When selecting kitchen handles, it is vital to choose designs that complement your space's overall style and aesthetic. The correct handle enhances the kitchen's visual appeal and ensures durability and timeless elegance. Let's explore the new handle design styles that can modernise any kitchen.

Embracing Organic Shapes and Natural Materials

Kitchen renovators aiming to create a lasting home often seek quality and individuality in every detail, including door hardware. Organic shapes with sweeping curves and soft, rounded edges in coloured metals and natural materials like wood and leather are trending. These designs add a unique, personal touch to kitchen cabinetry.

Natural Timber Handles

Natural timber handles, once the preferred choice for kitchen cabinetry, are making a significant comeback.

  • Design: Solid-wood handles are softer and warmer to the touch compared to metal, offering an inviting appearance.
  • Best Use: Natural timber handles are perfect for Scandinavian-style kitchens. Solid oak handles beautifully complement a crisp white Scandi-style kitchen with timber benchtops and open shelving.

Timber Handles with Copper or Brass Accents

Blending timber with copper or brass takes the modest wooden handle to a new level of sophistication.

  • Design: Brass stems on round bar handles add subtle glamour without being flashy. Some handles also feature insets of ceramic or other materials for a handmade feel.
  • Best Use: Timber handles with copper or brass accents are ideal for mid-century-inspired kitchens. Pair with white cabinetry or brightly coloured aquamarine or navy flat-fronted cabinets with solid timber benchtops.

Matt Black Handles

Matt black finishes, once trendy in tapware and lighting, have now extended to kitchen cabinet hardware, allowing for a consistent look throughout the home.

  • Design: Matt-black handles offer a versatile option for various kitchen styles.
  • Best Use: Matt black handles can be used on light-coloured cabinetry for a sophisticated contrast or on matt black cabinetry for a streamlined, understated elegance.

Gold, Brass, and Bronze Handles

Since 2016, gold and brass hardware have seen a resurgence in kitchen cabinetry, with both polished and brushed finishes growing in popularity.

  • Design: Bright, clean finishes such as polished or brushed brass offer a modern twist on traditional styles.
  • Best Use: Gold, brass and bronze handle finishes suit traditional and sleek modern kitchens. They complement coloured cabinetry in navy, dark charcoal, and earthy blues and greens and contrast beautifully with darker wood, like walnut.

Leather and Brass Handles

The combination of natural leather and warm brass creates a sophisticated handle style. Though timeless, this material mix is experiencing a resurgence with new design ranges.

  • Design: Leather paired with brass offers a luxurious touch.
  • Best Use: Leather and brass handles suit traditional and contemporary kitchens. Combine pulls on drawers and knobs on doors for a traditional look.

Coloured Handles

Infusing colour into kitchen handles is becoming increasingly popular. While all-white kitchens remain a classic choice, many homeowners are injecting personality with subtle or bold pops of colour.

  • Design: Wooden handles with coloured inlays feature soft organic shapes. Their solid wood construction, unlike coloured plastic, offers a sophisticated and upscale feel.
  • Best Use: Coloured handles are ideal for contemporary-style kitchens with flat-fronted timber or veneer cabinetry. They complement both light oak and sultry walnut hues.
  • Favourite Style: Round wooden knobs with a black finish add a contemporary edge while showcasing the wood's natural grain, adding texture to the sleek design.
  • Pro Tip: For a bold statement, use these handles on white or off-white cabinetry for a striking contrast.

Final Thoughts


Choosing the proper kitchen handles is crucial for achieving your kitchen's desired aesthetic and functionality. Brass kitchen handles offer timeless elegance, while timber handles bring warmth and a natural touch. Chrome furniture handles provide a sleek, modern look. Ultimately, your choice should reflect your kitchen's style and personal taste, ensuring that the handles enhance the visual appeal and stand the test of time.