How To Choose The Best Handles For Your Kitchen Doors
Giving your kitchen a stylish revamp? 👀 In between making decisions on your favourite cabinets and paint swatches, you’ll also have to consider which door handles to go for.Door handles for kitchens are a crucial detail that can really define culinary spaces, yet they’re often treated as an afterthought.
@kerv_interiors opted for our MERCURY Lip Handles for their contemporary kitchen
To help you find hardware that fits perfectly with your kitchen aesthetic, we’re breaking down how to choose kitchen door handles. Discover key factors to consider like colour finish, style and size, as well as our kitchen door handle ideas and kitchen door handle tricks.Key Considerations
Choosing your kitchen door handles may sound pretty straightforward, but you’d be surprised at how many different options are out there. Ultimately, you want your handles to complement your kitchen’s interior design scheme, striking the perfect balance between elegance and practicality. With that in mind, have a muse over the following factors before going on a spending spree:Type
At Plank, you can choose from a T-Bar or D-bar – the key difference is that the latter is characterised by a clean 90 degree angle at each end of the handle, providing even more space for your hands. We also have Minimalist and Rectangular handle shapes.
Style
Retain the character of your traditional kitchen, or uplift and embolden your contemporary kitchen with our beautiful handles. If your style falls somewhere between the two, we’ll soon help you find a model to balance your kitchen’s touchpoints.
Colour finish
Whatever your design preference, we have smart and sleek solutions in a range of finishes, including Brass, Satin Nickel, Stainless Steel, Antique Brass, Industrial Grey and Matt Black.
You’re bound to find the perfect finish amongst our range of KEPLERs.
Size
The size of your hardware can have a dramatic impact on the overall look of your kitchen. Rest assured, we have a range of sizing options for our hardware and will take you through our recommendations.Practicality
Looks and practicality are equally as important when choosing kitchen hardware. You want handles that you can get to grips with, giving you quick access to your kitchen essentials. We’ll cover the different textures of handles and their benefits, from silky smooth through to ergonomic for extra grip.
Preparing Your Space
Kick-ass DIY is only possible when you put a solid plan in place for what needs to be done and how you’re going to do it 📝 So, you’re going to want to start by assessing the areas of your kitchen you’re going to update, what materials you’ll need, and what order you should complete the work in. Here are some questions to get you thinking:How many handles will you be replacing?Is this part of a bigger kitchen renovation, and do you want to make any other style changes to the room?Do you need to complete any tasks, such as painting the cupboards, before replacing the handles?Do you need to choose your cupboards as well as your new handles?
While most people choose their cupboards first, you may find that exploring the variety of handles on the market first gives you a better idea of the overall vibe you want from your kitchen. That way, you’ll have a clearer vision of what you’d like your kitchen to look like when you choose the cabinets. Whatever you choose, keep in mind that consistency is key 💯
Type
Ok, you have two main types of hardware to consider – kitchen handle pulls and knobs. Fancy using them both? Then you’ll be pleased to know that our kitchen door handles and knobs can be perfectly teamed to achieve a sophisticated cooking space 👩🍳Our advice is that when drawers are lower down in the kitchen, you’ll find it easier to open them by grasping a handle with your whole hand, rather than using your fingertips on a cabinet knob. You’ll notice the difference when you have a drawer filled with heavy pots and pans – a handle makes it 10 x easier to open. Kitchen knobs are great for doors, drawers or cabinets that require less effort to open. An exception to this would be if you have large doors such as a pantry or pull-out door – in this case, use a pull.If subtlety is the name of the game, let your cabinets do the talking with the help of our minimalist kitchen handles and knobs. Alternatively, go for clean lines and angles with our GEOMETRIC collection. They look great on brightly coloured doors and drawers, further extending a playful theme within your home.Style & Shape
