Cabinet hardware might seem like a small detail, but it can be the first thing people notice when they walk into a kitchen. The weight of a handle, the tone of the metal, even the way light hits a pull — all of it sets the mood of the room.
The top cabinet hardware trends for 2025 are bigger, bolder, and beautifully balanced. You’ll see brushed brass, matte black, and mixed metals taking center stage – each bringing warmth, contrast, and character to your kitchen.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most popular hardware finishes, styles, and materials for 2025. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to pair them with your kitchen cabinets for a cohesive, elevated look.
The Rise of Statement Hardware Pieces
Hardware is taking center stage in 2025. Instead of fading quietly into the background, cabinet pulls and handles are becoming the jewelry of the kitchen. Designers are embracing larger, more sculptural hardware that draws the eye and anchors the cabinetry.
Why Bigger and Bolder Is In
Designers are moving toward oversized handles, sculptural pulls, and finishes with real texture. These pieces look stunning against full overlay cabinet doors or slab fronts, where their shape and finish stand out.
Think of it as jewelry for your kitchen: bold, tactile, and thoughtfully placed. Oversized pulls look great on pantry doors and wide drawers. They create just the right amount of drama without making the space feel cluttered.
🛠️ Pro Insight: Using large or sculptural pulls in your kitchen? Keep them consistent across high-traffic areas. We want to draw attention, not create distraction.
Trending Hardware Finishes for 2025 Kitchen Design
2025 is shaping up to be a year of quiet confidence in kitchen hardware design. The focus? Rich textures, warmer tones, and finishes that feel lived-in but slightly upscale.
Brushed Brass and Satin Gold
Believe it or not, brass is still king. But it’s matured. Brushed and satin gold cabinet hardware brings the lovely glow of metal without the shiny glare. This is for you if you want something refined, not flashy.
These warm brass and satin gold finishes pair beautifully with darker kitchen cabinets and natural wood tones, like walnut wood cabinets. This combo creates a timeless elegance designers love. The soft sheen of brushed brass is sophisticated but still inviting.
Matte Black for Bold Contrast
Matte black hardware is still in style, and has been for a long while. But why is it always dominating the kitchen hardware trends? Because it goes with almost anything. Against white or white oak kitchen cabinets, it creates striking contrast. And against dark kitchen cabinets, it adds rich depth and a slight edge.
It’s also practical: matte finishes hide fingerprints and smudges well, making it a great choice for high-traffic or low-maintenance kitchens. This is truly a versatile choice for kitchen design — simple, confident, and endlessly adaptable.
Mixed Metals Are Making Waves
Mixing metals was once considered risky. Not anymore – it’s become a key trend! For subtle layers of visual texture, try pairing:
- Brushed nickel elements with satin brass
- Black hardware with polished chrome
The secret is repetition. Use one metal as your main finish, and echo the second in smaller details like lighting or faucets. That balance between a dominant and a supporting metal keeps your kitchen from feeling chaotic.
🛠️ Pro Insight: Keep metals in the same tone family (warm with warm, cool with cool). Brushed bronze, gold, and brass blend seamlessly together, while black and polished nickel balance out cooler color palettes.
Popular Kitchen Hardware Trends for Different Design Themes
Hardware does more than open a cabinet. It sets the tone for the whole kitchen, and even makes your workflow that much easier.
Modern Minimalist Pulls
Does your kitchen have sleek, modern cabinets or full overlay fronts? Minimalist bar pulls are your best friend. These simple, linear shapes let the architecture of the cabinetry take front-and-center, instead of competing with it.
To complete the look, you can buy your kitchen cabinets online through iCabinetry Direct and pair them with slim, matte black pulls for a seamless, contemporary design.
Vintage-Inspired Knobs and Bin Pulls
If you prefer something with character, vintage-inspired hardware is back in a big way. Think oil-rubbed bronze, unlacquered brass, or polished nickel. These add a sense of history to shaker-style or inset cabinetry.
These finishes imbue the kitchen with an inviting warmth, especially when paired with darker cabinets or natural wood tones. They’re perfect for homeowners who want that “collected over time” feel.
Textured and Knurled Finishes
Texture is having a major moment. Knurled handles, hammered knobs, and brushed bronze pulls add a tactile element that feels both modern and handmade.
