Dated Kitchen Hardware Trends That Are Out (And Stylish Alternatives That Are In)

Your cabinet hardware may not seem like a big deal in the overall style of your kitchen, but it actually plays a significant role in its aesthetic. With the right knobs, pulls, and handles, your cabinets get a big lift, while outdated hardware will make a kitchen instantly look stuck in the past. If this sounds familiar and your kitchen shows off trends that were popular decades ago, then it's time to put your tired hardware to rest with stylish alternatives. It's one of the easiest and most impactful ways to modernize your space.

Although hardware styles ebb and flow, today's trendiest kitchens embrace a more intentional and custom vibe. Gone are the days of builder-grade, overly matching, low-quality, or highly polished pieces that are hard to maintain. Instead, homeowners and interior designers mix metals and finishes, play with a slew of textures, and prioritize materials that infuse personality and character. They balance function with style for hardware that complements the kitchen's design rather than trying to overpower it. Beyond aesthetics, modern hardware is becoming more practical, featuring larger, functional handles for a bold, overstated look, while textured hardware is bringing a unique, rustic look by adding dimension and visual interest to any home decor style.

When you're trying to find the perfect way to upgrade your outdated kitchen, these cabinet hardware trends are the secret to making kitchen cabinets look cohesive. Whether it's swapping hammered pulls for industrial ones or mixing finishes and styles, small changes make a big impact. But first, you must identify the dated hardware trends lurking in your kitchen.

Once upon a time, having uniform hardware throughout the kitchen was the norm. But today, overly matched finishes are on their way out. Your kitchen can start to feel monotonous, uninspired, and limited because it restricts your ability to get creative and make the space dynamic and personal. Think about it: Stainless steel appliances paired with matching hardware have looked sleek for the past decade or so, but when you mix a stainless steel finish with matte black hardware, you're designing a way more visually interesting and modern aesthetic.

The hardware trend of mixing finishes is quickly picking up steam and taking its place in modern homes by bringing complementary hues together. Combining a mix of tones gives your kitchen a sophisticated, yet understated look with added depth, balance, contrast, and character. The key is to create a cohesive palette that doesn't overwhelm the space but seamlessly blends in. That means picking hardware finishes with similar undertones but enough contrast that won't clash. Copper, brass, and gold finishes have warm undertones that add richness to your kitchen. Cooler undertones — like those found in silver, nickel, and chrome — will bring a fresh, contemporary vibe to the kitchen. After you've created a cohesive look with your mixed finishes, highlight them by sprucing up the dead space above your cabinets with a dazzling design.

Builder-grade or standard-sized hardware on your kitchen cabinets is being phased out. You know, the kinds that all match — the same finish, size, and shape — and look like they were bought in bulk to quickly fit the bill. They're low-effort and boring. If you're trying to give your kitchen a modern edge, standard hardware sizes can cause your space to look unbalanced. To help your kitchen cabinets stand out from the crowd of standard, blah pieces, today's trends are to incorporate different sizes, colors, and even types of hardware.

The latest trend embraces fixtures that are not the status quo. For example, longer, more streamlined pulls offer both visual impact and increased functionality. Aesthetically, longer pulls create clean, uninterrupted lines that enhance the kitchen's overall character. Functionally, they offer a better grip, making it easier to open extra-large drawers — especially when it's full of heavy items like pots and pans. Even in rustic kitchens, swapping outdated hardware for modern, elongated pulls can bring a stylish, refreshed feel. Some design experts recommend incorporating drop pull hardware — a pendant style that adds timeless elegance to cabinetry. They come in a slew of shapes, sizes, finishes, and textures that will feel like they were handpicked with intention, rather than looking like they came from a big-box store. Find out how to choose the right size kitchen cabinet hardware. 

The trend to prioritize quality and long-term value is trumping short-lived, low-quality cabinet hardware — and the difference is obvious in both appearance and durability. That's not to say you should spend a fortune on hardware, but rather avoid materials that don't stand the test of time with regular use. Zinc, for example, is a low-quality material because it's a softer metal, making it vulnerable to wear and tear and corrosion. Also, delicate materials like glass and crystal hardware are more likely to get chipped or broken with regular use. So, what materials and finishes are worth the investment? 

Solid brass hardware is a standout material because of its strength and durability, and it won't show signs of fading or discoloration. Brass tends to be more expensive than other types of hardware metals but is known for its longevity and resistance to rust. It is also a more flexible metal and perfect for creating hardware that has intricate details, like coined edges and beading, giving cabinets a high-end, custom aesthetic. Warm metal finishes like solid brass and bronze develop a rich, natural patina tone over time. Solid bronze is an even more luxurious (and costlier) material than brass, thanks to additional metals used in it construction. Bronze offers color variations and an artisanal quality, making it a top choice for adding a high-end aesthetic to your kitchen cabinets.

Polished kitchen cabinet hardware boasting a shiny finish with absolutely no frills suddenly feels stark and impersonal, and designers say it's out of style because it's too high maintenance. To keep it looking spectacular, polished hardware needs to be cleaned frequently, otherwise the shine will lose its luster in favor of leftover fingerprints. It's not a great option for busy households. While having a couple of pieces of polished hardware isn't a terrible choice for kitchen cabinets, the focus is moving away from high maintenance.

To bring character to your hardware, look no further than hammered knobs and pulls. Hammered hardware offers texture, a muted tone, and an air of ruggedness to your kitchen, making it a great choice for anyone who loves an organic, lived-in aesthetic. This hardware blends seamlessly with farmhouse, industrial, and even modern kitchens, with a unique, tactile element that elevates cabinetry with oodles of sophistication. Unlike polished finishes, hammered hardware has a handcrafted, uneven surface, creating depth and dimension and bringing warmth and personality. As a bonus, its matte finish is more forgiving with fingerprints and smudges.

Another option is cast organic hardware, which is made from brass, pewter, or bronze. It's designed using a sand-casting process that gives it an unpolished, textured, and rugged finish. With today's high-end hardware trends leaning into finishes that keep the raw, natural look of metal, cast organic hardware is the decorative treatment your cabinets will crave. These finishes can make even the plainest cabinets feel more custom and unique.