Cabinet Hardware: Update Before or After Painting?

Cabinet painting transforms how your kitchen looks, but hardware matters almost as much as paint color. Dated brass pulls or worn brushed nickel knobs undermine even the most beautiful paint job. So when should you update hardware during a cabinet painting project?

The short answer: remove old hardware before painting, make decisions about new hardware during the project, and install new pieces after paint has cured. But the full answer depends on whether you're keeping existing hole locations, drilling new holes, or adding hardware where none existed before.

This guide covers everything Lafayette homeowners need to know about coordinating hardware updates with cabinet painting, from timing decisions through installation, choosing hardware that works with your paint color, and handling the logistics of hole filling and drilling.

Remove All Hardware Before Painting

This part is non-negotiable. All existing hardware comes off before painting begins.

Why Hardware Removal Matters

Paint can't properly adhere to surfaces covered by hardware. Trying to paint around knobs and pulls creates missed spots, paint buildup at edges, and an amateur finish.

Hardware also prevents thorough surface cleaning and sanding. Grease and grime accumulate around hardware mounting points, and you need access to these areas for proper prep.

Removing hardware allows doors and drawer fronts to lay completely flat for painting, which produces the smoothest finish. Hardware creates bumps and obstacles that complicate spray application and brushing.

Labeling and Organization

As hardware comes off, bag and label it by location. Even if you're replacing everything with new hardware, old pieces serve as backup in case new hardware doesn't fit or arrives damaged.

Label each bag with the cabinet location: "upper left corner," "drawer below sink," etc. This ensures new hardware goes in the correct spots during reinstallation.

For hinges specifically, note which side of the door they came from. Hinges have specific left and right configurations, and mixing them up during reinstallation causes installation headaches.

Should You Keep Existing Hardware or Upgrade?

Decide early whether you're keeping existing hardware or replacing it. This decision affects your project timeline and budget.

When to Keep Existing Hardware

Keep existing hardware if it's in good condition, suits your style, and matches your new cabinet color. Quality hardware that's relatively current (purchased within the last 10-15 years) and not visibly worn might not need replacement.

Painted cabinets can make existing hardware look new again by providing fresh context. Brushed nickel pulls that looked tired against golden oak cabinets often look perfect against fresh white or gray paint.

Keeping hardware saves $200 to $800+ depending on your kitchen size. For budget-conscious projects, this savings matters.

When to Replace Hardware

Replace hardware if it's visibly worn, dated in style, doesn't suit your new cabinet color, or if you simply want a fresh look.

Brass hardware from the 1990s, even if functional, dates your kitchen regardless of how beautiful the paint is. Replacing outdated hardware is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost kitchen updates.

Also replace hardware if you're changing from knobs to pulls or vice versa, or if you want to adjust hardware placement for better ergonomics.

Timing Hardware Decisions During the Paint Project

Even if you know you want new hardware, you don't need to purchase it before painting begins. But do make decisions during the project to avoid delays.

Before Painting Starts: Make the Decision

Decide whether you're keeping existing hardware, replacing it in the same locations, or changing hole locations before your painter arrives. This affects how they prep your cabinets.

If you're keeping existing holes, your painter can work around them during prep. If you're filling holes and drilling new ones, they need to know so they can include hole filling in the prep work.

During Painting: Order New Hardware

While painting is underway, finalize hardware selections and place orders. This ensures new hardware arrives by the time paint has cured and you're ready for installation.

Most hardware ships within days, but custom or specialty hardware can take weeks. Order early to avoid delays in completing your project.

After Final Paint Coat: Wait for Cure

Don't install new hardware immediately after the final paint coat. Cabinet paint needs 48 to 72 hours minimum before hardware installation, and ideally 5 to 7 days for full cure.

Installing hardware too early risks chipping fresh paint or creating pressure marks in paint that hasn't fully hardened.

Filling Old Holes and Drilling New Ones

Changing hardware often means dealing with old holes that don't match new hardware mounting points.

Assessing Hole Compatibility

Measure your existing hardware hole spacing and compare it to new hardware specifications. Many knobs and pulls use standard spacing (3 inches or 4 inches for pulls, single holes for knobs), but not all hardware is universal.

If your existing holes match new hardware spacing, you can reuse them. This is the simplest scenario.

If holes don't match, you'll need to fill old holes and drill new ones. This adds labor time and cost to the project but creates a clean, professional result.

Filling Old Hardware Holes

Old holes should be filled before painting, not after. Use quality wood filler that sands smooth and accepts paint well.

Apply filler slightly proud of the surface, let it dry completely (usually 2 to 4 hours), and sand flush. The area gets primed and painted along with the rest of the cabinet surface.

