They are present in almost every piece of furniture, yet we rarely pay attention to them and know little about them. And it is, after all, the hinges that determine whether cabinets, closets and dressers open and close quietly and smoothly. What types of furniture hinges are most commonly used today? And which ones should be used in specific cases? Check out our short guide.
Small furniture hinges are only seemingly similar to each other. In fact, the different models and solutions are very different from each other. And it is the nuances of their design, the type of guide or the size of the box that determine: where and when a particular hinge should be installed. What variants do we have to choose from? And what furniture are they designed for?
installation of furniture hinges
© REJS
Types of furniture hinges
In general, furniture hinges are divided into several types: overlay, twin, recessed, angle, parallel and wide-angle. Overlay hinges are the most common type. They are used in furniture where the cabinet door is located on the outside of the body. Then, looking at the cabinet from the front, we see only the front and the narrow space around it. This space is necessary for the proper opening and closing of the door.
installation of furniture hinges
© REJS
Less frequently used, although very practical, are twin hinges. These models are used when adjacent leaves share a single cabinet. In such cabinets, two doors are located outside the body, but rest against a common center partition.
Another solution, less commonly used, but growing in popularity, are recessed hinges.
They are used in furniture in which the fronts are located inside the cabinet, that is, between the side walls of the furniture. In this case, when looking at the cabinet, we see the entire cabinet partition and the entire front, which form a uniform plane," explains Joanna Posadzy, Marketing Director of REJS, a manufacturer of furniture accessories and hardware.
preparation of furniture elements
© REJS
Corner hinges and parallel hinges are installed in corner cabinets. The former are designed for cabinets with receding fronts. In general, they have a square shape with one corner beveled, and the door is arranged at a certain angle to the cabinet. In this case, depending on the design, 30° and 45° hinges are generally used.
In turn, in rectangular cabinets, parallel hinges are used. In these pieces of furniture, when closed, the front is arranged parallel to the masking plate. This solution is most often used in kitchen furniture, where the use of a blank allows you to separate the cabinets from other furniture or the wall, so that the fronts can open freely.
Tecno universal furniture hinge
© REJS
The last type of hinge, which is relatively rarely used, but absolutely necessary in many built-ins, are models with a wide opening angle. They are designed for corner doors, but not only. The design of the hinge allows the front to be opened by as much as 165°, which allows easier access to the interior of the furniture and the products stored in it. In addition, the open front is outside the light of the cabinet, which allows the interior drawers or wardrobe baskets to exit the cabinet freely.
What to pay attention to when choosing hinges?
However, the place of application is only one of the elements to be considered when choosing the type of hardware. Also important: their quality, method of installation, the possibility and type of adjustment (generally in three planes), as well as additional functional features.
furniture hinge
© REJS
Most furniture hinges are available in several different editions. REJS, for example, offers them in the Basic line, as well as the more technologically advanced Regular line. For those who require above-average quality, hinges from the Expert line are recommended. They are distinguished by easier installation - thanks to click-on technology, the hinge arm only needs to be fastened, without the need for tightening (Basic slide on, Regular and Expert click models), easier adjustment in 3 planes (on an eccentric), higher functionality and durability (tested according to PN-EN 15570:2010 for 80,000 cycles) and aesthetic qualities. Made of durable steel, they are available with can and arm caps included. In addition, they are equipped with a silent closing function, thanks to which the fronts close softly and discreetly. We give them a lifetime warranty," explains Joanna Posadzy.
For more information, visit the company's REJS Spółka z o.o. page on the A&B portal.
