Which of these three scenarios for changing kitchen cabinet knobs and drawer pulls are you facing?
If you’re thinking about changing your kitchen cabinets' door or drawer hardware, or adding some where none exist — there are a few things you need to know first.
Scenario 1: Replacing hardware when holes line up
This is the best-case scenario for you. If you’re putting pulls where pulls were and knobs where knobs were, and the holes line up because the hardware is the same size hardware, that’s great! Your job is will be easy.
All you have to do is carefully unscrew the current hardware, and then carefully screw on the new hardware. Be sure to put the screws in tight enough so they don’t come loose over time, which will require you to tighten them again. At the same time, don’t tighten your cabinet hardware so much that it digs into your door or drawer face.
Sometimes the screws included with the hardware are too long or short to work with the thickness of the cabinet door or drawer. So depending on your cabinet construction, you may have to cut down the screws or find longer ones.
Scenario 2: Replacing hardware when holes don’t line up
Here we have a slight dilemma. You may want to replace knobs with pulls — or the other way around. Or, maybe you want larger pulls. The problem is that if you install hardware in a size or configuration that's different from your current hardware, it will leave the current holes exposed, and you will have to fill and finish them.
While this is not impossible to do, we don’t recommend trying to fill holes and finish them unless you are sure you can match the paint or stain to your liking. If not, you will have an eyesore until you replace the doors, which can be difficult and costly, or eventually remodel your kitchen.
If you decide to go ahead with the project, it’s best if you have painted cabinets and the matching paint when you fill and finish the holes. You can touch up paint much easier than trying to touch up stain on cabinets. If you have stained cabinets, it may take a cabinet finish expert to match the color and make it look right. Your best bet is to see if you can get a touch-up kit from the manufacturer of your cabinets with matching paint or stain.
Use a wood dowel or wood filler to fill in the holes. Sand the patch smooth, and then apply primer and paint or stain to finish it. If you’re going from a knob to a pull, the pull will help hide any difference in appearance from the filled-in knob hole.
Scenario 3: Adding cabinet hardware where there is none
If you don’t currently have hardware, it’s a good idea to install some for many reasons. When opening kitchen cabinets, the dirt and oils on your hands wear away the finish. Over time, this creates a worn-out stain where your hands open the doors or drawers.
If you have an inconspicuous door somewhere, practice on it before you go crazy installing hardware everywhere. Make sure you line up your screw holes to install the hardware level and in the right place. Your best bet is to create a jig, which lets you get the exact hole placement on every door or drawer.
You will have crooked hardware every time if you think you can “eyeball it.”
Tips for changing cabinet knobs and drawer pulls
Buying one cabinet knob to see how it looks will help you avoid regrets. (Photo By Brandon Smith)
• If you’re shopping for hardware, remove one of your current knobs or pulls and take it shopping with you to compare where holes are and how much of the cabinet the new knobs will cover.
• Before you buy all of the hardware, purchase one knob or drawer pull and hold it up to your kitchen cabinets to ensure it’s exactly what you want. Getting that visual for a few dollars can help prevent regrets if it doesn’t look how you envisioned.
• You can find hardware at neighborhood hardware stores, big box shops or online — or a local cabinet dealer can order new hardware for you.
Take advantage of cabinet hardware’s ability to give your kitchen the flair it needs. New kitchen cabinet handles and drawer pulls can enhance your current style or change it to something even better.
At Brakur Custom Cabinetry we can help you find the right hardware for your kitchen cabinets. If you would like to schedule an appointment you can contact us here.
Click here to download a free guide to cabinetry.
This article originally appeared on Angie's List. Chad Kurtz President of Brakur Custom Cabinetry is a regular contributor to their Experts Contributor Program.
