One HGTV Star Says This Is Where You Should Be Adding New Hardware (It’s Not the Kitchen)

There are little ways to make a room feel refreshed without having to do a full reno, and one of them is switching out hardware. It’s inexpensive, an easy DIY, and is a low-risk way to add some fun and flair into your space. (Don’t like it in a year? Swap it out!) While hardware replacements are often associated with kitchen cabinets, one HGTV expert says to refocus your attention elsewhere — on the outside of the house.

In a recent conversation with Apartment Therapy, Rachel Taylor — one of the hosts on HGTV’s new show “Curb Appeal Xtreme” — shared a few ways you can refresh your front yard for cheap. Whether it’s for selling purposes or enjoyment, Taylor mentioned that swapping out your hardware can immediately enhance your outdoor hangout area.

“The hardware on a front patio is what makes the patio sing. It’s the jewelry, if you will,” Taylor told Apartment Therapy. “So just updating the house numbers or the light fixtures is a really easy way to create some refreshment.”

In addition to the above, hardware could also mean your handle, knocker, and/or lock attached on the door. But whatever it is that you’re swapping out, Taylor said to lean into a finish that is a bit off the beaten path to jazz things up a bit.

“Instead of going for a crisp brass, do a champagne brass or a nickel plate finish,” Taylor instructed. On the flip side, she also suggested going with a vintage piece of hardware found at an antique shop that looks aged, but, at the same time, is an update for the house.

And when it comes to figuring out where to shop for your hardware, the sky’s the limit! From Home Depot’s wide selection to a place like HomeGoods (which is launching an online shop soon), or that tiny antique shop near your home that you pop into from time to time, there’s no shortage of places to get your hardware fix.