Fool-Proof Guide To Mixing Knobs & Pulls On Kitchen Cabinets (With Pictures!)

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Last updated on March 15th, 2024 at 12:27 pm

Wondering if you can mix knobs and pulls on your kitchen cabinets? Well, look no further because I have your answer!

The best way to mix knobs and pulls on kitchen cabinets is to choose hardware that is the same color and similar in shape (i.e. rounded edges on both the knobs and pulls, or square edges on both). The similar shape and consistent color help the kitchen feel cohesive while still adding a custom feel.

Now that we’ve got the basics out of the way, let’s break into the details further so you can choose the perfect hardware combination for your kitchen.

Let’s dive in!

Quick Navigation: Mixing Knobs & Pulls On Cabinets & Drawers

1. Knobs On Cabinet Doors, Pulls On Drawers
2. Pulls On Cabinet Doors, Knobs On Drawers
3. Other FAQs About Mixing Knobs And Pulls On Cabinets
4. Final Thoughts

One: Knobs On Cabinet Doors, Pulls On Drawers

The first hardware combination you can choose is putting knobs on the cabinet doors and pulls on the cabinet drawers. This mixture is the most common choice you’ll see in most kitchens that have mix-matched hardware because drawers are much more comfortable to use when they have pulls.

Plus, you can get a different pull size that will fit each drawer face better if you really want to make your kitchen look more upscale. 

Knobs are more comfortable to use on cabinet doors and can enhance the “custom look” you are going for when they are a different style from the pulls. All of these benefits make this combination a great one for any kitchen.

If you really dig the vibe of pulls on drawers and knobs on doors, then there are a few rules of thumb you can follow to help make your choice more simple:

• If you want cohesiveness, you can keep the shapes similar (rounded edges on both the knobs and pulls, square edges on both the knobs and pulls, etc)
• If you want contrast, you can choose opposing shapes (rounded knobs with square pulls or vice versa). The cohesiveness will come from them being the same color
• Pulls look better on drawers when they take up ½ of the drawer face
  • If you want to use the same size pulls on all of your drawers, then 5-7 inches center-on-center is usually a great pull size – they are more comfortable to use, look more upscale, and are still on the more budget-friendly side)

Cupped pulls are also popular right now. They are traditionally only used on drawers because this is the most comfortable way to use them. That also naturally leads many people to mix-and-match knobs on cabinets with cupped pulls on drawers. If you like the look of cupped pulls, then use knobs on your cabinet doors.

Combinations of knobs and pulls that would look great together:

• Round knobs, cupped pulls
• T-shaped knobs, large T-shaped pulls
• Square knobs, square-edged pulls
• Square knobs, cupped pulls
• Round knobs, large square-edged pulls

Two: Pulls On Cabinet Doors, Knobs On Drawers

The second hardware combination you can choose is putting pulls on the cabinet doors and knobs on the cabinet drawers. This mixture is not as common of a choice because knobs on large drawers typically require the use of two hands to pull them open so there is less stress on the drawer face and knob.

Though, if all of your kitchen drawers are 18 inches or less, then you won’t have this problem since only one knob will be on each drawer.

Just like above, there are a few rules of thumb you can follow to help make your choice for knobs on drawers and pulls on doors more simple:

• If you want cohesiveness, you can keep the shapes similar (rounded edges on both the knobs and pulls, square edges on both the knobs and pulls, etc)
• If you want contrast, you can choose opposing shapes (rounded knobs with square pulls or vice versa). The cohesiveness will come from them being the same color
• Knobs look more high-end on drawers when there are two spaced evenly across the drawer face giving the illusion that they take up ½ of the drawer face (only if the drawer is larger than 15 inches – otherwise one knob in the center looks best)
• Pulls look more high-end on cabinets when they are 1/4 to 1/3 the size of the cabinet height (7 inches center-on-center for 30-inch tall cabinets) (they are more comfortable to use, look more upscale, and can still be on the more budget-friendly side)
  • For more information on choosing the right cabinet hardware size, check out my other article.

If you like the look of knobs on drawers, use pulls on cabinets.

The best way for you to decide is to purchase a few different styles at the hardware store and hold them up next to your cabinets to get a feel for which combination you like best!

Combinations of knobs and pulls that would look great together:

• Round-edged pulls, round knobs
• T-shaped knobs, large T-shaped pulls
• Square-edged pulls, square knobs
• Square-edged pulls, round knobs
• Round-edged pulls, square knobs

Other FAQs About Mixing Knobs And Pulls On Cabinets

Here are some other frequently asked questions about cabinet hardware to help you choose the best combination!

Can You Mix Hardware On Kitchen Cabinets?

Mixing hardware on kitchen cabinets is a great way to create a more upscale and custom look in your kitchen while increasing functionality and potentially lowering the overall cost of the cabinet hardware.

How Do You Choose Between Knobs And Pulls?

The best way to choose between knobs and pulls is to purchase a few options and hold them up to your cabinets to determine which one you like best. In general, pulls are more comfortable to use and more upscale-looking, but they are typically more expensive than knobs.

Final Thoughts On Mixing Knobs And Pulls On Cabinets

There you have it!

The cabinet hardware combinations can seem endless. But all you need to do is find one pull or knob that calls to you every time you see it, then find the second knob or pull that complements it.

Hopefully, this guide gave you some inspiration on which cabinet hardware combinations you enjoy best.

Catch you in my next post!

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