Tips for Choosing the Best Bathroom Knobs for Your Home
At first glance, bathroom knobs may seem rather dull and all the same. But this practical piece of hardware actually comes in many forms, and they can be paired with bathroom cabinets in a variety of ways. Common questions among homeowners include, "Where should knobs be placed on cabinets?", "What size should knobs be?", and "Should I choose pulls or knobs?".
This article will provide tips for choosing bathroom knobs for your home, factoring in the various colors, sizes, and materials available for knobs. We’ll also touch on the distinction between knobs vs. pulls and the best practices for cabinet knob placement.
Knobs vs. Pulls
Knobs and pulls can both be great options for bathroom cabinets, depending on what you’re looking for. Pulls can be easy to grab for people with joint mobility issues and offer a streamlined appearance. Pulls are often preferred for modern, high-tech bathrooms. However, knobs can add more character to a bathroom and take up less space on a cabinet or drawer’s surface. Knobs are a great choice for bathrooms that have a vintage, rustic, or traditional look.
Choosing the Right Knob Size
It's important for bathroom knobs to be functional and sturdy so that you can easily wrap your hand around them to pull open drawers and cupboards. This is why it's a smart idea to visit a local bathroom showroom to test how different types fit in your hand. Whether you’re replacing knobs on an existing cabinet or picking out hardware for brand-new cabinets, you’ll want to take some measurements. There are knobs designed to fit "standard cabinets", but larger cabinets will require larger knobs, which make a bolder statement alongside your bathroom décor as well.
Proper Cabinet Knob Placement
Good measurements are also important for proper cabinet knob placement, as you may want your knobs to be centered horizontally on the cabinet frame that runs vertically. Alternatively, you can move this placement up or down a couple inches for tall cabinets or low-level cabinets so they’re easier to reach. For bathroom drawers that are at least 24 inches wide, a suggestion is to divide the drawer into thirds and use two knobs: one on the left side of the drawer and one on the right side.
Decorative Knobs for a Personal Touch
One of the easiest and most affordable ways to update your bathroom’s look and give it a personal touch is to add decorative knobs to your bathroom’s cabinets and drawers. For example, if your bathroom has a beach theme, you can update your standard knobs to knobs shaped like seashells or starfish. Or if you have a nature theme in your bathroom, consider knobs shaped like leaves or grapevines.
You also may be wondering if you can mix metals in the bathroom, or if that is a design faux pas. Unlike more formal parts of the house, the bathroom is a great place to experiment with mixing metals for an intriguing dimension and creative touch. For example, shiny nickel bathroom fixtures can look wonderful with a golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling. And brass hardware can be an excellent complement to nickel plumbing fixtures to balance out a color scheme or add interest to neutral hues. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with different metals, such as bronze and nickel, with both light and dark shades of wood in the bathroom.
For ideas and inspiration, check out our selection of decorative knobs, which are featured at our Grande Central Showrooms in New York. Some of our favorite designs for a personal touch are knobs that resemble ivy leaves, oak leaves, hammered medallions, and even mermaids. These are high-quality knobs made with burnished bronze, satin brass, pewter, and other beautiful materials to add class and character to your bathroom design.