Deciding Between Knobs & Pulls for Kitchen Cabinets
When remodeling or building a new kitchen, one of the many decisions homeowners face is whether to install knobs or pulls on their cabinets and drawers. This choice impacts aesthetics, functionality, pricing, and more. With some careful consideration of the key differences, benefits, and drawbacks of knobs versus pulls, you can select the best hardware to match your kitchen design goals.
Knobs and pulls serve the same basic purpose but have distinct styles. Handles or "pulls" are attached to the cabinet with two screws placed far enough apart for you to wrap fingers around the grip and pull to open the door. Knobs have a single screw mount with a small post to clasp and twist or pull open. Beyond basic function, these hardware options differ quite a bit visually.
Key Differences Between Knobs and Pulls
Shape and Size Variations
Cabinet pulls come in a range of shapes, sizes, and projections to suit specific tastes. Options like cutout handles or straight bar pulls project less than an inch from the cabinet door, while larger bow or curved shapes extend out further. Knobs also vary in silhouette and scale but most resemble small round knobs rather than large protruding levers.
Ease of Grip and Handling
The main advantage of cabinet pulls is that grasping a handle offers more leverage, control, and ease when opening heavier drawers or doors. Turning a tiny knob requires more precise fine motor dexterity. Those with arthritis or limited mobility may struggle with knobs, finding pulls much easier to grip.
Aesthetic Appeal and Design
For a sleek, uncluttered contemporary look, bar pulls blend with minimalist styles well. Decorative intricate knobs with colorful, whimsical designs or glossy crystal accents better suit traditional polished or rustic decor. Those wanting a visual focal point can select unique hardware that makes a statement.
Installation and Spacing Requirements
It typically costs less to install knobs that just need one centered screw hole per knob. Getting placement, scale, and spacing right for pulls with two mounting points takes more precision. Extra time and calculation is required to accurately measure and drill the right lateral positioning across doors and drawers for pulls to align cleanly.
Cost and Pricing Considerations
Due to less material being used overall, cabinet knobs frequently cost noticeably less per piece than larger pulls. Those on a tight budget may select knobs to save money. However, you must weigh pricing per piece against the total number of knobs or pulls needed for the entire kitchen. Ultimately cost depends on the quantity, quality, design, and materials selected.
Factors to Consider When Choosing
Cabinet Door Style and Design
Knobs suit traditional shaker style cabinet doors with a recessed center panel and visible framing. To not detract from raised panel carved doors or glass fronts, small simple knobs blend well. Large stainless steel bar pulls offer beautiful contrast to darker wood tones in contemporary frameless cabinet designs.
Hand Size and Personal Preference
If you have smaller hands, grasping tiny knobs is easier than wrapping fingers around some pulls. However, those with wider hands or reduced dexterity often prefer pulls. Also factor in whether you prefer twisting versus pulling, two hands versus one, or juvenile appearing versus streamlined.
Kitchen Layout and Workflow
In small or tight kitchens, protruding pulls increase chances you bump them. Recessed knobs avoid knocks from brushing past. Evaluate workflow to determine if pulls aid opening cabinets while hands are full cooking. Think about all users too--older family members may want pulls within easy reach up high.
Cleaning and Maintenance Needs
Around wet messy sinks, integrated recessed knobs hide water spots better and keep grime at bay. For kids' bathrooms, pulls withstand frequent handling without loosening. Carefully wipe crystal or wooden knobs to prevent moisture damage or wear and tear over time.
Overall Look and Feel Desired
Pulls make a bolder statement for sleek, geometric modern spaces. Vintaged ceramic knobs complement eclectic personality. Evaluate knobs or pulls along with your color scheme, counters, floors, etc. The hardware finishes and style choices either intentionally stand out or blend in.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Knobs
More Affordable and Replaceable Option
Purchasing twenty knobs costs noticeably less than twenty pulls. If trends change or you grow tired of decorative ornate knobs, replacing them poses little hassle. Altering pulls requires accurately remeasuring to redrill fresh mounting screw holes.
Allow Easier Cleaning and Less Visibility of Fingerprints
Around sinks or stoves, splatters and grease smudges inevitably stick to hardware. Grime hides more on tiny low profile knobs than on larger pulls you grab frequently. Recessed knobs also help appliances sit flush against countertops.
Individual Sizing Can Be Tricky
Getting the right gripable size knob for every user might require multiple options. Some may prefer larger knobs higher up but smaller low, or vice versa. Mixing knob designs helps, but sizing pulls typically stays consistent on each door.
Less Accessible for Those with Mobility Issues
Seniors with arthritis often struggle pinch grasping and precisely turning small knobs. Individuals in wheelchairs can rarely reach raised wall cabinet knobs. For universal design and ADA compliance, pulls increase accessibility.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Pulls
Create a More Streamlined, Modern Look
The clean visual lines of pulls enhance contemporary styled kitchens. Stainless steel, chrome, or nickel pulls project a unified upscale appearance. They also align precisely across unframed cabinet styles for seamless symmetry.
Easier to Open Cabinets with Full Hands
For busy cooks moving quickly, cabinet and drawer pulls allow you to access contents without setting down hot items. A firm grip on a properly sized pull opens doors wide.
Usually More Expensive
From materials to installation, pulls frequently cost more than knobs. The mounting placement precision and wider spans of holes to drill boosts labor. Larger steel pulls use more raw materials driving up production costs.
Require More Accurate Installation for Proper Spacing
Achieving clean symmetrical sightlines with pulls demands diligent measuring both across and between doors. Drilling holes just 1/8" off looks sloppy once pulls get installed. They must also align level--even small skews stand out.
Finishes and Materials to Select
Common Materials: Metal, Glass, Crystal, Wood, Ceramic
For most kitchens, durable finishes like brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze, chrome, and stainless steel make smart choices for pulls and knobs. Painted or stained wood and ceramic knobs add warmth. Clear glass or crystal knobs pair nicely with glass cabinet fronts.
Match with Cabinet Material and Color Scheme
Coordinate metals in finishes like antique brass or matte black with faucets, lighting fixtures, and appliances. Contrasting hardware colors also pop beautifully. Just beware excessive mixes without cohesion. Metal against painted cabinets works well, but avoid metal on metal.
Consider Durability and Ease of Cleaning
Look for scratch resistant surfaces like enameled steel or solid brass. Knobs with crevices require gentle cleaning to avoid trapped debris and moisture pitting materials. Care for wood finishes with polish to prevent splitting or bleaching from exposure.
Personalize with Decorative Shapes and Textures
Express individual style by selecting unique hardware shapes like fluted mushrooms, slender oblong pulls, or faceted crystal knobs. Intricate antique embossed brass, ribbed and knotty distressed wood, or hand blown glass all add artisan appeal.