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The 1/3 rule is a design guideline used by interior designers and cabinet installers to select appropriately sized pulls for cabinets and drawers. The rule suggests that for a balanced and cohesive look, a cabinet pull should be approximately one-third the height of the cabinet door or one-third the width of the drawer face. This guideline helps create a symmetrical appearance because the human eye tends to follow the length of the pull across the cabinet face.

While the 1/3 rule is a helpful starting point, it is not the only option. If a measurement falls between available pull sizes, it's generally best to size up. For an ultra-contemporary aesthetic, you can also opt for full-width pulls that span the entire drawer.

You aren’t obligated to tip cabinet contractors, but you can choose to do so if they went above and beyond and you want to show your gratitude. This is usually something in the ballpark of 10% to 15% of your total cost. As an alternative, you can provide snacks and drinks for workers and/or offer to serve as a reference for prospective customers.

As a homeowner, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your cabinet installer. Once the cabinets are ready for your home, you can do the following:

• Ensure pets are safely in another room, out of the way of open doors and large moving objects.

• Clear countertops for removal.

• Tidy the floor the installers will walk through and around. 

• Prepare to have the installers in your home for the entire day, for multiple days, until the project is done. Expect to have a noisy environment, especially if they will remove old, existing cabinets.  

In many homes, upper cabinets are installed with a 1- to 2-foot gap between the tops and the ceiling. However, many homeowners extend their cabinets to the ceiling to gain extra storage and a polished, built-in look.