You might be thinking, the only use for a cabinet knob is to put one on a cabinet so you can open and close it. Well, you are wrong because this fixture actually has a lot of other creative uses too.

Really, a cabinet knob can be used for a number of different things and the first one is how you can actually make a pretty nice shelving unit with less than a handful of them. It actually is pretty simple. All you have to do is screw in two of them parallel to each other in the wall and then two more about two to three feet below them depending upon how big you want the shelf to be. What you do next is get a board and attach some string or rope to the top sides of it. Then, set the board on the two lower knobs and then tie the string or the rope you used to the top two knobs. And, just like that, you have a shelf in place and you can store almost anything you want on it from books, to DVD’s, CD’s, and even special keepsakes and knickknacks. This shelf idea is perfect for a child’s or teenager’s bedroom.

Another way that you can use a cabinet knob is as a coat rack and you can actually build an upscale looking coat rack area on any wall throughout your home. Just start with picking out a few eye-catching knobs either online or at the hardware store, then when you have them at home you just have to install them on your wall. What makes it fun is that you can install them in a pattern, which really gives your coat rack a fantastic look along with the stunning knobs that you picked out. In addition to hanging coats on them, you could hang other things on them as well including hats and you could even use this same set up in your kitchen for hanging utensils and pots on your wall.

A final great use for a cabinet knob other than just installing on a cabinet is a decorative one. You could put them wherever you like in your space as an interesting ornamental touch. Like, take your child’s bedroom as an example, you can get fun shaped ones, like in the shape of a bear or candy, and place it on the wall to accent the décor of his room.

And, these are just a few of the different ideas that you could use a cabinet knob for because there are quite a few other uses for them as well. To check them all out, just do a little search on the Internet. And, remember the Internet is also your best bet for shopping for them since all you have to do is browse through all the different online stores and their products. When you do come across something you like, it generally is at the best possible prices and your selection will even be shipped right to your home. Shopping has never been so convenient since you don’t have to go anywhere to do it.

In the end, a cabinet knob is a pretty versatile fixture and now you know that there are a lot of different ways to use one besides just a way to open and shut a cabinet.

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops that offer both products and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it’s your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make your space both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous looking indoor space using awesome cabinet hardware, classic cabinet knobs, and stunning pulls.

Over a glass of wine with friends, an architect friend of mine and I started talking about hinges. And yes, I know you are thinking what an exciting conversation that must have been. But when you think about it, hinges are everywhere and affect all aspects of our lives. In fact, you probably have at least five hinged items on your person or in your purse/attaché/backpack/briefcase. You might have less, but I think you’ll be surprised as you read on.

When the first hinges were invented, they were only used for city or kingdom gates and doors to sacred or holy places. Hinged doors and gates protected only the most valuable of items and lives; everyone else still had to roll a rock in front of the door, or its equivalent.

These simple ones were called pivot hinges and consisted of a post that fits into a ring or a socket. If you put a post on the top and bottom of each door and a socket in the floor and top of the doorframe, you have a simple door that swings open both ways. Other mountings of them stop the door at a certain point. An example of an ancient pivot hinged door with a stop is a drawbridge. Two massive pivot hinges were mounted on the bottom outside corners of the castle; chains raised the bridge into a door position which was then barred from the inside to hold it in place.

Ancient pivot hinges wore out and were subsequently reinforced with metal. Eventually they were made only of metal. As advances in metallurgy made metal stronger, they could carry heavier loads. They were also advancing by being downsized and used in homes; on doors, trunks, and boxes.
Today, hinges are literally everywhere. Modern garage door panels are put together with them.
Makeup compacts open with them. Your cell phone flips open with a spring-loaded hinge. Clip earrings rely on hinges. So do eyeglasses. The laptop I am writing this on opens with two of them. Some purses have hinge clasps; others have straps attached with hinges. Toolboxes, briefcases, humidors. Kitchen tongs, can openers, coffee pots. Copiers have about a bazillion hinges; every time you open a door or flip a part up to free a paper jam, you are using a hinge or two.

