If you use furniture at home such as cabinets or drawers, you may be familiar with a term known as hardware slides. Sort of like a little track that allows your drawers and cabinets to open and close without sticking. But not all cabinet hardware slides are created equal. Some are better than others, and choosing the right options can help your furniture perform better.
Another consideration is the type of slide you want. There are side-mount slides that attach to the drawers’ sides, and undermount slides, which are hidden beneath. Undermount slides are less visible, which makes furniture look more modern, but side-mount slides might be easier to put on.
If your cabinets are cheap or if their hardware slides are old or broken, an upgrade can boost your game absolutely. High quality slides last longer and function better than cheaper ones. They are stiffer and resistant to bending and breaking, would store heavier things in your furniture without worry.
It May Seem Difficult to Install Cabinet Hardware Slides, But It’s Not That Complicated If You Know What to Do Step one: Measure your furniture carefully to ensure you purchase the correct slides. When you have them, remove the drawers or cabinets from the furniture and follow the directions to attach the slides.
Undermount cabinet hardware slides to keep cabinets organized. These slides are out of sight when the drawers are closed, tucked under the drawers. It provides a clean appearance for the furniture and frees up valuable space to get things out of the drawers.
Marketed as undermount, these slides also allow for full drawer extension — you get more room to store things. Drawers slide on metal slides mounted on the side, so they can open only so far, making it difficult to access items stored toward the back. But the undermount slides let you see and access everything in the drawer easily.
Popular trends include using brass or copper finishes for a vintage look, or streamlined black or white slides for a more contemporary touch. You could even find slides with fun patterns or textures to spice up your furniture. No matter what your preference, there’s a cabinet hardware slide design that’s perfect for you.