Furniture Hardware: Which Hinges and Slides to Choose?
Furniture durability depends on fittings. Drawer slides and hinges work the hardest. We advise what to choose for trouble-free operation.
The Heart of Furniture is Hidden Inside
A beautiful board isn't everything. User comfort is determined by fittings - hinges, slides, and lifts. They make drawers run smoothly and doors close silently.
When [ordering furniture online](/zamawianie-mebli-online/), you often have a choice of hardware brands. What to pick?
1. Concealed Hinges
Standard in furniture making.
Types:
- Overlay: Standard doors covering the cabinet side.
- Inset: Doors flush with the side (inside the body).
- Parallel/Angled: For corner cabinets.
Extra Features:
- Soft Close: Built-in brake. Door slows down before closing. Must-have in kitchen.
- Push to open: Touch opening. Ideal for modern handle-less furniture.
2. Drawer Slides
Here quality differences are most noticeable.
Slide Types:
- Roller (Basic): Cheapest ($3-5). Noisy, drawer falls out, low load capacity. Avoid, unless for garage.
- Ball Bearing: Better ($5-10). Smoother movement, often full extension. Good value for money.
- Undermount (Tandem/Box systems): Premium class ($20-50). Slide hidden under drawer, full extension, perfect smoothness, soft close.
3. Brands - Is It Worth Paying More?
BLUM (Premium)
Austrian quality. Lifetime warranty. You pay for reliability.
- When to choose: Kitchen, heavily used furniture, heavy drawers.
GTV / Generic High Quality (Mid-range)
Good quality at reasonable price.
- When to choose: Bedroom wardrobes, dressers, office furniture.
"No-name" (Budget)
Cheapest replacements.
- When to choose: Basement furniture, garage, rarely opened storage.
What's the Real Cost?
The price difference for a whole wardrobe or kitchen can be significant:
Dresser with 4 drawers:
- On roller slides: 4 x $4 = $16
- On Mid-range Box system: 4 x $25 = $100
- On Blum Legrabox: 4 x $65 = $260
Summary
Don't skimp on fittings in the kitchen and drawers you use daily. For a bedroom wardrobe or bookshelf, you can choose mid-range.
Remember, replacing slides in finished furniture is difficult and labor-intensive – better to choose right the first time.
