How to Choose the Right Kitchen Handles – Style, Size and Function
Which handles will suit your kitchen? Compare style, size, grip, materials and fixing centres to find hardware that looks beautiful and works comfortably every day.
Kitchen handles and knobs are small details that influence both the overall look and the way your kitchen feels to use every day. Begin with function, then let style, colour and material create the right atmosphere.
Start with the way the kitchen is used
Consider who uses the kitchen and which doors and drawers are opened most often. A comfortable grip is particularly important on heavy drawers, tall cabinets and integrated appliances. Check how much room your fingers have behind the handle.
Knobs, handles or a combination?
Knobs often suit smaller doors, while handles provide better leverage on wide or heavy drawers. Combining both can work beautifully. Repeat a colour, material or shape to keep the result calm and coordinated.
Choose the right size and grip
Compare the handle’s overall length, height and projection with the cabinet front. If you have large hands or long nails, a handle with generous finger clearance may be more comfortable than a shallow cup pull. A paper template helps you assess the proportions.
Check the existing fixing centres
If two screw holes already exist, measure from the centre of one hole to the centre of the other. Choose the same fixing centres to reuse the holes, and make sure the handle feet cover any marks left by the old hardware.
Coordinate colours and materials
Look at the tap, lighting, appliances and worktop. Brass adds warmth, black creates contrast, and nickel or stainless-steel finishes feel calm and versatile. Every metal does not need to match exactly; repeating related tones is often enough.
Materials that change over time
Unlacquered brass develops a natural patina. Wood may change tone with light and use, while leather gains an individual character. This is part of the material’s beauty. High-gloss finishes can show fingerprints more clearly and need more frequent wiping.
Try one before ordering many
Order a sample handle or use an accurately measured paper template. Check the colour, proportions, grip and door movement before ordering for the whole kitchen.
We are happy to help you choose
Send us a photo of your kitchen together with the cabinet dimensions and fixing centres. Tell us which styles and materials you like, and we will gladly help you find handles and knobs that suit your kitchen and everyday needs.
