Why proportions are important in positioning and picking your cabinet hardware?
Proportions in cabinet hardware are just as important as choosing the right-sized art for your wall or a rug for your room. Just like an oversized painting can overwhelm a small space or a tiny rug can throw off the balance of a large room, improperly sized hardware can disrupt the harmony of your cabinets. The right proportions ensure that the hardware complements the cabinetry, creating a sense of balance and cohesion. For instance, a long drawer might need a larger pull or two smaller ones to maintain symmetry, much like how a large wall needs appropriately scaled art to feel complete. Just as with art or rugs, thoughtful proportions in hardware make your space feel intentional and functional.
What is the 1 3 rule in cabinet hardware?
The 1/3 rule in cabinet hardware is a design guideline that helps achieve balanced proportions when selecting drawer pulls and cabinet handles. According to this rule, the length of the pull should be approximately one-third the width of the drawer or cabinet door. This creates a visually pleasing ratio that complements the overall design while maintaining functionality. For example, on a 30-inch-wide drawer, a 10-inch pull would follow the 1/3 rule. This guideline works particularly well in modern and transitional designs, ensuring that hardware neither overwhelms nor feels too small for the cabinetry.
Exceptions to following the one third rule.
First, don’t feel like you can’t break the rule. In order to achieve a modern appearance designers will frequently use very long handles that are nearly the length of the cabinet to create a more modern look.
Second, sometimes designers will opt to mix and match knobs with pulls. Instead of using a longer pull, in some cases they will opt for 2 knobs for a less traditional look. This could even be two small 3 inch cabinet pulls or 96mm cabinet pulls.
Edge pulls frequently are used either as a very small, nearly undetectable feature. Or finger pulls can be used to create an extremely minimal appearance in your kitchen or bath.
Want to understand more about how to place your cabinet hardware on drawers?
Read our guide to placing cabinet hardware on drawers that makes it quick and easy to explore the various sizes that interior designers use for various widths of cabinet drawers in kitchens and bath projects.
