When planning a new kitchen, bathroom or laundry, cabinet handles are often one of the last decisions made. But they are also one of the details you will see and touch every day.
The right cabinetry handles can make joinery feel more considered, connect finishes throughout the home and give even simple cabinetry a more refined look.
So, how do you choose cabinet handles that will work with your space? Start with three things: style, proportion and finish.
What Style of Cabinet Handle Should You Choose?
Your cabinetry is a good starting point.
For clean or contemporary joinery, a streamlined handle can add interest without competing with the cabinetry. More detailed handles can bring character to Shaker-style, traditional or transitional kitchens.
You also don't necessarily need to use exactly the same handle everywhere. Choosing different handle shapes within a similar design language or finish can help each room feel individual while still creating consistency throughout the home.
Some of our most popular choices include Verona, Tutto and Sassari, each offering a different way to add detail to cabinetry.
Verona brings decorative detail and refinement, Tutto offers a more understated profile, while Sassari introduces a tactile, textured element. This makes it possible to choose a handle based not simply on what is trending, but on the cabinetry and overall feeling you want to create.
What Size Cabinet Handles Should You Choose?
One of the most common questions when selecting cabinetry hardware is what size cabinet handles should I use?
There is no single size that works for every cupboard or drawer.
Look at the overall proportion of the cabinetry. Smaller cupboard doors may suit a knob or shorter handle, while wide drawers and pantry doors can often carry a longer handle.
You can also mix handle sizes within the same collection. Using a smaller handle on narrow cabinetry and a longer version on larger drawers helps maintain visual balance without making every cabinet identical.
If you are replacing existing handles, remember to check the centre-to-centre measurement between the fixing holes before selecting a new design.
What Colour Cabinet Handles Are Popular?
Finish can have just as much impact as the shape of the handle.
While Brushed Brass, Matte Black, Chrome and Brushed Nickel all have their place, we are currently seeing particularly strong interest in English Bronze cabinet handles.
English Bronze introduces warmth and depth without the brightness of a traditional brass finish. It works beautifully with whites, warm neutrals, timber cabinetry and deeper colours, making it particularly suited to classic, country, transitional and modern-classic homes.
It can also be carried through other details within the kitchen, bathroom and laundry to help create a more cohesive whole-of-home scheme.
Should Cabinet Handles Match Your Tapware?
They don't have to be an exact match, but the finishes should feel considered together.
Look at your tapware, cabinetry handles, door hardware, lighting and other metal details as part of the same overall palette rather than choosing each in isolation.
Repeating a finish in several places can create continuity, while complementary finishes can add more depth to the interior.
The goal is not necessarily for everything to match. It is for everything to belong.
Still Deciding? Download Our Cabinet Handle Guide
Handle style, sizing, placement and finish can all change the final look of your cabinetry — and it is much easier to make those decisions before your joinery is installed.
Our free Turner Hastings Cabinet Handle Guide takes you through the details, including choosing handle sizes, placement, coordinating finishes and avoiding common mistakes.
Download the complete Cabinet Handle Guide today and discover how the smallest details can make the biggest difference in your design.
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