We may be stating the obvious, but whether your kitchen is contemporary or classic, you’re going to want your door handles to fit in with its overall look. Yes, contrast can be bold and striking, and that’s what some kitchens may need. But in general, choosing hardware in a completely different style to your kitchen is a one-way ticket to a disjointed-looking space 😬 Top tip: Take a close look at your cabinet style, as well as the countertop edge, lighting fixtures and any other stand-out design elements. Choose hardware that’s consistent with the lines and shapes created in your kitchen’s design. If you’re on the hunt for modern kitchen door handles, take a look at our MERCURY Curved Lip Pull Handle. This high-quality handle subtly tucks into your chosen storage units, adding a soft premium accent to your kitchen cabinets and drawers. Keeping with the geometric theme, check out our HUXLEY Hexagonal Handle. This intriguing variation of our T-Bar handle has a distinct shape and twist of texture, offering a sturdy grip for practical usage. We think you’ll agree that it’s beautiful too 😍 Spread sophistication across your kitchen and mix and match your contemporary kitchen door handles with our matching door knobs. Looking for more traditional kitchen door handles? In our Minimalist collection, you’ll find clean-cut designs such as our ROEBUCK Smooth T-Bar Handle or our WATT T-Bar Handle. These lengthy handles feel as impressive as they look, hugging your hand and helping you easily open your doors, cupboards and drawers.Colour & Keeping Consistent
Like with any renovation or interior DIY project, so much of your kitchen’s look comes down to its colour scheme. But we’re not just talking about your selected shades for your walls and cupboards – your kitchen door handle colours should be picked out carefully too. Since you’ll be using your handles daily, you might as well have ones you like, right? Here are the finishes we have to offer at Plank, and ideas of how to use them:Brass
Breathe new life into your culinary space with Brass, a quietly powerful shade that’ll set a mature tone from the get-go. From bringing a premium feel to your kitchen touchpoints through to reflecting the light, this must-have finish never fails to impress ✨
Antique Brass
Embrace this timeless style and give your vintage or farmhouse inspired kitchen the transformation it deserves with Antique Brass hardware. If your kitchen is somewhere in between modern and traditional styles, this old school finish will add some character. Satin Nickel
Make a steely statement on your kitchen doors and cupboards with this powerful neutral. Satin Nickel will leave your space feeling clean and cool – but definitely not cold. This light and bright finishing touch is great for elevating units painted in a darker shade.Industrial Grey
Add a sharp and smart finish to your modern kitchen with this bold, futuristic shade. What’s great about Industrial Grey is that it’s bold enough to make a statement and has a timeless, go-with-everything appeal.
Black
Polish off your kitchen with our Black kitchen handles. Just like when you wear the shade in your clothing, black goes with pretty much anything. We think it looks elegant when paired with pastels, whites, marble and natural timber.Like the look of two finishes for your kitchen door handle designs? Then mix them up! You don’t have to be too rigid with colours. As long as they complement one another, you can’t go wrong. We suggest pairing Antique Brass with either Matt Black or Solid Brass 🙌Whatever your colour preference, you can relax knowing that your handles’ sleek finish will remain pristine, no matter what. We coat all of our products in a protective clear matt glaze to reduce the rate at which they tarnish over time.Size
Have you given any thought to what size kitchen handles you’d like? In a nutshell, large kitchen handles can make a statement in their own right, while guaranteeing fail-safe cupboard access. On the other hand, smaller kitchen handles that are in proportion to each drawer or door size add soft, premium accents, while keeping your space looking clean and calming.At Plank, we have different sizing options for every preference. Our T-bars are an on-trend necessity for your kitchen space – narrow and sleek with plenty of room for grip. Try our heavyweight version on large kitchen and utility cabinets, and use the single handles in pairs on cupboards.Feel & Function
It’s not just about how your kitchen door handles look. You need to establish how they feel in your hand. Practicality is a *must* when you’re in the kitchen, so ask yourself whether the handle fits and feels good. If you’re noticing now that it’s cramming your fingers, feels sharp around the edges, or has ridges that press on your fingers, those are immediate red flags 🚩 It’s also worth considering – is there anyone in your family who has any specific physical requirements or struggles gripping small objects? They’ll require handles they can get a firm grip on, which is why we’d recommend something with a bit more texture. You’ll find that the ergonomic details of our KNURLED T-Bar Handle make for both an assured grip and high-quality finish. Pair with our knurled door knob handles to create coherence around your kitchen.And that’s how you choose the best kitchen handles! A premium look at affordable prices – it doesn’t get much better than that 👌 Keep us in the loop with your #PlankProjects and tag @plankhardware in the pictures of your shiny new handles.
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