Chrome Cabinet Handles Buying Guide
Chrome cabinet handles bring a bright, clean finish to kitchens, vanities and laundries. This collection includes D handles, bar handles, cup pulls, T knobs and round knobs in polished chrome, satin chrome and polished nickel, from Momo Handles, Zanda, Iver, Nero and Turner Hastings. Chrome suits classic, Hamptons and modern spaces where you want hardware to match chrome tapware.
What is chrome on a cabinet handle?
Chrome is a thin layer of chromium plated over a base metal, usually zinc alloy or brass, often with a nickel layer underneath. The plating gives the hard, mirror-like surface and protects the base metal. Satin chrome is the same finish with a fine brushed texture that softens the shine.
What's the difference between polished chrome, satin chrome and polished nickel?
Polished chrome is bright with a cool, slightly blue tone and reflects like a mirror. Satin chrome has the same cool tone with a soft, low sheen that hides fingerprints better. Polished nickel, offered here in Momo New Hampton, Barrington, Bosco, Loreto and Liberty designs, is also highly reflective but warmer, with a faint yellow tone that suits traditional and Hamptons joinery.
Does chrome show fingerprints?
Polished chrome shows fingerprints and water spots more than most finishes, because the mirror surface highlights any mark. It is also one of the easiest finishes to wipe clean. If you want the chrome look with less upkeep, choose satin chrome, such as the Momo Dallas or Livorno D handle in satin chrome.
What size chrome handle should I choose?
Knobs in this range include 30mm, 32mm and 36mm rounds and a 60mm T knob, which suit doors and small drawers. The Iver Osaka pull has 96mm hole centres and the Turner Hastings Verona pull has 160mm centres, while the Momo New Hampton D handle is 160mm. A handle around one third of the drawer width is a good starting point, and longer handles suit pot drawers and pantry doors. If you are replacing handles, measure the existing hole centres and match them.
Is chrome a good choice for a bathroom vanity?
Yes. Chrome-plated handles cope well with humidity and splashes in a bathroom, and they match the most common tapware finish. Wipe off water after use to keep the surface spot-free. If the vanity sits next to brushed nickel tapware, satin chrome is a closer visual match than polished chrome.
How do I clean chrome handles?
Wipe with a soft damp cloth and mild detergent, then buff dry with a microfibre cloth. Avoid scourers, abrasive creams and harsh chemical cleaners, which can scratch or lift the plating. A dry buff after cleaning is what keeps polished chrome bright and streak-free.
Completing the room
For other cool-toned metals, compare brushed nickel cabinet handles and stainless steel cabinet handles. You can also match chrome through the bathroom with chrome showers and basin mixers from The Blue Space.