Filled holes are nearly invisible after painting, especially on cabinets with solid paint colors. You won't see them unless you know exactly where to look.

Drilling New Holes

New holes should be drilled after painting is complete to avoid getting wood filler dust in fresh holes. Measure and mark hole locations carefully using a hardware template or center-finding tool.

Drill pilot holes from the face side of doors and drawer fronts to prevent blowout on the back side. Use sharp drill bits appropriate for your cabinet material (wood vs MDF).

Clean up any paint chips around new holes with fine sandpaper and touch up if needed with a small brush and leftover paint.

Adding Hardware Where None Existed

Some older cabinets have no hardware, just finger grooves or touch-latch mechanisms. Adding hardware for the first time requires drilling new holes in previously unpainted wood.

Mark hole locations before painting if possible, but drill after painting is complete. Touch up inside the new holes isn't necessary because the backside where the screw shows gets covered by the hardware.

Choosing Hardware to Match Your Paint Color

Hardware should coordinate with your cabinet color and overall kitchen style. Here's how different finishes work with common painted cabinet colors.

Polished Nickel or Chrome

Polished nickel and chrome are bright, reflective finishes that work beautifully with white, light gray, and cool-toned painted cabinets. They have a traditional, jewelry-like quality that suits classic kitchen styles.

These finishes show fingerprints and water spots, so they require regular cleaning. But they never look dated when cleaned properly.

Polished nickel has slightly warmer tones than chrome, making it more versatile. Chrome is the coolest, brightest option.

Brushed Nickel or Satin Nickel

Brushed or satin nickel is softer and less reflective than polished nickel. It's currently the most popular hardware finish because it works with almost any cabinet color and hides fingerprints better than polished finishes.

Brushed nickel works with white, gray, navy, green, and most painted cabinet colors. It suits traditional, transitional, and contemporary kitchens equally well.

The finish has existed long enough to have a track record for not dating quickly, making it a safe long-term choice.

Oil-Rubbed Bronze

Oil-rubbed bronze creates a dark, aged appearance with brown and black tones. It works beautifully with warm white, cream, and sage or green painted cabinets in traditional or farmhouse-style kitchens.

Bronze feels heavy and substantial. It's less appropriate for light, airy contemporary kitchens and can overwhelm very white, bright spaces.

The finish shows wear over time as the dark coating rubs away in high-contact areas, revealing brass underneath. Some homeowners love this patina; others prefer finishes that stay consistent.

Matte Black

Matte black hardware has surged in popularity over the last five years. It creates crisp, modern contrast with white cabinets and works beautifully with gray, navy, and other painted colors.

Black hardware makes strong design statements and photographs beautifully. It suits contemporary and transitional kitchens and adds drama to otherwise simple cabinet designs.

Matte black shows dust and fingerprints readily, requiring frequent cleaning. The finish also dates more quickly than classic nickel or bronze because it's closely tied to current trends.

Brass and Gold Tones

Unlacquered brass, aged brass, and brushed gold finishes bring warmth and richness to painted cabinets. They work particularly well with white, cream, sage, and blue-green cabinet colors.

These warm metal tones suit traditional and transitional kitchens and create sophisticated, high-end looks. They're less appropriate for cool, contemporary spaces.

Unlacquered brass develops patina over time as it oxidizes. This aging is intentional and beautiful, but it requires acceptance that hardware will change over the years.

Matching Hardware to Cabinet Color

• White cabinets: any hardware finish works, from polished nickel to matte black to brass
• Gray cabinets: brushed nickel, polished nickel, matte black
• Navy cabinets: brushed nickel, polished nickel, brass, gold
• Green/sage cabinets: brass, bronze, brushed nickel
• Wood-tone cabinets: bronze, brass, black

Knobs vs Pulls vs Cup Pulls

The hardware style affects functionality and appearance.

Knobs

Knobs are single round or decorative pieces that mount with one screw through a single hole. They work well on cabinet doors and small drawer fronts.

Knobs have a more traditional feel than pulls, though simple round knobs suit contemporary kitchens too. They're typically less expensive than pulls because they're smaller and use less material.

For large, heavy drawers (like pot and pan drawers), knobs can be harder to grip and pull than pulls. Many homeowners use knobs on doors and pulls on drawers.

Pulls (Bar Pulls)

Pulls are horizontal bars or handles that mount through two holes. They provide better leverage for opening drawers and heavy doors.

Pulls have a slightly more contemporary feel than knobs, though traditional-style pulls exist. They're more expensive than knobs because they're larger and use more material.

The length of pulls affects the visual impact. Small 3-inch pulls are subtle, while 8 to 12-inch pulls make bold statements. Match pull length to drawer and door size for proportional appearance.