These details offer a crafted look, which is ideal if you’re after something that doesn’t feel “constructed.” Each handle has a little surprise of touch and texture that adds depth to otherwise smooth cabinetry.
How to Choose Hardware That Matches Cabinet Style?
Choose hardware based on harmony and functionality – not just to follow trends. Your hardware should enhance your cabinets, not take over.
For Inset Cabinets
Inset cabinetry’s classic framed design benefits from smaller, traditional hardware like cup pulls or rounded knobs. The tighter clearances mean proportion matters more than ever.
Need help pairing your hardware? Check out how to choose the right hardware for your inset cabinets for a breakdown on sizing, clearance, and style tips.
For Full Overlay or Frameless Cabinets
Modern overlay or frameless slab cabinets look best with edge pulls, linear bars, or recessed handles that maintain clean lines.
Matte black hardware and satin finishes work especially well here, maintaining a sleek, subtle, and functional look.
Mixing Hardware Types in the Same Kitchen
Today’s hardware trends are all about variety done right.
Knobs vs. Pulls: When and Where to Use Each
The old rule of knobs for doors, and pulls for drawers, still holds up. But it’s no longer law. Mixing both can add some visual spice. Knobs offer a charming, traditional touch, while long pulls have a modern appeal and better grip for heavier drawers.
Consistency Without Uniformity
Another beautiful trend is to mix hardware shapes with one cohesive finish. This gives your kitchen character without clutter.
Try combining:
- Brushed nickel knobs with matte black pulls, or
- Two-tone hardware in brass and bronze for subtle contrast.
The goal is to blend seamlessly across the space, while keeping the look intentional.
Hardware That Works With Trending Cabinet Colors
The right hardware can completely shift how your kitchen’s color palette feels. So choose well.
Pairing With White and Light Cabinets
Light cabinetry looks fresh and airy with gold cabinet hardware, champagne bronze, or brushed nickel. These finishes are warm with a bit of understated elegance. If your kitchen is a busy, high-traffic area, this stylish combo is for you.
Pairing With Blue, Green, or Dark Cabinets
For darker cabinets like navy blue or espresso, polished chrome and satin brass create striking contrast and reflect light beautifully. They can add dimension and brightness to dark cabinetry without taking away the power of the color itself.
Smart and Functional Hardware Innovations
We’ll say it again: looks aren’t everything. The latest kitchen hardware focuses on beauty and usefulness for everyday living.
Soft-Close Mechanisms and Hidden Pulls
Soft-close hinges, hidden pulls, and integrated grip designs are now standard features in modern kitchens.
Many new collections also use sustainable or natural materials like recycled metals and wood. These small changes make a real difference over time, so keep an eye out for these cutting-edge, sustainable designs.
🛠️ Pro Insight: If you’re renovating, consider upgrading your hinges and drawer glides along with your handles. A quiet close adds as much sophistication as any finish.
Final Thoughts on 2025 Hardware Trends
Hardware is one of those design elements that can shift how your kitchen feels. And it’s one of the easiest, most affordable updates to make.
The biggest cabinet hardware trends for 2025 invite more personality: bigger pulls, softer metallics, matte finishes, and mixed metals that feel elegantly lived-in. It doesn’t matter if your kitchen leans traditional or modern — the right hardware details can infuse more warmth, depth, and function in your home.
If you’re ready to refresh your space, try updating your hardware first. It’s a simple change with a big payoff. Or if you’re starting from scratch, explore iCabinetry’s semi-custom collections and buy your kitchen cabinets online. You’ll find cabinetry that pairs beautifully with 2025’s latest hardware styles.
FAQs About Cabinet Hardware Trends
What is the most popular cabinet hardware finish for 2025?
Brushed brass and matte black kitchen hardware lead the charge in 2025. Both are versatile, durable, and pair easily with various design styles.
Can I mix cabinet hardware styles in the same kitchen?
Absolutely. Mixing knobs, pulls, and finishes is one of 2025’s key trends. Just keep tones consistent for a cohesive look.
Is brass hardware going out of style?
Not at all. Brass is staying strong. It’s just softer and more sophisticated now, leaning away from polished brass toward brushed or unlacquered finishes.
Should cabinet hardware match the faucet and lighting fixtures?
Not necessarily. Coordinating tones creates harmony, but matching everything perfectly can look too staged. Layering metals is a great way to add personality and a handcrafted feel to your overall aesthetic.
