How To Select Finishes For Hardware and Fixtures
In between choosing wall paints, fancy furniture and hanging plants for your DIY makeover, selecting your cabinet hardware finishes may not feel like the most pressing task. But, it’s smart and sophisticated fixture finishes that’ll provide the finishing touches needed to pull the whole show together 🙌 Whether you’re just starting out on your renovation journey, are midway through a project or oh-so close to ticking the final to-do off your list, we can help. 
Jo (jo_at_sixty8) chooses to elevate her drawers with our SADLER Swirled Knobs in Brass.
In this blog, we’re taking you through all the key considerations to make when choosing your home’s shiny new Plank hardware. The best place to start is with the design and working out what fits best with your home’s aesthetic. Then you’ll need to choose your favourite type of metal and what texture you prefer – smooth, knurled or swirled 🌊 Last but not least, we’ll take you through the longevity of your hardware, how to make a budget-friendly decision, and ensuring you buy the right-sized hardware for your storage units.Choosing a Design
First up, you’ll want to decide on the overall theme or style for your new hardware. Could sleek and modern details be what’s needed to uplift your drawers, cupboards and cabinets? If this is the case, cast your eyes to our VOLTA D-Bar Slim Handle, which features a clean, 90-degree edge at each end. If you prefer a barely-there finish, you may be more suited to our GERMAIN Brushed Lip Pull Handle. It still features a simple, angular shape, but tucks more subtly into your chosen storage units.Considering rounded hardware instead? For something on the more traditional side, our charming HESTON Cup Pull Handle works well with farmhouse or Shaker style kitchen units. Its curved shape creates a softer look, while still giving you a firm grip on your cabinets or furniture. Modern rounded options include our WATT T-Bar Handle and ROEBUCK T-Bar Handle. These minimalist handles come in a range of lengths (and are equipped with standard screw widths too), so you can style them in multiples throughout your home. 
Before we move on, here are a few more tips to help you choose your hardware design:If you’re fairly early on in your home renovation or DIY journey, why not create a moodboard? This will help you visualise how your finished room will look and collate inspiration from your favourite magazines, Pinterest and Instagram accounts.Consistency is key, so consider how your hardware will fit in with the rest of your home – from your cabinetry and doors through to your flooring and walls.Think about the environment in which your new hardware will be used. If you have children, you may want to avoid anything with angled edges 👶
What Type of Metal?
Whatever your design preference, we have a choice of smart and sleek solutions to align with your hard-earned design schemes:Brass
You can always rely on brass fixtures to catch the light and shine along your home project, whether that’s an upcycled piece, Ikea hack or bespoke build. The beauty of brass is its versatility. You can use this finish on everything from units in soft pastel shades to brightly coloured cabinets and natural wooden cupboard doors.
Deb (@debslovesdecor) pairs her wooden bathroom vanity with MERCURY in brass.
Satin nickel
Nickel finishes act as sophisticated neutral shades within modern, contemporary homes. Satin nickel is a slightly gentler finish than brass and helps to create a cool and soothing look. It can be effortlessly layered with neutrals, pastels and cool colours, as well as paired with jewel tones like royal blue and emerald green for a striking but nonetheless stylish twist.Antique brass
If your home is somewhere in between traditional and modern, use this timeless finish to bring some old school charm to your furnishings. Antique brass has a distinctive, industrial look that draws on elements from factories and workshops, as well as the style of city loft apartments. It’s cool, gritty and perfectly suited to a range of interior styles.
Black
Achieving timeless style is easy with our collection of matt black hardware. The beauty of black is that it coordinates with pretty much everything. It modernises cupboards painted in white and softer tones, while sitting elegantly with darker colours like navy. For a sleek, statement look, pair black hardware with black cupboards and units. One thing is for certain, you won’t be able to spot fingerprints as easily!
HUMBOLDT looking modern & mysterious in Meera’s (@firstsenseinteriors) kitchen.
Industrial grey
As an alternative to chrome fixtures, industrial grey is a more mature finish with a warmer feel than standard silver hardware. Our products in this range feel great too thanks to their ergonomic knurled texture. They’re firm and sturdy to touch, while strong and steely to the eye.Colourful
Add a splash of joy to your Scandi style city kitchens and children’s bedrooms with our selection of charming, colourful hardware. We have several designs for you to choose from, such as the small KLEIN Peg Knob and the longer KLEE Button Knob. Weighty and solid, these contemporary models feel as pleasing as they look and are available in Pink, Aqua and Cobalt.There’s nothing to say you have to stick to just one of these finishes. If you’re considering mixing hardware finishes, we suggest pairing brass and matt black.
