And you don’t even have to call in the professionals for a flawless facelift. ‘Don’t want to shell out on the cost of a full renovation? We don’t blame you,’ says Tom, co-founder of Plank Hardware. ‘Instead, it’s worth considering how you can elevate your culinary space through finer details, such as cabinet handles. ‘This simple piece of hardware can complement your kitchen décor and create a stylish, unified appearance.’ And if you paint kitchen cabinets, stain kitchen cabinets, or refinish kitchen cabinets, installing new handles is the perfect finishing touch to the room makeover. Here we explain how it’s done.
How to install kitchen cabinet handles
How to install kitchen cabinet handles
If you’re installing kitchen cabinets, or you want to update kitchen cabinets without replacing them, you’ll want to know how to fit new handles. We tapped the experts at Croft (opens in new tab) and Plank Hardware (opens in new tab) for their top tips. Firstly, be prepared with the right tools for your kitchen cabinets. You will need:
Cordless drill with appropriate wood drill bit to suit the fixings suppliedCombination squareTape measurePencilScrewdriverSpirit levelNew handles
1. Position your handles
1. Position your handles
So where should your new kitchen cabinet handles sit? ‘As a general rule, base unit handles tend to go at the top of the door, so you don’t need to reach too far down for them,’ says Tom. ‘To avoid reaching up high or having to get a stool out, wall handle units are fixed towards the bottom of the door.’ It is ultimately up to you where you position your kitchen handles, but Plank Hardware suggests the following: Drawers: Position your handles in the horizontal and vertical middle of each drawer face. Floor standing cupboards: Position roughly 50mm in from the edge of the top side opposite the hinges. Wall mounted cupboards/units: Position roughly 50mm in from the edge opposite the hinges, only this time positioned near the bottom of the door.
2. Measure and mark
2. Measure and mark
Reach for your tape measure and pencil and get ready to find the correct spot - getting the right measurements is key to a professional-worthy finish. Follow Plank’s steps for seamless prep:
3. Check your fixing centers
3. Check your fixing centers
Check the fixing centers and place the handle in the desired position. ‘Once you’re happy with the position, mark the fixing centers on the door/drawer and check the position is square and correctly positioned,’ says Croft’s Paul Clifford. Plank’s Tom adds: ‘Before you start drilling, position your handles against the door to check you’re happy with the final position. Each mark should correspond with a screw hole.’
4. Get drilling
4. Get drilling
Once your fixing centers are correctly positioned, you can drill the door. Paul advises: ‘The hole should be slightly bigger than the fixing screw supplied and will allow a little adjustment. ‘Always drill from the outside to prevent damage or chipping.’ Follow Plank Hardware’s top tips for perfect drilling: 1.Use a smaller drill bit to drill a ‘starter hole’ Larger drill bits have a tendency to skid from their marked position, which can cause damage to the wood. To avoid this, you can use a smaller drill bit to create a smaller hole. This will give your larger drill bit something to grip onto. Line up your drill to the pencil mark you made using your template and slowly drill into the wood, keeping your hand as level and steady as possible. Make sure your drill is set at exactly 90 degrees to the door’s surface and keep your fingers well away while drilling. 2. Or, use an awl instead This is a metal shaft with a point that creates a slight indentation in the wood, which the drill can grip onto. You can use an awl to dent the spot you plan to drill instead of drilling a starter hole. 3. Drill a larger hole Whether you’ve drilled a starter hole or marked the spot with your awl, you’re now ready to drill the hole precisely. Simply use a drill bit the size of the screw you’re using and begin drilling (for standard cabinet hardware screws, this is usually 5mm but check the screws supplied to make sure it’s the right size first). Aim to keep the hole neat and tidy, avoiding any splits or chips of paint that your handle may not be able to cover.
5. Secure your new kitchen cabinet handles
5. Secure your new kitchen cabinet handles
It’s now time to finish the job and get your new kitchen cabinet handles firmly secured. ‘You can now push the screw through the door/drawer front into the handle and tighten by hand,’ says Paul. Some screws can be cut to length or snapped to suit the door thickness.
Where should cabinet pulls be placed?
Where should cabinet pulls be placed?
Cabinet handles are usually placed in the center of a drawer, or in the top corner of a door. ‘When drilling multiple doors or drawers ensure they are all marked the same to create a uniform appearance,’ advises Paul Croft.
