-Bar Handle in Burgundy, which is in line with both interior design trends and paint trends this year.
Superfront – perfect for creating a bespoke look
If you are considering IKEA for kitchens or furniture, then I'd also recommend taking a look at Superfront before you complete your purchasing. They've built a company based on providing doors, hardware and furniture legs that can be used with IKEA base units, such as their Metod kitchens and BESTÅ range of furniture.
It's a great way of saving some cash by using more affordable carcasses and then splashing out on the elements that you actually see on a daily basis.
I need a new laundry cabinet as part of my landing storage, and I've got these Vertical doors, Mini Ball handles and Big Ball spherical legs earmarked that I'll attach to a basic BESTA frame to create what will essentially be a bespoke item.
Hendel & Hendel – a one-stop shop for stylish interior schemes
A company I've only come across in recent times, but one that I've earmarked for any future project on a larger scale. It has a range of styles, finishes and a studio in London where you can visit to see the items for yourself. So important when choosing the hardware for your whole home. Spending thousands on a new home and then feeling a lightweight door handle when you move from your hallway into your kitchen is the last thing you want.
I particuarly like these Huxley T-Bar Knobs in matt black which would be great on a chest of drawers. There's a also a pull handle and knob version if you wanted to kit out some hallway storage or even paint your kitchen cabinet doors and add new hardware.
Another good place to look for fully co-ordinated finishes for handles, light pulls and sockets is Pushka Home. Check out their gold range to see what's on offer.
Graham & Green – for decorative delights
Graham & Green are probably one of my favourite places to look for more unusual and decorative knobs and handles, with over two pages full of beautifully curated styles, shapes and sizes. I could list every item on there, but if my sons were younger, I'd certainly be popping these Gold Stegosaurus Knobs in my shopping basket. They're a perfect way of creating a children's bedroom design that's still filled with style. But, as they're well and truly out of the dinosaur phase, I'd opt for these Leather Drawer Pulls instead.
Don't dismiss DIY stores if you want to shop in person
Of course, as well as online browsing, there are plenty of physical stores that sell hardware too. B&Q and Wickes, both have a good range of cabinet handles, knobs and door handles and I've certainly bought from them in the past. Likewise I've spotted some lovely decorative knobs at Dunelm when shopping for other decorative finishes.
FAQs
What hardware trends are popular this year?
Much like other trends, such as bathroom trends, you may see certain finishes more than others each year, so what's on trend in the world of hardware at the moment?
“We are seeing a continued move towards warmer, more characterful metals that sit comfortably alongside timber, stone and painted cabinetry, rather than standing apart from them," says Gareth Hull.
"Burnished brass remains a strong choice, but there is growing interest in deeper bronze-adjacent tones with softer sheens and subtle texture, finishes that feel settled within a room and develop further with use rather than appearing static.
"There is also a greater appreciation for how finishes behave over time," he adds, "with some people preferring surfaces that remain consistent, while others are drawn to materials that evolve and take on variation through handling, which adds another layer of individuality to the space.”
Should I match hardware throughout my home?
“When it comes to whether hardware should match throughout the home, there is not a single approach, but there is value in thinking about a thread of continuity, particularly with elements such as internal door handles that are used repeatedly as you move through the space. Keeping those consistent can create a quiet sense of cohesion, while allowing more flexibility in areas like kitchens, utility rooms or bathrooms, where cabinetry and function may call for something slightly different.
"It is less about strict matching and more about ensuring that the finishes and forms feel related, so that nothing feels disconnected as you move from one room to another, and that balance between consistency and variation is what tends to create a more settled, resolved interior.”
Inspired to start thinking about your hardware, or perhaps you're considering some bespoke furniture that needs a final finishing touch. If you need more inspiration, take a look at how these home renovators saved thousands building their own bespoke alcove units. Or, if you yearn for a pantry but don't quite have the budget, discover how Homebuilding & Renovating's brand director, Laura Crombie turned to Amazon to create this clever built-in pantry hack.
