How to choose the right kitchen handles?

Explore the key elements to consider when choosing your kitchen handles, from your doors to your furniture.

When we think about fitting out our kitchen, it is natural to focus on the more obvious elements such as cabinet materials, worktops and household appliances. However, there is a detail that is often overlooked and that can truly transform the aesthetics of your culinary space: kitchen handles. But how do you choose the kitchen door handles that perfectly match the style you want to create? How do you integrate them into your space in a way that is both functional and aesthetic?

To answer these questions, let us guide you through the various key factors to consider when selecting kitchen handles. Choosing the first stainless steel handle you come across can be a costly mistake in terms of design.

Creating harmony in the kitchen: from the door handle to the kitchen handles

Often regarded as simple functional elements, kitchen handles actually play a far deeper role in interior design. They are capable of visually enhancing every room and reflecting the overall style of your space.

As for door handles, they are much more than simple hardware accessories. They act as eco-deco decorative elements, capable of lending a particular atmosphere to your space. Whether it's a drawer handle, cupboard knobs or sliding door handles, these elements offer untapped potential to personalise and visually enhance your new kitchen.

The aim is to revitalise your décor in a cost-effective way, saving both time and money. You can choose between seeking originality at all costs or creating harmonious combinations between the handles and kitchen furniture.

The door knob

Whether for budget reasons or in search of unique styles, the options for furniture handles and door knobs have evolved. The budget-friendly handle such as the door knob is now available in a varied range of colours such as: matt black, bright gold, stainless steel metal and polished brass. The materials used have also diversified, ranging from wrought iron to stainless steel, via zamak and aluminium. The design of these door handles often adopts minimalist geometric lines, while some bold models such as porcelain handles with star patterns can add a more whimsical touch. These different models are designed to match the design of your kitchen furniture, while bringing a distinctive touch to your interior. For example, in a modern kitchen, adding matt black door knobs can inject a contemporary elegance. These small details can transform a new kitchen, adding both functionality and aesthetics to every piece of furniture in the room.

The bâton de maréchal

The bâton de maréchal, also known as a pull handle, is a practical option for kitchen doors. It can be fitted vertically as well as horizontally; this door handle allows opening by simple pulling and enables creative combinations. You can play with the orientation of bâtons de maréchal to create unique designs. Before choosing this option, make sure it suits your usage habits and the style of your kitchen.

In brass or bronze, this door handle model is now available in modern materials such as zamak or nylon, which meet the hygiene standards required in kitchens, and in a magnificent range of colours.

The sliding door handle

Sliding doors are a popular solution for saving space in the kitchen. Recessed handles are often the preferred choice for sliding doors, as they offer a clean appearance. Make sure that recessed handles are easy to use and blend harmoniously with your design. The kitchen is the room that lends itself entirely to this, both for the entrance door and for the fronts of furniture and cupboards. The recessed handle or surface-mounted handle is a good solution as kitchen furniture handles. It is even possible to fit a key lock on the unit housing dangerous products that need to be kept out of reach of children, for example. Combinations of materials such as a modern handle in stainless steel fitted on a glass or old wooden door produce surprising decorative effects.

Also think about matching the handles on your windows and French doors. Adding a lever handle offers a variety of styles, and you can even incorporate a keyed lock rose for added security. To complete this approach, consider extending this consistency to the door stops from the same range. This not only protects the kitchen furniture, but also creates a cohesive aesthetic with all the handles on the kitchen doors and furniture.

Before you start, here are some ideas and tips to help you make your choice based on the style and layout of your kitchen.

Adapting your choice to the styles of your kitchen

The choice of kitchen handles should reflect the overall style of the room. Here is how to match handles to different kitchen styles:

Ultra-modern kitchen

If you have a ultra-modern style kitchen, go for handles with a clean design and a minimalist style. Discreet handles with a smooth finish such as stainless steel metal or a lacquered varnish look will make all the difference. The aim is to maintain clean lines to match the modern aesthetic of the kitchen. The furniture handle is often invisible and recessed. Even if the furniture has no handles, the kitchen entrance door deserves a designer door handle.

The contrast of colours enhances the clean lines of the furniture: fit handles with a matt black finish on a white door, or conversely, lacquered white finish door knobs on a dark kitchen furniture drawer.

Expert tip: Opt for handles without excessive ornamentation. Minimalist handles help maintain the clean and modern look of the kitchen.

Contemporary kitchen

Contemporary kitchens with a convivial feel love to play with contrasts by mixing materials. Their rectilinear shapes are softened with dark colours such as brushed chrome or black handles for aluminium and glass cabinets. Experiment with a modern and eye-catching look using geometric shapes. Brightness will be accentuated by more vivid colours such as red and, of course, the latest trend — white handles for kitchen doors.

Expert tip:

Fit a decorative chrome handle on a square backplate on the kitchen door to echo the ambient geometry! As an alternative to matt black, the stainless steel metal handle is a product with an ideal quality/price ratio for contemporary-style kitchens.

Prefer to pair oak with aluminium using these two-tone door handles that draw on the codes of contemporary design.

Combine brushed steel and black finishes or pair the stainless steel of the kitchen sink with the bronze look of the door handle. Let your imagination run free for the décor of your contemporary kitchen!

Traditional kitchen

For traditional kitchens, bronze or brass handles offer an authentic charm. Choose materials that evoke the warmth of wood and favour contrasting kitchen furniture handles to create a reassuring and warm atmosphere.

