Your Kitchen and You: Choosing the Right Hardware

One often-overlooked aspect of your kitchen is the actual hardware within it. Things such as drawers, cabinet doors, hinges, handles, fixtures, cutting boards, and a whole assortment of other important pieces of hardware. You probably haven’t even thought about it because it’s such an obscure element of your kitchen, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’ll need to come up with a decision.

The Different Types of Hardware

See hardware as the necessary compliment to your cabinets and main kitchen items as opposed to small nuances and additions to your kitchen. Small details, such as cabinet handles or towel racks, can completely change the look and feel of a kitchen. It’s just like if you were to change the wheels on your car it would make a very noticeable difference, yet it’s still the same car.

The most prevalent types of hardware are:

Handles

Handles for your cabinet doors, drawers, and even the doors in or near the kitchen are very important. You also have a lot of choice here- you can get everything from handles shaped like cutlery to contemporary designs to art deco. There is definitely something out there for everyone, so don’t be afraid to look around until you’ve found a design that you like.

Towel racks and hooks

Your kitchen needs washcloths and towels readily accessible. These towels will need to be hung on something, and that something can help shape the look of your kitchen. Again, you have many options here: stainless steel, brass, contemporary, plain… the options are literally limitless.

Spice racks

Adding a spice rack is a really cool way to add a certain amount of flair to a kitchen without having to spend a ton of money. $200 or so (including the cost of the spices) can get you a unique spice rack that not only shows off your mastery of the culinary arts, but also acts as a unusual centerpiece within the kitchen.

Light fixtures

This is probably something you’ve thought of. Light fixtures are very important in shaping the overall ambiance associated with your kitchen. Along with the physical appearance of the light fixture there will also be the type and amount of light that it gives off.

A powerful light fixture can let out a ton of light, whereas one that is a bit softer by design may be a bit more subtle. Which one is right for you kitchen? That depends entirely on your design tastes and personal preferences. I personally prefer fixtures that are capable of bright light but are also easily controllable via a dimmer switch or multi-stage light switch.