Blending kitchen cabinet hardware styles enhances function and adds visual interest—knobs offer a classic touch, while pulls provide ease. If you’re looking for ideas to elevate your kitchen design with a mix of knobs and pulls, we have five practical tips to help you plan your project and 12 gorgeous ideas to spark inspiration!
Just here for the inspo? We don’t blame you! Click here to skip the tips and jump to the eye-candy.
A few designer tips for mixing and matching like a pro:
1. Create rules for consistency
There are many ways to mix and match hardware! And although there’s no one hard and fast rule on when to use knobs versus pulls, consistency is important. You want to make sure your hardware size is appropriate to the drawer width, but from there you can carve out a plan based on personal preference. Perhaps you organize hardware pieces by function or perhaps by location. The important thing is to create a system and stick to it.
Here are some examples:
Knobs on cabinet doors, pulls on drawers
Knobs on all upper cabinets, pulls on all lower cabinets and drawers
Knobs on drawers, pulls on cabinets
Knobs on smaller drawers and cabinets, pulls on larger drawers and cabinets
Pulls on sliding elements, knobs on swinging
2. Limit your styles to one of each hardware type – one pull, one knob
To create a cohesive look, choose one pull style and one knob style. Don’t mix different styles within the knob or pull category. For example, if you have a contemporary kitchen, you might select a sleek, modern bar pull for your drawers and pair it with a simple round knob for your cabinets. The long, horizontal lines of the bar pulls add visual width to your drawers, while the round knobs offer a softer contrast on your cabinet doors.
One exception is that designers sometimes use a distinctive hardware style on a kitchen island. The island is often seen as a statement piece. Many homeowners choose to go bold here with oversized pulls or uniquely shaped knobs that complement your overall scheme while adding a touch of flair.
3. Choose matching finishes
When it comes to hardware finishes, everything should coordinate. A finish isn't just about color; it's an entire vibe, including both tone (the color you see) and texture (what you feel).
| Types of Designer Hardware Finishes | ||
| Tone | Color | Texture |
| Silver | Nickel, Chrome | Satin, Polished |
| Gold | Brass | Satin, Polished, Unlacquered |
| Black | Black | Satin, Matte |
| Brown | Bronze, Copper | Oil-rubbed, Venetian, Brushed |
For example, if you select a polished chrome finish for a sleek, modern look, use this finish consistently across all your hardware – from drawer pulls to cabinet knobs and typically your faucet as well. This cohesion will make your kitchen feel put-together and intentional.
Mixing too many different finishes or colors will make your kitchen feel disjointed. A single finish will create a designer look. Some premium brands like Baldwin offer pulls with a brass body and a matte black accent, giving you a mixed-metal look while still following the matching principle.
4. Get both styles in the same hardware line
Although not an unbreakable rule, the simplest path to a cohesive, professional-looking kitchen is to choose both your knobs and pulls from the same hardware line. Hardware manufacturers design their lines with shared characteristics, ensuring that pieces within a collection complement each other perfectly. For example, Baldwin’s Estate Series offers several lines with coordinated knobs and pulls:
Severin Fayerman A collection is a traditional design with classic lines, beveled edges, and squared corners:
Hollywood Hills is inspired by the clean modernism of old-school Hollywood, and is a favorite for transitional and contemporary homes.
Gramercy, Baldwin's latest hardware collection is designed with contemporary and transitional styles, with clean lines and modern finishes:
When selecting from a single line, you might find options like:
A round knob and a coordinating bar pull with similar edge detailing
A square knob that matches the end caps of a complementary drawer pull
Consistent finish options across all pieces in the line
Pro tip: Take your kitchen's cohesion to the next level by selecting appliance pulls and pantry bin pulls from the same hardware line as your cabinet hardware. This attention to detail can make your kitchen feel truly custom designed.
5. Choose a finish that coordinates with the permanent fixtures in your kitchen
If you’re not sure which finish to choose, a good place to start is by coordinating with your permanent fixtures such as:
Light fixtures (ceiling lights, pendants, under-cabinet lighting)
Kitchen sink hardware and faucet
Appliance finishes and handles
Adjacent door hardware (if visible from the kitchen)
For example, if your faucet has a brushed nickel finish, cabinet hardware in the same finish will create harmony.
Getting a complete makeover in your kitchen? Choose a new look based on your home’s interior design style. Does your architecture and home decor fall into contemporary, traditional, transitional, or rustic? Keep scrolling to see inspiration in each design style!
Mix-and-Match Kitchen Hardware Design Ideas
Now to the fun stuff! Let’s see how these principles play out in some inspiring kitchen designs.
Knobs: Baldwin Spherical Knobs in Polished Silver; Pulls: 4395 Severin Fayerman Series B; Design by @acquireboston.
In this traditional white kitchen design, form meets function as pulls open drawers and sliding elements like the trash bin, while knobs open the swinging cabinets. A silver finish was chosen for the hardware to complement the chrome faucet and nickel light fixture.
