Most of us don’t think twice when we grab something from a kitchen drawer. But that simple movement would be much more complicated if the drawers do not have handles. A simple knob in raw wood does the job, but lacks the style that other options provide. You can find drawer pulls in many unusual styles and in dozens of finishes and materials.

One popular style is the barbell pull. A bar, available in a variety of lengths, is attached to the face of the drawer with a bolt at each end. The bolts lift the bar off the surface and allow you to get a firm grip on it.

You have likely seen a wide range of options in this popular style of cabinet hardware. Do you want rods that are round or square? Simple or elaborate? A single material or mixed materials: metal with wood, acrylic, crystal, enamel, glass, ceramic or stone? Although the drawer handles are completely metal, you can find them in stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, copper, brass, nickel, polished or matt chrome, aged or painted, traditional or contemporary.

If you’re looking for drawer pulls for reproduction furniture or traditional cabinets, take a look at bar pulls. When a pull is attached to the drawer, it swings off a back plate or a pair of rosettes and lies flat on the surface of the drawer front. When it’s time to open the drawer, the drawer safety pulls the swings forward, then falls back flat on the drawer front when released.

A mug pull evokes the casual feel of a general store or country kitchen; it is a raised sphere, usually half an oval. Installs in drawer front with open side down. You slide your fingers up into the open “cup” and pull forward to open the drawer. Simple mug drawer pulls can be found in almost any metal finish. But you can also find them with details such as shells, floral and animal motifs, and even shapes other than the usual sphere. Compare prices and you can also find ceramic and glass cup handles.

A toe flip is a style that lends itself to both traditional and contemporary looks. A flat back plate is attached to the front of the drawer, with a hook protruding from its top. Slide your finger under the hook to pull the drawer forward. Once again, the shape of the back plate and the hook add to the style of these drawer pulls; It can have elaborate details, but the finger pull can also lend itself to elegant geometry. Once again, the material and finish contribute to the style of this type of hardware.

Another category of drawer pulls looks a bit like a piece of jewelry. Hanging drawer pulls install on a single post on a drawer front; they look like a big dangle earring. Like bail pulls, they rotate from the connecting stud (think of the stud as the earring post) and hang flat over the drawer front. Pick up the pendant and pull to open the drawer. When you release it, the pendant falls flat on the drawer front. Like jewelry, dangling drawer pulls can be delicate and detailed, or bold and substantial. Various finishes and materials make this a versatile and decorative option.

Another style of cabinet hardware that resembles pendant is drawer pulls. Instead of a dangling pendant, you have a dangling ring. You can also find a ring pull that can be recessed into the surface of the drawer front for a sleek look.