HGTV’s David Bromstad Says This Inexpensive Kitchen Feature Will Add Instant Luxury

While sometimes mistaken for self-close door hinges, soft-close hinges are not quite the same thing. A self-closing door or drawer will pull itself firmly shut, but soft-close hinges will also soften the movement and resist the slamming and banging that often accompanies opening and closing drawers. They are perfect in a home where you want things to be peaceful and calm. Cabinets with these hinges are also great for allowing you to simply nudge the door in the direction of closing, and the hinge will do the rest the of work. This is particularly handy if you have an armful of groceries or plates.

Soft-close hinges and drawer slides work based on hydraulics that provide resistance, which keeps the cabinet doors from noisily slamming. Drawers work similarly, providing resistance on the sides along the rail. According to co-founder and cabinet expert Andrew Saladino at Kitchen Cabinet Kings, “When the door is closed, fluid is forced around a piston, which provides resistance. If the door is shut harder, the resistance from the fluid is also greater. You’d have to have superhuman strength to actually slam a cabinet door that has a Blumotion or similar style hinge.”