This 1800s Kitchen Feature Makes Any Cabinet Look Instantly More Luxe

Sometimes, it’s the tiniest details that can make the largest impact in a space. And when it comes to your kitchen, a single kitchen hardware add-on can make your cabinets look so much more expensive (and chic!). They’re backplates for your cabinet and drawer pulls — and if you never knew these things existed until right now, you’re about to be introduced to a brand new obsession.

“Why have only a knob when you can add a backplate too?!” Instagram user Laura Perkins wrote in a recent caption. She highlighted how the install works, and fans were shocked to learn that no additional tools are required.

Backplates not only add a bit more pizazz to any doors and drawers, but these hardware features also provide a bit more protection for wood, too. Traditionally, they were used as a barrier to protect doors from getting dinged up by keys that missed or slipped from a lock. They also help cut back on scratches and grime build-up on the surface of cabinet doors caused by daily use. Because they’re metal, backplates are so much easier to wipe clean without risk of damaging your cabinet paint.

Laura got her backplates from Tradition Hardware, and you’ll never believe that they’re priced at just $9 each (they look 5x that price!). They’re made in five finishes and are so easy to install. Just slip them onto the screw back of your cabinet knob or pull before installing those to any spot in your kitchen. Just make sure the backplates are level before you fully tighten the pull.

Basic backplates like the ones Laura used are totally understated and super chic. But there are so many backplate designs out there that’ll help you fully customize your space and match the vibe of your overall kitchen design.

Choosing backplates with ornate detailing around their edges will help sell an antique or traditional vibe. These backplates sold by Amazon are made in seven distinct finishes, including antique brass and oil-rubbed bronze, which gives that lived-in look, and are sold in packs of 10 for just $25. Reviewers say they “really dress up a cabinet.”

These circular backplates from Amazon would go great with more modern, clean-lined hardware. They’re made from solid brushed brass and are just over an inch in diameter, so they’ll stay understated while adding a bit more punch to your pulls. “I bought these to go on an entryway cabinet that we bought brass knobs for,” one reviewer wrote. “It was the perfect finishing touch.”

So if your kitchen or bathroom feels as though it’s missing a little extra something that would take it from good to great, backplates could be exactly what you’re looking for. Give them a try, and you may never go back to using pulls and knobs on their own ever again!