The Seamless Hack For Perfectly Placed Cabinet Pulls

By Jennifer Woods
man installing cabinet handle Artit Wongpradu/Shutterstock

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Swapping out dated cabinet hardware is a small adjustment with big impact. If you're replacing old knobs with handles, however, the process can be tedious. And if you make a mistake when drilling new holes, it can create problems including but not limited to cabinets that look lopsided. Luckily, there's a hack that can help you install new pulls perfectly without any meticulous measuring. All it requires is a drill and a tub of diaper rash cream.

To get started on this hack, first remove the old knobs from your cabinets. Next, screw the top piece of the new pull into the existing hole, making sure to keep it loose enough that you can still move the pull. Shift the bottom part of the pull off to the side, away from the cabinet. Pat some thick diaper rash cream on the back of the bottom hole and carefully move it into place, being careful not to smudge the cream all over the cabinet. Once the pull is in the right spot — you can use a level to ensure it's perfectly straight – press the bottom hole against the cabinet to leave a circle of cream indicating where you will need to drill the hole. Shift the pull off to the side again, drill the new hole, screw in the bottom of the pull, and voila! You've given your cabinet a quick and easy upgrade. 

Other things to consider before you change your cabinet pulls

@thecopperelm

Obviously this hack only works if you already have one hole drilled into your cabinet like I do. If you are starting with brand new cabinets with no hardware currently attached, it’s best to buy or make a template so everything is symmetrical. But if you already have a drawer knob installed, this is a super easy hack to ensure that your drilled holes line up with your hardware perfectly. Before using the triple paste, I tried quite a few different materials but none worked quite perfectly. Play dough was a close runner up but the cabinets have a slick finish and the play dough didn’t always stay in place. (And it got gummed up on my drill bit). Markers and paint worked somewhat but smeared really easily and were hard to see when using the drill. The lotion ended up working far better than I had imagined. And for anyone saying a template is easier, this hack accounts for inconsistencies in manufacturing where a basic template will not. Yes, we’d like to think every single piece of hardware is perfectly the same. But the reality is, you will come across pulls where the holes aren’t in the same exact place and doing this little hack ensured that each cabinet was perfectly aligned. Also, sorry for sounding like a vocal fry loving frog. I’m nursing a gnarly head cold and feel like crud. Also, also, no I do not have a baby. I have diaper rash cream because I’m an absolute sucker for advice given by estheticians on TikTok and someone said this stuff was way better than slugging for your skin care regimen. Was she right? Meh, not convinced yet. But the cream works wonders for drawer pulls so I’m not mad at it. 😆 #homeimprovementdiy #drawerpulls #homeimprovementhacks #tiktokhacks #worksmarternotharder #howhardcanitbe #boysdoit #girlswithtools #diyhacks #diytips

♬ original sound - The Copper Elm

If you do decide to swap out your existing cabinet hardware, make sure you're familiar with the different types of cabinet hardware (and how to choose what's right for you). There are a myriad of styles and finishes to choose from, so it's important to have a good idea of the overall aesthetic you're trying to achieve. You'll also want to make sure you select the right size pull — rule of thumb is it should be about ⅓ of the cabinet door height. Once you've selected the perfect pulls, pick up a tub of a cream like Triple Paste, and you'll be on your way to giving your cabinets a fresh new look. 

One thing to keep in mind: While the diaper cream trick is a DIY hack that will completely transform your cabinets, it doesn't apply as easily to changing out drawer knobs for pulls. Because knobs are centered on the drawer, using the existing hole would leave your new pull off-center. If you're planning to swap out your draw knobs as well, you will need to use wood filler and paint to cover up the existing holes and redrill two new holes centered on the drawer. If you're worried about making mistakes, you may want to consider purchasing a hardware template to make sure your new pulls are properly centered. 

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