Whether you’re remodeling your home or just making a few cosmetic changes, installing mid-century modern cabinet hardware is a quick upgrade with a big impact.
Our 1960s kitchen and bathroom cabinets had some ’90s-style hardware, so we swapped it for retro stars, boomerangs and dish knobs. Here are our favorite types of cabinet hardware to add MCM style to your home.
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Mid-Century Modern Cabinet Hardware
Try these new drawer pulls and knobs, and find the best places to hunt down vintage options.
Boomerang Drawer Pull
A lot of our new cabinet hardware came from Rejuvenation, starting with these mid-century modern boomerangs. Also called chevrons, they can be installed horizontally on drawers, or vertically or diagonally on cabinets.
Get boomerangs at Rejuvenation
We used them all over the kitchen, but it also looks nice to mix and match. For example, you can install boomerangs on the drawers and round knobs on the cabinets.
More Boomerangs
Home Depot also sells new boomerangs. Or you could look for some vintage sets on Etsy or eBay.
Round Dish Cabinet Knob
These round dish knobs from Rejuvenation are so adorable, especially with the retro star backplates! I installed them right away in my pink bathroom.
Get round knobs at Rejuvenation
They’re a perfect match for the original knobs on the closets and louvered doors throughout our house.
If the stars feel too busy all over the bathroom or kitchen, one trick is to only use them as accents on the cabinets. Then just install knobs on the adjacent drawers, without backplates.
More Round Knobs
There are lots of places to find round drawer and cabinet knobs for your mid-century house. Check out these options from Amazon, Home Depot and Etsy.
Square Cabinet Knob
For our other bathroom, we used these square knobs and a couple of star backplates from Rejuvenation.
Some people turn them diamond style, and others have them straight up and down. You can also install them with round backplates.
Get square knobs at Rejuvenation
I’ve noticed that the square knobs can get bumped off kilter, so they aren’t always perfectly aligned. If that kind of thing drives you crazy, you might want to stick to the round knobs instead.
More Square Knobs
Here are some more square style knobs to consider for your MCM home.
Arch Drawer Pull
I picked out this arch pull for my MCM nightstand update. It has a simple, modern look.
These can be found in lots of mid-century kitchens and bathrooms. They blend with any style from retro to modern.
More Arch Pulls
There are several modern arch pulls to choose from at Home Depot and Amazon.
Tapered Drawer Pull
I used the “Allendale” pull to make a modern serving tray. It comes in several lengths and finishes, and I love the tapered mid-century style.
More Tapered Options
You can find a large variety of tapered cabinet hardware, including modern knobs and retro bow ties.
Other Places to Find MCM Cabinet Hardware
Before buying new, I like to search for vintage options. In addition to eBay and Etsy, look for reclaimed hardware stores in your area. They can carry used materials as well as “new old stock” to restore your home.
In Portland, we make regular visits to Hippo Hardware. Check out their selection of arch pulls, including mid-century and earlier eras…
Old Portland Hardware & Architectural has a wall of antique cabinet hardware. In a lot of reclamation stores, you’ll need to do some digging to find the mid-century styles.
With careful inspection, you might find some concave dish knobs like these beauties.
You might also like these ideas for fixing up your mid-century home.
- Everything you need to install laminate countertops
- Where to find mid-century modern lighting
- DIY tricks for installing kitchen backsplash tile
I had never gave that much thought to how many different types of cabinet hardware there is. (I don”t think we have ever shopped for any.) I do love the MCM choices you made for your house. Love the little ones you have in your pink bathroom..too cute!! You guys have totally nailed remodeling your MCM house back to the 60’s! (I know it’s taken alot of sweat, love and time but the results are worth it!)
Thanks, Judy! I love swapping out hardware. It’s a quick update and can make such a big difference, changing the era and feel of a room. And gotta love those retro stars. 🙂
Wow, Tara, visiting those hardware haunts sounds like so much fun. You never know what you might find.
It is, and there are a bunch around here! Between antique stores and vintage hardware stores, there’s a lot of treasure to find. 😊