Patrick Butler Madden
Many interior designers refer to hardware as the “jewelry of the home,” or the extra special elements that offers metallic, gleaming pops while also lending functionality. And just like paint colors and tile shapes, hardware cycles through trends as well.
Selecting on-trend hardware can level up the visuals of a home. It’s an approach that Shelly Lindstrom, hardware sales manager at Minneapolis’ Nob Hill Decorative Hardware, stands by. “If you pick the right hardware, people will notice it for the right reasons,” she explains. “New hardware on an old cabinet can completely transform a room from being, ‘Oh yeah, those are fine,’ to, ‘Those pulls are amazing.’” Here, Lindstrom details what’s ahead for hardware in 2026.
1. Old-World Influences
European design sensibilities are making their way into hardware, with pieces that look as if they’ve been transported from a bygone era. Lindstrom has witnessed a surge in “cremone bolts,” which are the vertical rods that go from the top to bottom on doors and are operated with a knob or lever, along with cabinet latches and rim lock door hardware. “People are trying to bring back special touches that make their homes a little more unique,” Lindstrom says.
2. Unlacquered Brass
Ashley Norton
Unlacquered brass doesn’t have that protective layer that prevents oxidation, but that’s actually what homeowners want nowadays. They’re longing for patina, something that Lindstrom refers to as a “living finish.” “Finishes changing over time don’t scare as many people as it used to. A living finish achieves the old-world feel without waiting 100 years for the hardware to look old,” she says.
It’s reflective of what is trending down this year, too. “Cooler tones and satin nickel are not as popular as in previous years,” Lindstrom adds. “We are seeing a lot more organic and bronze tones being incorporated in designs.”
3. Decorative Mesh Grilles
Seen on the fronts of cabinets as a point of visual interest, dress up your kitchen with decorative mesh grilles in a variety of patterns, which Lindstrom says are now highly sought-after.
4. Various Textures
Lindstrom says textured hardware is coming into its own, with techniques like knurling (raised ridges or diamonds), straight knurling (a series of parallel grooves), and hammered motifs rising to the top of the trends.
5. Hardware With Personality
“I think the biggest trend is people coming with their own aesthetic rather than only focusing on what’s trending,” Lindstrom points out. “Customers are braver in what they are choosing, and it’s not based on what’s selling, but what they truly love.”
Read this next: Trend Forecast 2026, Kitchen + Bath: Pattern Play and Cabinetry Crazes
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