Choosing the Right Hardware and Door Knobs for the Job

Many people forget how important choosing the right hardware can be to make your home as beautiful as possible. Cheap hardware or hardware that doesn’t really match your overall aesthetic can make a space look unfinished, unpolished, and poorly thought out. The perfect hardware can make a space look immensely better. As they say, “It’s all in the details!” Use these tips to make sure you’re using hardware that makes the space vibrant.

think in color

One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing hardware is choosing the wrong color. A beautiful mahogany door will not look as beautiful with a cheap chrome door knob. Beautiful oak cabinets will look cheap with painted gold knobs. People, knowingly or not, really look at the details of hardware when evaluating how luxurious and attractive the entire space is, so by choosing the right hardware, you literally improve the appearance of everything. Think carefully about which metals really fit your design style. You can even look at your other metallic accessories, like your favorite lamp, to see which direction you need to go. Choose dark metallic finishes, like oil-rubbed bronze or metallic black, if you want decorative doorknobs and cabinet handles to blend in with dark wood finishes like walnut and dark cherry. If you really want your hardware to stand out, choose a contrasting finish for your cabinet knobs and handles, like satin nickel. Generally, you’ll want all of your hardware colors to match, so also make sure you buy exposed hinges, faucets, and even exposed screws in the same finish. This will cost you a few extra dollars, but will make the space look millions, if not thousands of dollars better.

thinkstyle

The color of hardware for things like interior door knobs can make a world of difference, but if you pick the right color in the wrong style, you still won’t be happy. Think about the design style of the other elements in the space. If you have a space filled with antiques or new items that are made to look old, also buy antique doorknobs or other antique reproduction hardware. If you have a very formal space, consider using things like crystal door knobs or crystal cabinet knobs. There are hundreds of places to buy all kinds of specialized hardware, so it’s not hard to find a style that works for you, as long as you take the time to think about what would work best. If your design is modern and sleek, you can easily find hardware that reflects the same. If your design is a shabby sheikh, there’s perfect hardware available for that too. You may not find the perfect hardware in the selection of Schlage knobs in stock at your local home improvement store, but don’t limit yourself to that selection. It’s truly amazing how much the overall look of a room can be transformed if you simply take the time to order hardware online or by special ordering it in a store that is really what the design calls for.