Now back to my friend and our hinge conversation. Our group started chipping in with all the places that they saw hinges in the restaurant. Now our server had gotten into it. Where were all the hinges? We found them on decorations, on the bar, on the icemaker. And all the different door hinges; we found four different types in that restaurant alone.

Then one of my friends brought out his money clip to pay his tab. It had a hinge! This sent us all into furious digging. How many things did we have right then that were hinged? Here’s what ended up piled on the table from six friends, our server and the bartender:

five cell phones,

two lighters,

four briefcases,

five laptops,

one purse,

one set of clamshell speakers,

a multitude of makeup compacts,

two belts,

three watches,

seven CD cases,

three pocketknives,

two corkscrews,

three hair clips,

two necklaces,

a bracelet,

a ballcap,

a clipboard,

a hairbrush,

two calculators,

a travel alarm clock,

four business card holders,

three key fobs,

seven eyeglass cases,

six pair of eyeglasses,

two cameras,

two staplers,

one staple-puller,

five tins of Altoids,

a retainer case,

and a can opener!

So how close was I when I said most of you would have at least five? Close enough, I bet, to make you look at hinges in a completely different light. Imagine where we would be today without the simple, overlooked, underappreciated hinge. “Once, an empires’ survival hinged on them. Today we couldn’t function without them,” I thought as I left the restaurant. Then I closed my car door – which hangs on hinges.

Jennifer Akre, the author of this article, is an owner of different niche sites that offer clients and customer not only products, but information relating to furnishing and decorating their indoor and outdoor living space. Whether you want to redecorate your living room or create the ultimate outdoor oasis, there is a ton of helpful advice to take advantage of. Today, she shares her insight when purchasing durable cabinet hinges concealed door hinges and mighty hinges.

Think about what you could do if you just knew how to build kitchen cabinets. There are many reasons you might consider building your own cabinets: to save money, a custom look, a desire to create. Though you may not know how to build kitchen cabinets now, it is not that hard learn, and from there you can expand into all areas of the home. The construction part is fairly simple, even for a beginner, but it will take some time to learn and build.

If you have decided to go ahead and give it a try, the first step is to get an idea of what you want. To do this, you could try going to designer show rooms, flipping through magazines, or going to the library and checking out some design books.

While you’re at the library looking for design books, check out some books on carpentry that are aimed at kitchen design. You’ll need these to learn the steps involved in the building process. It is important to learn the terms involved, what kinds of materials you will need, and the tools you will need to put them together.

At this point, you may want to hire a kitchen designer who can help you figure out your needs. This may save you some time, get a more professional looking end product, and assure that all of your needs are met.

Whether you decide to hire a designer or not, this is the point where you need to find the materials you will need to install your cabinets. Because you are building your own cabinets, you will have a wide range of products from which to choose. The most important thing is to obtain quality products that will make you happy.

Getting the right materials is most enjoyable part of designing your kitchen cabinets, so take your time. Try looking for refurbished boards, beams, screws, hinges, and knobs. There are a lot of deals available if you take the time to look for them and keep your mind open.

Once you have the proper materials, you’ll need the right tools. Most hardware stores have tool rentals, or you might try borrowing some from relatives or from a friend. Now you’re almost ready, but before you cut the first board, see if there are some free classes at a home-improvement store, or a low-cost class at a local technical college. It sometimes helps to hear things out loud.

Learning this process can be enjoyable and economical. After you learn how to build kitchen cabinets, you’re ready to move onto other areas of the home. The hardest part is done, so tackling that empty closet and turning it into a full service linen closet will be simple. Not only that, but think of what else you could do – from gifts to furniture. As always, it is up to your determination and imagination.

Rob Buenaventura has worked in the home improvement industry for several years. Find more tips on how to build kitchen cabinets at http://www.KitchenCabinetDecor.com.