When renovating your kitchen you may find that simple changes such as the
hardware you have on your cabinets can make a huge impact. Here we have compiled
some tips for choosing the correct hinge for your cabinets.
First, decide whether you want the hinges to be visible or not. Hinges come
in a variety of styles, and some can be installed inside the door, making them
invisible from the outside. Visible hinge styles range from a simple
interlocking mechanism to decorative straps.
Second, choose the material. Hinges may be made of many different materials,
such as brass, chrome, stainless steel, wrought iron, and pewter. Hinges made of
solid brass are the strongest and most durable. Price, strength, durability,
application, and appearance all have to be considered.
Third, determine your hinge application. Applications include inset, offset,
overlay, reverse bevel, demountable, and variable overlay, among others.
Inset hinges, best on lightweight cabinets that don’t need a lot of
reinforcement, come in a range of finishes and are usually more ornate, as they
are visible on the outside of the cabinets.
Overlay hinges only allow you to see the hinge mechanism, while the face frame
mount is attached to the inside of the cabinet door, unseen from the front.
Concealed hinges are internal hinges, hidden from within the cabinet. These
hinges, which are much more expensive than other types of hinges, work
especially well on modern angular cabinets.
If your cabinets are heavy, they will require a heavy-duty hinge. If you want an
ornamental hinge, you can use separate hinge straps. These can be used with
almost any hinge style that has a visible interlocking mechanism. Hinge straps
can be thin and unadorned for a simple look or bold and dark for a rustic look. |
