It is almost a rite of passage in a long, enduring home renovation project to get ahead of oneself and get caught up in the fun, small details before you've even broken ground.
And currently, while my kitchen remains half-painted and half-styled, it was the cabinet hardware that suddenly became a fixation of mine that I was desperate to change mid-renovation. So while I should probably be stressing about countertops and lighting, instead, I’ve been fixated on one tiny detail, a kitchen hardware trend that’s made a bigger impact than I ever expected: backplates.
Those chic little decorative plates that sit behind knobs and pulls might seem insignificant, but somehow they’ve turned my still-under-construction kitchen into a stylish space. It's a small change, but one that I can't get enough of.
As a big supporter of small but mighty interior choices (they really do make a world of difference), I've learned to lean into some of the more whimsical home renovation purchases that help to keep you motivated during a slow renovation.
Kitchen hardware is a subtle yet transformative choice that enhances your kitchen cabinet choices, adding contrast and intrigue to the design. The final cherry on top, if you will. So rather than picking something run-of-the-mill, I wanted to make an unexpected yet design-led choice.
And while it might sound counterintuitive to buy into a micro-trend this early on in the year, this is actually a kitchen trend that I see enduring.
If you haven’t come across them yet, hardware backplates are exactly what they sound like: decorative plates that sit behind your cabinet knobs or pulls.
They come in the form of simple, classic shapes (think rectangle or circular brass plates) or something much bolder and more playful, instantly adding extra pizzazz to your door fronts and giving even the simplest of knobs a more curated feel.
So why do they work so well? For starters, they’re a small investment that makes a huge impact. You don’t need to rip out your cabinets or splash out on a full renovation to see results. And even in a room that’s very much “work in progress”, they’ve given me a tiny but satisfying win.
In my own kitchen, I already had handles in place, but truthfully, they felt a little underwhelming. Because I chose a neutral shaker cabinet (painted in Farrow & Ball's Shaded White), I wanted something to lift them, to make the cabinets feel like a design moment on their own rather than just purely functional.
Backplates are the perfect upgrade – they’re contemporary enough to work in new kitchens, but they can also refresh older cabinetry, or even add a finishing touch in bathrooms, closets, or pantries.
They’re also ridiculously forgiving: you can easily swap out the knobs or pulls later down the line to revamp the look, or lose the backplates entirely for a cleaner aesthetic.
You can go subtle, choosing backplates that match your existing hardware for a cohesive, understated look, or make a statement with bold shapes, contrasting metals, or even unexpected colors. I went with an unlacquered brass pairing that complements my existing handles while giving the cabinets a little extra personality.
They also work with almost any cabinet style, too. Shaker cabinets feel more layered and luxe with a simple square or rectangular plate, while modern flat-panel cabinets can be softened with round or decorative designs.
Vintage-style kitchens can lean into ornate or antiqued backplates to enhance character. Mix metals, try different shapes, or go bold with color – it’s an easy way to experiment with a new hardware style without having to drill new holes.
After playing around with my own kitchen hardware, I was convinced that this design trend isn’t just a fleeting fad. It’s the kind of tiny tweak that makes a big difference, elevating your kitchen (or any cabinetry) instantly.
And because I’ve fallen hard for hardware, I’ve put together a curated edit of my favourite backplates to shop right now. Whether you want to start small or go all in, these picks make it easy to try the look for yourself.
Shop Hardware Backplates
For me, adding these little plates behind the knobs and pulls has been a game-changer in my kitchen. My cabinets suddenly feel much more curated, and it’s one of those tweaks that makes a room feel done, even when the rest of the kitchen is still very much in progress.
If you’ve been itching for an easy, affordable way to refresh your space, backplates could just be it. Start small and have a look at our guide to the best place to buy kitchen cabinet hardware, experiment with shape or metal, and see the immediate impact for yourself.