Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY.

Swapping out old hardware is a simple, inexpensive way to update furniture and built in cabinets, or to dress up a flea market find. There's a sea of hardware out there, and it helps to become familiar with some terminology in order to find what's right for you. 

If your existing pulls are mounted with two screws, it's easy to find replacement hardware that will fit into the same holes. Measure from the center of one hole to the center of the other. This is called the "center to center" or "centers" measurement, and is listed with the product.  

Some common finishes include polished chrome, satin chrome, polished nickel, satin nickel, polished brass, antique brass, oil rubbed bronze and stainless steel. Keep in mind, your options are not limited to metal; wood and glass can also be interesting, and there's a wealth of novelty hardware on the market too.  Antler, bone, leather, mirror or rope would be striking in the right context. 

Here are sources for the items shown above to get you started:

Bar Pull - Lansa, Ikea

Novelty Pull - Curved Rope Handle, Cliffside Industries

Bin Pull - Cast Brass Bin Pull, Lee Valley 

Glass Knob - Medium Diamond Style Knob, House of Antique Hardware

Mushroom Knob - Mushroom Knob, Rocky Mountain Hardware

Modern Knob - Attest, Ikea

Drop or Bale Pull - Old World Classic Hardware Drop Bail Pull, My Knobs

Ring Pull - Medium Satin Brass Ring Pull, Liz's Antique Hardware

Pendant Pull - Hickory Hardware Adorno Pull, Home Depot