You’ve probably seen long appliance pulls, deep cup pulls, and small cabinet knobs placed across different kitchen cabinets, cupboards and drawers. But when it comes to designing your own kitchen, bathroom or bedroom cabinets, it can be difficult to know what hardware to choose, what size looks and feels best, and where you should actually put it.

So, we asked interior designers how they choose cabinet hardware for their projects, and created a cabinet hardware sizing and placement guide to help answer all your questions for your next project.

Jess Sroga, Head of Design at Krantz Designs, says to consider proportion, aesthetics, and functionality: “The choice of hardware is one of the most important decisions in kitchen design and is often underestimated. The right handles can elevate a kitchen, while the wrong choice can detract from an otherwise beautiful design. It's essential to balance both functionality and aesthetics; in most cases, T-bars and pull handles are favoured for their practicality, and work well to complement a classic-contemporary style, although more traditional choices such as knobs and cup handles can be the perfect fit for a traditional farmhouse-inspired space.

“Proportion is also key, ensuring the size of the handle complements the scale of the door or drawer, and details such as incorporating a backplate can provide the finishing touch that really enhances the overall design.”

For Ashley Montgomery, Founder and Principal Designer at Ashley Montgomery Designs, mixing hardware styles is important: "I like mixing slightly more modern or linear profiles with more traditional shapes. It creates that same layered feeling we try to achieve in our interiors – nothing too matchy, just a thoughtful balance of texture, patina, and form that will age well over time."

For Anna Hudson, Interior Designer at McCroskey Interiors, she says waiting until the project is almost finished to choose your cabinet hardware is the best way to do it: “Our approach to hardware placement starts when a kitchen or room is close to completion. We typically look at the space and ask ourselves, “What does this room need?”

“If the room is more subtle, we will select hardware that is sleek and quiet. If the room looks like it can take more detail, we will opt for something with more presence and a bolder style. Furthermore, is the room leaning more masculine or feminine and how does the hardware we select play into that? It’s really about looking at a room and deciding how to best balance the space with the hardware we choose.”

Louise Bramhill, Founder of Studio LBI, says not to overlook practicality: “My approach to hardware sizing is to strike the right balance between functionality, proportion and the overall design intent. I always consider the scale of the cabinetry, the surrounding architectural details and how the hardware will be used day to day, following the principle that hardware should feel intentional, comfortable to use and of course visually balanced rather than simply adhering to a single fixed measurement. Consistency in placement throughout a project is also key, as it creates a cohesive, refined finish.”

Like most decisions, choosing between a knob and a handle for your cabinet hardware comes down to personal preference. But traditionally, knobs are used for doors and pulls are used for drawers.

Of course, you could mix this up depending on the aesthetic you want to go for. Knobs tend to be small in size, so if you want a subtle look across your cabinetry (including your drawers), this is a good choice to make. If you do want to use knobs on your drawers, consider the length of the drawer. For drawers that are wider than 24”, we recommend using two knobs: one on the left side of the drawer, and one on the right.

Handles (also known as pulls) tend to be larger than knobs. This can make them easier to use across cabinet doors and drawers, and can create a modern look in your space.

Appliance pulls are slightly different from “regular” door handles. They’re larger in size because they’re designed specifically for built-in appliances, such as fridges, which need a little extra support to pull them open.

So, now you’ve chosen between your cabinet knob, handle or appliance pull, what size is best? It all depends on the size of your drawers and doors, so get the measurements of those first before choosing your hardware.

Typically, small cabinet doors and drawers work best with knobs or shorter handles, while long drawers and doors work best with long handles or two handles or knobs. For a cohesive look, choose consistent hardware sizes across similar cabinetry.

We recommend the following cabinet hardware sizing guide:

• Small drawers (up to 300mm wide): 96mm pull or a single knob (either 25mm or 32mm) or a single T-bar or single finger pull

• Medium drawers (300–750mm wide): 128-160mm pull

• Large drawers (750–900mm wide): 224mm pull

• Extra-wide drawers (900mm+): 384mm pull or two smaller handles

• Tall larder or pantry doors: 384mm-608mm handles

If you’ve ever wondered how to position cabinet handles, where cabinet knobs look and function best on a drawer, or whether you need to choose a different spot for your wall cabinets vs. base cabinets, read our hardware placement guide below.

Wall Cabinets
Wall cabinets suit cabinet knobs or pull handles best. Think about being able to reach the hardware – you want to be able to access it easily.

For cabinet knobs: Position the knob in the lower corner of the cabinet door, on the opposite side of the hinges.

For pull handles: Install handles vertically. We recommend placing them approximately 50–75mm up from the bottom edge of the door, on the opposite side of the hinges.

Base Cabinets
Hardware placement for base cabinets works in a similar way to wall cabinets, only they’re placed at the top of the cabinet door, rather than the bottom, for easy access.

For cabinet knobs: Position the knob in the upper corner of the cabinet door, on the opposite side of the hinges.

For pull handles: Install handles vertically. We recommend placing them approximately 50–75mm up from the top edge of the door, on the opposite side of the hinges.

Drawer Fronts
Drawers suit both cabinet knobs and handles, so it comes down to personal preference and the aesthetic you want to achieve. The size of the drawer will determine how many knobs or handles you need, and where they are positioned.

For small and medium-sized drawers: Place one knob or horizontal handle in the centre of the drawer.

For wide drawers: Place one long handle in the centre of the drawer. Alternatively, you could install two cabinet knobs or shorter handles, positioned evenly from each end.

Inconsistent handle placement
Look at all the bathrooms and kitchens you have saved in your inspiration folder. You’ll notice that handles, knobs and pulls are all positioned in the same spot for a consistent, symmetrical look. Make sure you measure and outline the placement of each piece of hardware before securing it in place.

Choosing the wrong size
Handles, knobs and pulls that are either too large or too small for the cabinetry can create an imbalanced look, and make them difficult to use. Take a look at our cabinet hardware sizing guide above before making a purchase.

Forgetting about functionality
Cabinet hardware needs to be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing, especially in spaces like kitchens that have tall cupboards and busy areas. Make sure you choose hardware that is easy to reach, and is comfortable to grip. Functionality is something Lindsey Goddard, Founder and Principal Designer at Lindsey Goddard Interiors, believes is overlooked when designing interiors: “Hardware is too often selected as an afterthought, yet it plays a vital role in how a space feels and functions. When chosen with intention, proportion, and artistry, it becomes an integral part of the design story. The right hardware has the power to quietly elevate an entire room or particular furnishing, creating that subtle sense of perfection you can’t quite put your finger on.”

Not considering the style of your cabinets
Hardware choice can make or break your overall design. Do your cabinets have a traditional style or are they more modern? If in doubt, take Jess Sroga of Krantz Designs’ advice: “In most cases, T-bars and pull handles are favoured for their practicality, and work well to complement a classic-contemporary style, although more traditional choices such as knobs and cup handles can be the perfect fit for a traditional farmhouse-inspired space.”

Thinking all cabinet hardware and finish is equal
An easy way to make a kitchen look more luxurious is to choose solid brass and bronze hardware. Not only does it look and feel luxurious, but its durability means it will last a lifetime, if not longer. When considering what finish is best for kitchen cabinet handles, think about the style you want to achieve. Classic kitchens work well with aged brass finish, while a contemporary kitchen would suit a polished nickel or matt black finish. Follow the advice of Jojo Barr, Founder and Creative Lead at House Nine Design, when it comes to combining finishes and styles: “Repeating key elements like timber, stone, metals or specific finishes, helps everything feel connected, while the way they’re combined in each room keeps things interesting."