Where to Place Kitchen Cabinet Handles for Maximum Functionality & Style (2024)
Ever open a cabinet door and think, “Who designed this?.” You’re not alone. While those finishes and colors bring that unique visual charm to any kitchen design.
They’re also where all the stuff is and where most people spend doing day-to-day things.
Even small issues such as those often forgotten and neglected spots in our designs for any item cabinet handles. It can cause annoyance when getting access and can quickly make using those areas irritating if there is not good planning with specific and careful details on visual style.
In this article you will find suggestions on different handle placements based on cabinet style along with tips on how to get that balance, by ensuring proper placement, which takes some consideration based on who might be using your space and create unique looks, from contemporary to more traditional approaches to complement while offering warmth as you plan while highlighting certain zones.
1. Why Proper Handle Placement Matters
Getting those tiny knobs correct transforms any kitchen while making daily life more efficient with design, function, and a personal flair to showcase artistic brilliance. It brings style while having everything you use positioned within your preferred height.
It also helps showcase elegance by complementing existing features for a more warm and appealing setting that blends visually with minimal hassle.
When considering design layouts such as what size and type or style of cabinet is featured in the specific zone, think of tall spaces that emphasize high-reaching overhead shelves, or those lower drawer types near kitchen floors where stooping can strain the back or knee joints. \
This placement would matter greatly for people of a variety of heights. Imagine someone much shorter having difficulty opening high kitchen cabinets as the knob and location for pulling the latch may create additional physical burden as opposed to those well placed lower down on base units to provide quick access with no trouble at all.
2. Types of Kitchen Cabinets and Handle Placement
There are a variety of placements you can work with such as,
1. Base Cabinets
Those areas that often reside in those areas are usually very specific as they are made with additional strength to prevent damage due to those items such as large pots, or cookware.
Their position is typically towards the very bottom so for easier movement of cabinet or access to the opening action in drawers consider using knobs or longer pulls closer towards the tops as that is ergonomically perfect, while visually complementing those cabinets.
They are an excellent choice that provides function as well as elegance with unique styles.
2. Overhead or Tall Cabinets
The handles and their height as well as those items with adjustable latches. These can play a major role for a person’s convenience based on height for easily opening tall doors for anyone.
These types such as cupboards for showcasing glassware or mugs will greatly benefit with a lower knob or handle while having longer styled handle can enhance and improve pulling.
This reduces or eliminates any difficulty in making them work with minimal physical effort. It is often a good rule to place those towards the bottom for providing an easier reach.
3. Tall Pantry Cabinets
Their vertical or tall appearance really highlights vertical space as they are designed and visually unique while also allowing ample area and spots with multiple shelves and compartments to organize or use those storage while incorporating a range of features or choices and combinations, including retractable shelves, for getting maximum efficiency in vertical placement.
Tall or Pull-out cabinets typically come in two forms or designs for providing vertical depth within an interior, that’s specifically suitable to places that have narrower spaces for showcasing an impressive organization of a multitude of different items as you get maximum value in these visually and spatially efficient choices.
Choosing the Right Handles for Your Kitchen Style
Handles add a finishing touch. They provide unique functionality, and a beautiful elegance in enhancing any setting to blend design as well as to really capture that charm, and reflect individual taste while elevating visual aesthetics and really showcase those unique touches as opposed to having them mismatched.
As it would impact that feeling and would really create a visual disparity as a theme or specific choice for a room style as it highlights design and style choices, materials used such as brushed stainless steel and colors like gold, navy black to accentuate an area in a bold way.
Top 5 Kitchen Cabinet Handles on Amazon
Your quick picks with essential elements. If you’re thinking about design, with the perfect match these provide both practical solutions while blending form and function for highlighting that elegance and personality.
1. Ravinte 30-Pack Stainless Steel Cabinet Handles
Ideal for a kitchen renovation or update that enhances style. This popular choice often goes well and is suitable for various design and style schemes where an element of warmth blends nicely into any environment such as metal or wood decor or complements appliances with stainless steel accents for showcasing that traditional as well as contemporary appearance with elegance.
The elegant handles really set this apart, using classic, metallic chrome touches that have that visually beautiful as well as practical design with rounded shapes or rectangular handles to enhance style while ensuring smooth function with ease of use while providing a polished touch. They can update any room and showcase individuality in taste or preferences while adding depth. They bring charm for visually creating elegance in a unified theme.
2. Franklin Brass Bar Pull
This stunning pull style gives it that unique, special look and design that makes opening easy, especially with those elongated as well as slimline choices with grooves.
Their beauty comes with different metallic, classic, and elegant finishes to complement decor and cabinetry by making an artistic expression with sleek looks for those seeking an antique vibe or simply adding unique contrast with warmth by blending light color schemes and designs and various types of handles such as using copper-inspired design elements.
3. Cosmas 25 Pack 305-2.5ORB Oil Rubbed Bronze
Those classic design pieces with black accents offer the minimalist touch by adding boldness to contrast with light color palettes with unique handles that make the best of simple lines.
They can achieve an incredible appearance as you emphasize textures from woods, stones as well as polished counter tops in various shades as well as those colors from patterns to really showcase what those dark bold kitchen design styles as well as a look and themes would look, including a traditional vibe.
4. Amazon Basics Straight Top Ring Cabinet Knob
You know that feeling when your cabinets are stunning, beautifully painted in the color you spent weeks agonising over, but they’re sporting those same old, tired cabinet handles, and the whole picture just isn’t as pulled together as you imagined?
I love this set of cabinet handles. They offer the easiest, quickest fix imaginable to transform your cabinets in a weekend, while instantly adding a subtle touch of modern farmhouse design. I decided to upgrade those awful silver handles with these beautiful dark, aged-bronze cabinet pulls, and they look so good against those Maple shaker cabinets – it elevates the whole design. They fit any cupboard, drawer or even the pantry with no problems.
I used some of the screws that were provided but then got additional ones from the local DIY store, mainly because my existing handles were slightly smaller so I had to choose screw-sizes that were better suited to my configuration. Even better was they’re solid and made of zinc alloy and it’s a no-brainer they will last.
Finding exactly where to place kitchen cabinet handles really depends on a couple of factors, depending on personal choice and where it is convenient for grabbing quickly to open the unit’s door, after all, the last thing anyone needs is a chipped nail just because the design positioning prioritizes appearance over practical use.
But, for a small, easy update that has impact, changing handles offers an impactful and easy DIY, that refreshes and upgrades your kitchen units in a day.
5. Hickory Hardware 10 Pack Kitchen Cabinet Handles
When upgrading cabinets, the position of cabinet handles can really make or break the flow of a kitchen, both practically and aesthetically. These Hickory Hardware Heritage Collection handles bring classic elegance to your space in one clever hardware collection.
The style is the standout feature here as these handles offer simple sophistication, so whether your kitchen design is contemporary or a little more classic, they look great. I decided to fit them on some new cabinet drawers, positioned directly beneath the black granite countertops. They complement the look of granite.
But it’s not just about aesthetics – these handles offer superb convenience for the user. I also fitted them on some high cabinets and the simple pull makes reaching for crockery in a hurry much easier than before. The handles also give a firm grip, adding to user ease.
If you want to enhance existing features or maybe even thinking of switching things up with some new cabinet designs for kitchen remodel, this is definitely the hardware solution that’ll elevate the aesthetic and practical charm of any space.