Brass vs. Matte Black Hardware: Which Fits Your Kitchen

These are the two most-requested hardware finishes in our showroom right now. Here's how to decide between them.

Brass and matte black are the two most-requested cabinet hardware finishes we see in design appointments right now, and the choice comes down to more than just personal taste.

Brass reads warm and traditional-to-transitional

Unlacquered and satin brass finishes (as opposed to the shinier, more yellow polished brass of decades past) pair especially well with warm white, cream, and wood-tone cabinetry, and tend to read transitional to traditional depending on the pull's silhouette.

Matte black reads modern and high-contrast

Matte black hardware creates strong visual contrast against light cabinetry, which is exactly why it's become the default choice for many white and off-white kitchens over the past several years. It reads more contemporary than brass in almost any pairing.

Fingerprints and visible wear differ between the two

Matte black shows fingerprints and light scratches more visibly than brass, particularly a true matte (versus satin) black finish. Brass, especially satin or unlacquered brass that's meant to patina slightly over time, tends to hide daily-use marks better.

You don't have to choose just one

Some homeowners pair matte black functional hardware (hinges, slides) with brass decorative pulls, or vice versa, for a layered look — ask your designer to show you the combination in your ProKitchen rendering before committing to either finish across the whole kitchen.