One of the easiest ways to update drawers and doors is to change the knobs and pulls.   And what a difference new hardware can make!  You can change the whole look by changing the material, color or shape of the knob or pull.  There are so many choices to choose from.  You just have to take into consideration where the existing holes are and the look you are going for.

Updating Desk Drawers with New Hardware

We recently painted our home office and rearranged the furniture.  I would have loved to have gotten new furniture but didn’t want to spend the money on it.  My desk was functional and I loved how the two filing cabinets fit under the window.  What I hated were the ugly wood handles.  They were right out of the 80’s.

My dilemma was that I couldn’t find knobs to replace the wood ones because the distance between the two holes in the drawers were not a standard size.   After much research, I finally found a company called Van Dykes Restorers.  They had a drawer pull that had adjustable rings which allowed me to screw in the knob according to where the existing holes were. The ring would slide on the drawer handle making it completely flexible to size it according to my needs.

Once I found these brass pulls, I was able to replace the ugly wood ones.  Dressing up the desk and filing cabinets with their new hardware helped me to settle on keeping my old furniture and pocketing the money I would have spent on new desks and filing cabinets.

Before

Old wood drawer handles

After

Adjustable Brass Drawer Handles

We had the same wood handles on our filing cabinets and replaced them with the same brass ones we put on the desk drawers.

Before

After

This was a simple upgrade for some very boring furniture in our home office.  Although we are the only ones that see it, I put a lot of time in the office.  It was worth making it a little nicer.  I’m still in the process of redecorating the room.  Other pictures to follow in a future post.

Updating Coat Closet Doors

When we bought our house the bi-fold coat closet doors in our entryway were painted a cream color as well as the wood handles.  Soon after we moved in, we added shutter doors for privacy in the kitchen.  Both are pictured below.

As you may have seen in my previous post from remodeling our foyer as part of the One Room Challenge, we updated the bi-fold doors by painting them black and replaced the wood handles with brass rings.  We also added brass pulls to the shutter doors.

These simple updates made a huge difference in appearance and dressed up the foyer.

Hardware Inspiration

Whether you want to dress up a piece or make it more casual or whimsical, get creative in what you can do by changing out the hardware.  These photos will inspire you to see what you can update in your home.

Brass rings dress up this bathroom cabinetry.

via Mimosa Lane

White hardware ties in the white trim of this orange dresser.

via Bear Hill Interiors

This old dresser didn’t even have handles.  It went from blah to wow!

via Apartment Therapy

This rope drawer handle is so adorable for a nautical themed room.  It’s perfect for a lake house.

via Completely Coastal 

I am so happy that brass and gold accents have made a comeback.  I especially love the brass hardware against the gray cabinets.  Don’t you?

via Design Milk

Drawer and Door Hardware Resources

Local hardware stores have some basic handles and pulls; however, I found the best selections on-line.  Here are some of the sites I liked:

Van Dykes Restorers for hard to find hardware

Liz’z Antique Hardware has some beautiful hardware

Mod Shop has some unique handles for furniture

Restoration Hardware has some beautiful pieces

You can also check out sites such as Overstock.com and Amazon.

Do you have any furniture or cabinets that you want to update with new hardware?