Furniture, more visible and often in solid wood, have exposed handles. Elegant furniture knobs bring a quality interior look. Besides iron or the traditional stainless steel, a door with an oak finish can be dressed with a sculpted bronze handle to accentuate the welcoming touch, or with handles in satin nickel or brushed silver finish to give the room a more modern character.

Expert tip: Aged brass handles can add a vintage touch to a traditional kitchen. Choose classic shapes to complement the timeless design.

Rustic kitchen

Despite the enthusiasm for modernism, rustic kitchens with their pine furniture and traditional tiling resist and adapt to contemporary decoration trends. The Scandinavian style remains fashionable, especially for the kitchen, which is the heart of the home. They can afford luxurious door handles in sculpted bronze or brass. Their hinged furniture doors and solid wood furniture (oak, pine, maple…) create a welcoming atmosphere while meeting the eco requirements of enthusiasts of this noble and durable material. The colours of the furniture are often understated (brown and beige) as eco-friendly wood dominates. Household linen is kept light for a trendy look or, conversely, bright red to energise the warm ambiance.

Expert tip:

For the dressing of the interior doors of this kitchen, besides the wooden handle, other solutions are possible:

• Favour understated and traditional finishes to ensure stylistic harmony between the handles and the kitchen furniture; a round backplate will lighten the heavy look. A handle with a black chrome or brushed brass finish will accentuate the country look of the décor.

• Or conversely, try a refined gold finish to bring vitality and luxury back to dark wooden kitchen furniture handles. Yet another contrast between the handles and the kitchen furniture that produces a quality style effect!

Expert tip: To accentuate the rustic look, choose handles with sculpted details or intricate ornaments that evoke a sense of tradition and comfort.

• Or alternatively, choose a handle with light lines (without a rose or key lock): the fluid shape and matt stainless steel metal finish will soften the boldness of the kitchen furniture.

Choosing a durable door handle for the kitchen

Sturdy and easy-to-maintain handles

Each room does not have the same use or the same level of footfall. The kitchen, like the bathroom, is a wet room: it is better to avoid choosing handles made from materials sensitive to corrosion, such as wrought iron. It is generally agreed that stainless steel is the most practical material in the kitchen thanks to its excellent value for money. An eco-friendly solution! However, other materials offer good alternatives.

Besides durability, it is worth bearing in mind that a kitchen door handle must be hygienic and easy to maintain. Furniture handles will get dirty during meal preparation. When cooking, you should not have to worry about preserving decorative accessories! You will open and close the cupboard door of your kitchen furniture hundreds of times a day! The entrance door too! You need to choose ergonomic handles that are easy to use: not every kitchen can be fitted with bâtons de maréchal!

To protect young children, you can fit a lock on storage units intended to house any dangerous products such as household cleaning products.

Every handle comes with its matching closing rose. It is very easy to put together harmonious sets even when the sole aim is simply to be able to latch the opening or closing of a door! Once again, the door handle offers wonderful opportunities to showcase your kitchen.

Choosing materials for kitchen handles

The kitchen door handle must be made from a quality and durable material, as it will operate the opening and closing of the doors of the central living space of your home hundreds of times a day. The preferred materials are bronze, zamak (an alloy of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper), stainless steel (inox) or naturally hygienic aluminium. Ceramic is also perfectly suitable. Why not fit white porcelain door knobs on your wooden kitchen furniture handles? Or indeed, nylon drawer knobs for kitchen furniture, a material that requires no maintenance?

If you have sliding doors, do not forget to also match the recessed handles, which you will find in many finishes such as aged brass, satin stainless steel or chrome steel. Finally, a pull handle in polished brass or matt black will make a very decorative furniture or cupboard knob. The modern materials used guarantee quality and durability for your handles.

Eco-deco handles

Of course, price will play a part in your choice of kitchen door handle. To match interior door handles with furniture handles, do not limit yourself to the models offered by your kitchen shop. Take the time to find the product of your dreams from a wider selection of quality designer door handles at eco-friendly prices! Draw inspiration from reviews and décor trends. You will save money and elevate your décor!

Whatever the style of your kitchen, take the time to choose the right door handle whose quality and style will beautify this central room of the home. The kitchen is undoubtedly the most frequented and most convivial space — it deserves a welcoming layout!

Remember to coordinate your door handles with the kitchen furniture handles and knobs ! These small accessories will highlight your style and personalise your culinary space!

The door handle is an essential decorative accessory. At an affordable price, the designer handle adds a modern — or conversely vintage — decorative touch to your kitchen and, more broadly, to your interior.

It is up to you to find the best combinations between the rooms to furnish and the decorative accessories that are designer door and furniture handles. Pulling the handle of a kitchen cabinet or the handle of a storage drawer will remind you every day of how successfully you have given your home a new look, without being a DIY expert, and with a simple decorative hardware product. All at a reasonable price!

Installing the handles

The last aspect to address is the technical side of handle installation. If you are quite handy, this is not an issue as it is relatively straightforward to install door handles. However, if you have never heard of a centre distance, a backplate or a lock cylinder, don't worry! You will find all the explanations in our installation guide, which shows in a few steps how to fit your new handle. Some articles on our blog also describe how to install a door handle. You will find that installation takes only a few minutes, even for a complete DIY beginner!

By following these tips and taking into account the style, durability and harmony with your interior layout, you will be able to choose kitchen handles that not only complement the aesthetics of your space, but also improve its day-to-day functionality. Pay a quick visit to our Millahandles shop

Browse the full range of kitchen door handles