The ultimate guide to choosing kitchen cupboard handles.
How the right hardware can enhance both functionality and aesthetics.
When designing a kitchen for a client, I carefully select door furniture or cupboard handles based on user comfort. The right handle type will enable easy access to kitchen cupboards and drawers while enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Choosing the right handles for your kitchen cupboards can make them easier to open.
What is the best type of handle shape?
I recommend pull-style furniture handles for cupboards throughout the home. This is due to their accessibility and maneuverability for people of all ages. Pull handles are easy to grasp, allowing the whole hand to pull open the cupboard rather than relying solely on the fingertips.
Pull handles are particularly user-friendly for seniors. They can simply loop their hand around the handle and pull. This design is more accessible for individuals with reduced dexterity or arthritis.
Some designers even recommend D-shaped handles over a T Bar handle. The reason for this is the continuous shape of the handle, where a T-Bar handle has extensions on each side that could catch on clothing, such as belt loops or pockets.
What to avoid
Avoid furniture handles that require a tight grasp and pull, such as cup handles, profile handles, and door knobs; these can cause discomfort in arthritic hands. Push-touch openings should also be avoided, as the pushing action needed for opening and closing can be painful for those with arthritis in their hands, elbows, or shoulders. while the clean aesthetic is appealing, I have seen too many kitchens where the magnetic latch has failed, leaving the cupboard door or drawer slightly open, which not only looks untidy but can also prevent the opening of adjacent doors, such as in corner cupboards.