Cabinets: Baldwin 4955 Hollywood Hills Pull in Satin Brass; Drawers: Baldwin 4424 Cup Pull in Satin Brass
Since this craftsman kitchen has no upper cabinets, the designer got creative with mixing hardware styles. A sleek brass bar pull adorns the swinging cabinets, while a cup pull provides rounded contrast on the drawers. The brass finish provides a classic touch to the textured wood cabinets.
Knobs: Baldwin Diameter Cabinet Knob in PVD Lifetime Satin Brass; Pulls: Baldwin Hollywood Hills Pull in PVD Lifetime Satin Brass
Contemporary brass hardware adds a decorative touch to the classic shaker cabinet style on this wet bar. Here we see knobs on the cabinets with pulls on the doors. This design choice is harmonious with the vertical wood grain and the proportions of each cabinetry element—the cabinets are elongated and narrow, while the drawers are smaller and more boxy.
Knobs: Baldwin 4403 Tulip Knob in Satin Black; Pulls: Baldwin 4422 Cup Pulls in Satin Black
Satin Black Hardware is an upscale way to add a rustic touch to your home if your interiors have many natural finishes, such as sandy woods and woven textiles. The squared-off edges of these cup pulls complement the vertical lines of this cabinetry.
Knobs: Back Pulls: Baldwin Severin Fayerman Series A Pull in Polished Brass; Knobs: Baldwin 4960 Spherical Knob in Polished Brass; Island Pulls: Baldwin Cup Pull Knob in Unlacquered Brass;
This kitchen is a gorgeous example of mixing three hardware styles in a way that feels natural and intentional. Spherical knobs and beveled pulls are balanced on the kitchen cabinets and drawers. But everything about the island is a statement—from the blue paint color to the white marble top, then finished off with special cup pulls.
Knobs: Baldwin 4973 Hollywood Hills in Lifetime Polished Nickel; Pulls: Baldwin 4424 Cup Pulls in Lifetime Polished Nickel;
Chrome hardware is a great choice for traditional kitchens, especially if your cabinets are dark-colored. The matching polished chrome finish on these pulls, knobs, faucet, and kitchen accents creates cohesion in the design.
Pulls: Baldwin Hollywood Hills Appliance Pulls in Satin Brass; Knobs: Baldwin 4973 Hollywood Hills Knob in Satin Brass
The mixed finishes in this kitchen’s design strike the perfect balance between elegance and ease. The black door hardware, black lighting, and contemporary brass cabinet hardware are tied together with the brass-accented black faucet. Knobs are used as the primary hardware style with appliance pulls providing contrast.
Pulls: Baldwin Hollywood Hills Pull in Satin Brass; Knobs: Baldwin 4973 Hollywood Hills Knob in Satin Brass; Design by @kellysheparddesigns
This farmhouse-style kitchen design is elevated with the high-end look of contemporary brass hardware. Pulls are used for all sliding cabinetry with knobs on the swinging cabinets.
Drawer Pulls: Baldwin Gramercy Pulls in Satin Black; Knobs: Baldwin Gramercy Pulls in Satin Black; Appliance Pulls: Baldwin Gramercy Appliance Pulls in Satin Black
This kitchen design has a lot of variety within the cabinetry design with light oak lowers, white uppers and appliance doors, and rustic open shelving. Coordinated knobs and pulls from a single design collection help unify the design.
Drawer Pulls: Baldwin Beveled and Tapered Cabinet Pulls in Lifetime Polished Nickel; Knobs: Baldwin 4973 Hollywood Hills Knob in Lifetime Polished Nickel;
Kitchens aren’t the only rooms in the house where you can mix knobs and pulls! Although bathrooms typically have fewer drawers and cabinets than a kitchen, you can use the tips we’ve talked about here to create a special touch and add visual interest to your cabinetry.
Drawer Pulls: Baldwin Hollywood Hills Pull in Lifetime (PVD) Satin Brass; Knobs: Custom Hardware
Long brass pulls accentuate the regal length of this primary bath double vanity. The sleek transitional hardware style adds a subtly modern touch to the classical design, balancing the custom cabinet knobs with filigree detail.
Pulls and Knobs: Baldwin Severin Fayerman in Polished Chrome
The simple design of this hall bath cabinetry is elevated by the mix-and-match hardware styles the homeowner selected.
Choose Quality Hardware You’ll Love
No matter which knob-and-pull design you choose, you can count on your kitchen hardware being well-used! Few items in your home are touched as frequently as your kitchen hardware. Make sure to choose quality materials that will stand the test of time. Cheap hardware will look great when first installed, but the finish will quickly wear down. For a look you can love for years to come, be sure to choose a quality brand.
Our architectural hardware services team here at Ring’s End would love to help you find the perfect mix to match your style and kitchen. Visit one of our showrooms today to see our wide selection of in-stock hardware or talk to a hardware expert about our special-order options!