Have you ever taken a close look at a hinge, only to have your eyes go cross-eyed? Or wondered if you could put a hinged door on the left side of your entertainment center? We’ve compiled five unconventional pieces of knowledge about hinges that you can’t learn from books. Entertainment center hinges are just one of many types of hinges that you might want to be familiar with. Here are five unconventional pieces of mind-blowing information about hinges that you can’t learn from books.
1. Hidden Hinges
Hidden hinges are a great option for the interior designer. You can hide the working parts of a hinge behind the face of an almost-flush door, or even inside a cabinet design. Hidden hinges are equipped with special “lips” that, once the door is closed, seamlessly lock into place. Try using hidden hinges on cabinets or entertainment centers to hide that unsightly hardware inside of them. Be sure you have the clearance behind your furniture to fit hidden hinges and consider their size compared to doors, as well.
2. Hinge Parts Are Not Interchangeable
While there are many look-alike hinges on the market, their parts and components are not interchangeable. For example, a left hand cabinet hinge will be designed for use on the left side of a door or cabinet and cannot be used on the right side. The same is true of right hand hinges, which work only on the right side of a door or cabinet. It’s very important to pay attention to this when ordering replacement hinges from your local hardware store.
This can save you time, money—and possibly damage to the rest of your furniture—in the long run.
If you purchase a hinge component that comes with a plate attached to it, it can be used on any number of other surfaces, especially door handles. This gives the designer many options in the design of your interior. For example, you can make the equivalent of almost-flush doors by ordering a wall bar and fixing it between two spaced-apart vertical pieces. Then attach hinges to the bar and use a hinged face as you would with normal cabinet doors. Create an island in your kitchen or even an entertainment center by ordering two vertical cabinets, then fixing hinges on each end of them.
3. Rail-Mounted Hinges
Rail-mounted hinges are ideal for heavy doors that require extra support, such as a pantry door or a barn-style sliding door. While rail-mounted hinges are not ideal for smaller doors, they are great for making sure large doors hang perfectly on the hinges. Large and heavy doors can cause squeaking and other problems when in use, but a rail-mounted hinge can support the door weight to help alleviate such problems.
Most modern homeowners want their furniture to look sleek, fashionable and state-of-the-art. While decorative hinges aren’t the most durable option out there due to their thin metal and compact size, they come in a variety of colors and styles that will certainly please your design standards. By adding decorative hinges to cabinets or entertainment centers you can give them a sleek look that will match your home furnishings. If you purchase a hinge component that comes with a plate attached to it, it can be used on any number of other surfaces, especially door handles.
This gives the designer many options in the design of your interior. For example, you can make the equivalent of almost-flush doors by ordering a wall bar and fixing it between two spaced-apart vertical pieces. Then attach hinges to the bar and use a hinged face as you would with normal cabinet doors. Create an island in your kitchen or even an entertainment center by ordering two vertical cabinets, then fixing hinges on each end of them.
4. Hinges That Disguise Themselves
If you’d like to add a stylish twist to your entertainment center that doesn’t require additional tools or hardware, choose hinges that can be painted and wallpapered over. Hinges come in a variety of colors and strengths, which makes them ideal for almost any scenario. Generally, you’ll find that the stronger the hinge is, the more options you’ll have for changing its look with paint or wallpaper (if it’s a removable wallpaper).
5. Noiseless Hinges
Noiseless hinges are becoming increasingly more popular as consumers become more conscious of noise pollution. Noiseless hinges are designed to minimize noise and make installing them easier. Noiseless hinges are great for use in kitchens, bathrooms, closets and other tight spaces. While replacing the entire hinge won’t be necessary for a noiseless hinge installation, it can be an option in instances where space is limited.
While hinged door designs have specific requirements (such as the size of the opening that is required), many designers continue to use these designs because of their versatility. For example, if you have a small space that requires extra storage space but won’t allow you to install a cabinet door or entertainment center face-to-face with another cabinet or shelf, you might want to consider adding a noiseless hinge instead.
