It’s amazing to see the difference that new cabinet hardware can make in your kitchen. Replacing or modifying dull and dated cabinet hardware can instantly upgrade the space.
Hardware Switch Solutions. Every kitchen presents a different situation for a cabinet hardware switch. You may find that you need to conceal holes on your cabinet doors and drawers to make the new hardware work. If you like the style of your hardware, you might just want to give it a fresh look instead of replacing it. We’ll show you our easy solutions to these situations (and others) to help you make your cabinets look their best.
For the simplest swap, try to find hardware that will fit in the same mounting holes as your old hardware. But if the hardware you want just doesn’t match up, you can conceal the old holes. One option, shown here, is to fill the holes with wood putty. Then sand them and paint them to match your cabinets.
If you don’t think you’ll be able to patch old cabinet hardware holes (or if you’re unsatisfied with the results once you’ve tried), you may still be able to use your new hardware. Many hardware companies sell backplates for knobs and pulls. These decorative metal plates get screwed to the faces of the cabinets underneath the hardware, covering up the old holes.
Most hardware is positioned about 3” from the top edge of base cabinet doors and the bottom edge of wall cabinet doors, but it’s really a matter of personal preference. For cabinet drawers, center your knob or pull in the width of the drawer, but slightly above the centerline of the drawer’s height. That way, the hardware will look centered when viewed from above. You can also purchase plastic templates like the one shown here, which make consistent hardware placement easy.
You can paint cabinet hardware to get a new look without the expense of new hardware. Scrub each piece with dish soap, then rinse and dry it thoroughly. Apply a coat of primer that’s meant for metal, and then follow it up with the spray paint of your choice.
