Kitchen cabinet hardware - yes or no?

Valerie
by Valerie
We recently installed new kitchen cabinets and have not yet put on knobs or drawer pulls. We'll be putting our house for sale in a few months. Should we bother to put them on at all? Could the style or placement turn off a prospective buyer? Or would the lack of them be worse? TIA
  19 answers
  • Kate Kate on May 21, 2015
    Totally depends upon the style of cabinet. A modern, sleek cabinet calls for no knobs/handles. A more traditional style could look unfinished without them. How do your cabinet manufacturer's catalogue and inspiration pictures show your style, with or without?
  • Valerie Valerie on May 21, 2015
    Thank you! The cabinets in the catalog did show knobs/pulls, but there is a suitable side to them to accommodate grabbing an edge.
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on May 21, 2015
    Your new cabinets are exactly like the ones in our kitchen. We've had them for more than 20 years...with no hardware. I prefer it this way because it allows for super-easy cleaning and I have not had to worry about catching my apron or pants pockets on a drawer pull or door handle. Only a couple times have we considered adding hardware but never have. If I were selling my home I wouldn't go to the time and expense of adding hardware. My preference and placement might not be what the new owner would like. Don't drill holes where someone might not want any. I'd recommend leaving them as they are and not spend time or money here. You might need both for another area of the house that would benefit more.
  • Kate Kate on May 21, 2015
    Valerie-- I don't know why your picture didn't show up before when I replied. Now that I see the cabinets, I think you'll be fine with either choice....although, I think Swan Road makes a good point about drilling holes. If you drill for knobs, sure enough, a prospective buyer is going to have her heart set on long pull bars, and vice versa. Getting a home ready for sale is expensive enough, and even the little things add up quickly. Again, I'm with Swan Road here. Call it good and move on. Good luck.
  • B. Enne B. Enne on May 21, 2015
    Don't bother, they are fine, and you are right that hardware could turn off a potential buyer. This way you are not choosing a decorating style for the buyer. If in doubt though, you could ask you realtor.
  • Jen Garvin Garberich Jen Garvin Garberich on May 22, 2015
    The cabinets I used to have didn't have handles, and I found that they, especially the sink cabinet doors, got grimey and water-stained. I added handles but they did catch my pockets and such. When we remodeled, we picked handles that are arch shaped so there's nothing to catch your clothes.
  • Mssjallison Mssjallison on May 22, 2015
    I think kitchen " jewelry" would make a huge difference. Over time, handling the cabinet doors and drawers, they become tacky and dirty. Yes, hardware is expensive, and since you are selling soon, let the new owners make that decision.
  • Lynda Lynda on May 22, 2015
    Your cabinets look similar to mine and my neighbors. We have been here 20 years, Her' s hardware, mine don't. I have often thought about adding them but they look fine without.
  • 861650 861650 on May 22, 2015
    Had cabinets just like yours. Went to Lowes Hardware. Found silver pulls even for the drawers. The pulls were plain except around the edges which had a couple of ridges in them. A contemporary/traditional look. Turned out great! Did not spend a lot of money on them either. You have a choice, go high-end or low-end. I chose the middle price!
  • JacquelynShimmel JacquelynShimmel on May 22, 2015
    Yes. I definitely think it would add value to ur kitchen
  • Kathy Cummings Huffman Kathy Cummings Huffman on May 23, 2015
    I wouldn't do it since you are selling, let the buyer pick what they want to do. I think, however, if you were to stay it would add so much to your kitchen. I have heard people call hardware jewelry for your cupboards & I think that is true. Everyone has different tastes tho so letting the new owners pick their own is probably best. Good luck with the sale!
  • Jan Jan on May 23, 2015
    Definitely add them. Be cautious not to get too quirky and to make sure the finish matches other things in the room, like the faucet. Pulls are like jewelry. They also help prevent fingernail dings in the finish where you're grabbing the wood. :)
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on May 23, 2015
    If you're selling I would not go to the expense. The new home owners will then have the option of installing or not, and will get to choose what pleases them.
  • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on May 23, 2015
    If i were in the market to purchase a home, one of the last things that would be a critical influence is the hardware or lack thereof on the kitchen/bathroom cabinets. I would be more apt to inspect important areas that might need attention that would have an impact on the condition of the house. For example, I'd look at the plumbing, the condition and performance of major appliances that come with the house, the roof, the HVAC, insulation in the attic, etc. Does the ground slope away from the house to allow for proper drainage to keep from having foundation/basement leaks? In my big picture of things, the kitchen hardware would be waaaaay down at the bottom of my list. To use a phrase my late husband would use, "this hardware issue is a mouse fart in a hurricane." I'm not trying to be offensive, just realistic.
    • Valerie Valerie on May 24, 2015
      @Swan Road Designs yes, I completely agree with your sentiments, I can see beyond the style (or lack of) and find the potential in a home. I also realize that most buyers cannot. ;)
  • Linda Linda on May 23, 2015
    I personally LOVE knobs. Just a personal issue.
  • Carol Burkhardt Rask Carol Burkhardt Rask on May 23, 2015
    I like all the replies, and to me I'd rather have long pulls. The people that see your place to buy it, will know that these couldn't be 20 years old with chrome pulls and knobs.Just DON'T pick brass, the buyers will think they are older than 20 years. As Jan said, like jewelry........ : )
  • Valerie Valerie on May 24, 2015
    Thank you everyone for your thoughts, they are appreciated. I supposed I should have mentioned that I already HAVE the hardware, so the expense is not an issue. They are simply detailed brushed nickel, without edges for clothing to catch on. If we were staying I would put them on for me. One comment in particular reminded me that not all pulls are the same length. If I were to drill holes 4" apart and they preferred those really large ones, they would have to contend with filling holes. I think we're going to keep them as is. Anyone interested in some drawer pulls? Hahaha ;)
    • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on May 24, 2015
      @Valerie Depending on whether or not your next kitchen has hardware on the cabinetry, you might put the hardware you haven't attached in this kitchen in a clear plastic bag and leave it for the new owners to install. Just a little bonus for them.
  • Lynn Wall Lynn Wall on May 25, 2015
    Yes. They save your cabinets. Oil and other stuff on your hands take the finish off over the long run.
    • Swan Road Designs Swan Road Designs on May 25, 2015
      @Lynn Wall I haven't seen that with our cabinets. They've been in the kitchen for over 20 years. We have/had an active family and, all through those years and now, 3 meals per day are prepared in it. Not only do we not have any diminishing finish-wise, there are no greasy/stained/dirty areas on any of the woodwork. Perhaps that's because I've always wiped them down once per week and cleaned a bit more once a month...nearly religiously.
  • SANDY SANDY on Oct 24, 2016
    Knobs and pulls are the jewelry in a room. Yes!