Cup Pulls (Bin Pulls)

Cup pulls are semi-circular handles that mount through two holes like standard pulls but sit partially recessed. They have a vintage, farmhouse feel that works beautifully with white or cream cabinets.

Cup pulls provide good grip and won't catch on clothing as you walk past cabinets. They suit traditional and transitional kitchens but feel out of place in very contemporary spaces.

DIY Hardware Installation vs Professional

Can you install cabinet hardware yourself, or should you hire a professional?

DIY Installation Advantages

Hardware installation is one of the most DIY-friendly parts of cabinet painting projects. If you're comfortable using a drill and measuring accurately, you can install hardware and save the labor cost.

Hardware installation doesn't require specialized skills beyond careful measurement and patience. Templates and jigs make the process even easier for homeowners.

Professional Installation Advantages

Professional installation ensures perfectly aligned hardware with no mistakes. Painters who do cabinet work regularly can install hardware quickly and accurately, often charging $3 to $8 per piece.

For large kitchens with 30+ hardware pieces, professional installation might save you 4 to 6 hours and eliminates the risk of drilling mistakes that ruin cabinet doors.

When DIY Makes Sense

Install hardware yourself if you're budget-conscious, comfortable with basic tools, and have time. For small kitchens with 15 or fewer pieces, DIY is very manageable.

When to Hire a Pro

Hire professional installation for very large kitchens, if you lack tools or confidence, or if your painter offers installation as part of their package. The cost is modest and the results are perfectly consistent.

Cost of Hardware Updates

Budget for new hardware as part of your cabinet painting project.

Hardware Prices Per Piece

• Basic knobs: $2 to $8 each
• Mid-range knobs: $8 to $20 each
• Designer knobs: $20 to $50+ each
• Basic pulls: $4 to $12 each
• Mid-range pulls: $12 to $30 each
• Designer pulls: $30 to $100+ each

Total Hardware Costs

An average Lafayette kitchen with 20 cabinet doors and drawer fronts needs 20 to 30 hardware pieces (depending on whether you use pulls or knobs on drawers).

Budget $200 to $600 for mid-range hardware for an average kitchen. Designer hardware can easily exceed $1,000 for the same kitchen.

Installation Labor

If hiring professional installation, expect $75 to $300 total for an average kitchen, depending on the number of pieces and complexity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I paint over existing cabinet hardware instead of replacing it?

You can, but results are usually disappointing. Painted hardware chips easily with daily use, and it's hard to achieve smooth coverage on three-dimensional hardware shapes. Replacement hardware costs $200 to $600 for average kitchens, which is money better spent than trying to paint existing pieces. If you love your current hardware and it's real brass or bronze, professional replating is a better option than painting.

How long should I wait after painting to install new hardware?

Wait at least 48 to 72 hours after the final paint coat before installing hardware. Ideally, wait 5 to 7 days for paint to cure fully. Installing hardware on uncured paint risks chipping, creating pressure marks, or damaging the finish. Be gentle with newly installed hardware for the first two weeks while paint reaches full hardness.

Should I use the same hardware throughout the kitchen or mix knobs and pulls?

Using pulls on drawers and knobs on doors is very common and functional. Pulls provide better leverage for drawers. Some homeowners use matching pulls on both doors and drawers for visual consistency. Avoid mixing multiple different hardware styles or finishes, which looks disjointed rather than eclectic.

What's the standard hardware placement for cabinet doors?

Knobs on doors typically mount 2.5 to 3 inches from the bottom corner (on base cabinets) or top corner (on upper cabinets). This placement is comfortable and timeless. Pulls on doors can mount vertically in the same corner position. Center placement works for some modern designs but is less common and can be harder to reach.

Do I need different size pulls for different size drawers?

Not necessarily, though some homeowners use longer pulls on wider drawers. Standard 3 to 4-inch pulls work on most drawer sizes. Very wide drawers (36+ inches) sometimes look better with 6 to 12-inch pulls or two separate pulls. Consistency across similar-sized drawers looks more intentional than random variation.

Can you reuse existing hardware holes if they don't quite match new hardware?

If existing holes are very close to new hardware mounting points (within 1/4 inch), some installers fudge the alignment. But this often results in slightly crooked hardware. The better approach is filling old holes properly and drilling new ones in exactly the right spots. The extra work is worth it for perfect alignment.

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Planning a cabinet painting project in Lafayette? Lamorinda Painting coordinates with homeowners on hardware timing, fills old holes as part of surface prep, and can install new hardware after painting is complete. We help you create a cohesive look with the right hardware for your newly painted cabinets. Contact us today for a free estimate that includes hardware coordination.