The Stunning DIY That Transformed '90s Cabinet Hardware Into Something Beautiful

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Brass hardware can look two ways: like it's out of a rustic cottage-style cabin, or like it was forgotten in a 1990s kitchen. The issue is, you might be going for the former and end up with the latter. But who wants dated sitcom-style kitchen cabinets? If you ever find yourself in this situation, there's a simple solution. The issue isn't the hardware; it's just the brass' finish, and that's something you can fix at home. 

What makes brass hardware look distinctively 1990s is its shininess and yellow color. In order to make brass look older, more rustic, and classier, some clever homeowners used an acid bath to remove some of that shine and color. Acid baths aren't as scary as they sound; they're essentially just a liquid that's able to make brass look older by tarnishing it and adding a patina, which is perfect to create cabinet hardware that looks like it's been aging for decades in your kitchen. In just seconds, it can give a yellow shiny knob that beautiful dark brown color that looks straight out of an antique shop. 

You can find these acid baths online for just about $10, like this Generic brass ager liquid that uses phosphoric acid, selenium dioxide, and sulfuric acid to give your brass a unique patina. For this DIY, you'll also need a container to fill with the liquid and dunk the cabinet hardware into, like a plastic food storage container or mixing bowl. Make sure to wear protective gloves, as it's best to avoid the product touching your skin directly. As for fumes, make sure to do this DIY project in a well-ventilated space.

Before placing them in the liquid, make sure to give your brass pieces a good wipe to remove oily residue or dust. Then, soak it in the liquid, but keep an eye on it. It's up to you to decide exactly how long to leave the pieces in, depending on how dark you want them to look. Just seven seconds are enough to create a dark brown hue, and longer can get you something nearly black. Start with a test knob, dunking it in the acid using tongs until it reaches your desired finish. Count how many seconds are needed before taking it out so that you can repeat this with the rest of the hardware and make sure they all have a similar tone and finish. 

@reneerenovates

Bye bye, 90s grape kitchen! This cool-toned brass looks sooo good now with the purply red cabinets 😌 #kitchenhacks #kitchenremodel

♬ Nice and Easy – Louis Adrien

Then, rinse the hardware in clean water (under the tap or in a bowl), let it air dry, and reattach it to cabinets or drawers. Pro tip: if your knobs and pulls have any visible screws, repeat this step with them too to make sure they're the same color. 

To give the brass pieces even more of a true old-school look, use steel wool to buff the metal a bit more. This will create some lines and contrast within the brass, with some areas darker than others. And the best part of this DIY is that all you've really done is age the brass. This means you can reverse it by polishing it if you've gone too dark or don't like the results, for example, with lemon and baking soda. 

This type of aged brass cabinet hardware will look stunning with wooden tables, counters, and cabinets, especially paired with brick walls or rustic tiles. It has that old-school vibe that's perfect for a family home that feels cozy and like it's been in use for decades, even if you've just moved in. There are tons of ways to make it shine: pair it with deep green or brown cabinets to give the cottagecore trend a darker aesthetic, or keep the cabinets white, light blue, or beige for something more reminiscent of a summer beach house. To add more vintage decor and echo the brownish color of the aged brass, display some copper cookware on a vintage pot rack. 

Using this DIY aging technique, you can also mix and match kitchen cabinet hardware. For example, age some of the knobs darker than others, while leaving some with a yellow shine. For even more of an eclectic look, do this hack on mismatched brass knobs and pulls. Throw in some animal-shaped or unique knobs for an extra touch of whimsy. 

Just note that you can do this brass aging hack only on cabinet hardware that's solid brass, not plated brass. With that in mind, experiment with other brass pieces, even beyond the kitchen: dresser pulls, door knobs, picture frames, candlestick holders, and stylish wall hooks throughout the house.