Pink with plenty of pazzazz, KLEIN is the star of the show in @ourhomeonthearun’s kitchen.
Brushed, Knurled or Swirled?
Now you’ve chosen your metal hardware finish, it’s time to get to grips with the different designs we offer.Brushed
Let your cabinets do the talking and keep your hardware smooth to touch with our brushed pieces. In case you’re wondering, brushed simply refers to the method used to finish the hardware. Brushed metals offer a more handcrafted appearance as they have a faint texture embedded in the surface. Discover our wide range of brushed hardware, including our GERMAIN Brushed Lip Pull Handle and WRIGHT Peg Knob.
Knurled
If you’re considering adding a touch of texture to your home, you’ll find the contemporary details you’ve been looking for in our Knurled collection. Sharp, sturdy, and designed for optimum grip, products like our KEPLER Knurled T-Bar Handle and HUMBOLDT Knurled Button Knob add a high-quality finish to your home. They’re available in a range of sizes and colours to suit your interior aesthetic.
Swirled
Send your homespace into a spin with our brand new SWIRLED collection. Inspired by the fluid, curvaceous lines seen in natural forms, this unique cabinet hardware features a decorative swirling reminiscent of rippling water, circular shells and wavy tree bark 🌊 🐚 🌴 This collection’s knobs and handles perfectly coordinate with one another, but can also be used individually to furniture your upcycle projects, budget-friendly wardrobe refreshes, or bedside table restorations.Consider Resilience and Durability
When it comes to the longevity of your home’s hardware, you’ll want pieces that look good for years to come and require minimal upkeep. That’s where our range of premium hardware comes in 👇After our products are meticulously sculpted and finished in your favourite colour, they’re coated with a protective clear matte glaze. Matte fixtures are better able to maintain a pristine finish, so you can shop confidently knowing your surfaces will remain sharp and sleek for the long run. Of course, the best way to keep your door hardware finishes gleaming them is by cleaning them using warm soapy water and a hot cloth. Discover exactly how to clean your hardware and what not to do (like using abrasive towels and bleach) in our expert guide.Consider the costs
When you’re in the process of a home renovation or DIY project, the last thing you want is your finishing touches like hardware to completely blow your budget. We get it. Plank Hardware was set up because our co-founders Tom and Annie were struggling to get their hands on affordable, design-led hardware for their first home. Unwilling to settle, the duo created Plank Hardware, offering stylish hardware products in high quality materials, all at a pretty fair price 💸What we will say is that if you’re early on in your project and allocating your budget, don’t forget to set some money aside for your new hardware.Next steps
You’re nearly ready to start shopping for your brand new hardware! Before you click ‘Add to basket’, we’d advise you take some time to measure the existing holes in your cabinets and doors. This will ensure you buy the right-sized hardware for your home.When we send out your new handles or knobs, you’ll be supplied with 25mm M4 machine screws, which are suitable for most cupboards up to 20mm thick. For deeper cupboards, we offer screw lengths of 30mm, 35mm, 40mm and 45mm. All you have to do is add a note to your order at the checkout to let us know which length is best for your project. If you need additional screws at a later stage, you can shop them here.To help you see how your new hardware will look in your home, it’s also worth getting some samples of the finishes you’re considering. Just order your Plank Hardware samples as desired and then return any unwanted items to our return address. As long as the items are undamaged, we’ll issue you a full refund.
Aisha (@littlefancyhome) uses varied lengths of KEPLER for her modern kitchen.
Now you know exactly what to look out for when selecting your new fixtures and finishes, you can make the most informed decision on what will be best for your home 🏠 You’ll want to find hardware that not only naturally complements the decor of each room, but is also suitable for the surface it’s paired with (e.g. heavyweight handles and knobs on tall cupboards, wardrobes and large kitchen cabinets, smaller handles and knobs on drawers and dressers).See our post on how to choose the best handles for your kitchen doors.Once you’ve installed your new hardware and your creative project is complete, why not send your before and after pictures to @plankhardware? We can’t wait to see the result 👀
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