Which Hardware to Choose for Custom Furniture?
Compare furniture hardware types: hinges, drawer slides, lift systems. Learn what matters and what Téchne uses.
Hardware is the “invisible skeleton” of furniture. Hinges, drawer slides, lift systems — these components determine how well your wardrobe works day to day and how long it will last. Investing in quality hardware is one of the smartest decisions you can make.
What Does Hardware Include?
- Hinges — for swing doors (with or without soft-close damping)
- Drawer slides — with partial or full extension
- Lift systems — for upward-opening doors
- Dampers — for silent closing
- Adjustable feet — for leveling on uneven floors
Blum (Austria)
Blum is the world leader in furniture hardware. Founded in 1952, they are known for innovation and exceptional quality.
Iconic products:
- BLUMOTION — silent damping system (standard on all products)
- TANDEMBOX — metal design drawers, full extension, 30-65 kg capacity
- CLIP top BLUMOTION — quick-mount hinges with integrated damping
- AVENTOS — lift systems for wall cabinets
Warranty: Lifetime warranty on the European market.
Price: Premium — most expensive but most reliable.
Hettich (Germany)
Hettich is the second largest manufacturer worldwide, with a tradition of over 100 years. Offers excellent quality-price ratio.
Iconic products:
- ArciTech — premium drawer system, elegant design, full extension
- Sensys — hinges with integrated damping, quick mount
- InnoTech Atira — drawers with excellent value for money
- TopLine — door systems for furniture
Warranty: 15-20 years, depending on product.
Price: Mid-premium — more accessible than Blum, comparable quality.
Hafele (Germany)
Hafele is a German brand with a complete range of hardware and accessories, from hinges and slides to internal organization systems. It offers an excellent quality-price ratio — performance close to premium brands at a significantly lower cost.
Strengths:
- Hinges and slides with soft-close damping as standard
- Internal organization systems (baskets, shoe racks, pull-out rails)
- Integrated LED lighting for furniture
- Wide range — from economical to premium
Price: Mid-range — significantly below Blum, with comparable performance for wardrobes and closets.
Important: Premium hardware (Blum, Grass) justifies its price in kitchens, where doors open 20-30 times a day and drawers bear heavy loads. For wardrobes, closets and sideboards — where usage is less intensive — Hafele is more than sufficient and offers the same durability at the right price.
Grass (Austria)
Grass is a smaller but very innovative manufacturer, known for design and functionality.
Iconic products:
- Nova Pro Scala — premium design drawers, optional glass side panel
- Tiomos — hinges with integrated damping
- Kinvaro — innovative lift systems
Price: Premium — comparable to Blum.
What Does Téchne Use?
At Téchne we use Hafele hardware — a German brand with excellent quality-price ratio, perfectly calibrated for wardrobes, closets and sideboards. Every piece of furniture comes with:
- Soft-close damped hinges (standard, no extra cost)
- Full-extension drawer slides
- 5-year warranty on the entire product
Hafele hardware offers durability and functionality at the right price.
Configure with premium hardware
Soft-Close: How It Works and Why It Matters
The soft-close mechanism (damped closing) is one of the most important innovations in furniture hardware. It works through a hydraulic damper integrated into the hinge or slide that brakes the movement of the door or drawer in the last 3-5 cm before closing.
Concrete benefits:
- Zero noise — doors and drawers close silently, without slamming. Essential in the bedroom, where a slammed wardrobe at 6 AM wakes the entire household
- Structure protection — repeated door slamming transmits shocks to joints, which over time weaken connectors. Damping eliminates these shocks
- Content protection — objects inside the wardrobe don't shift when doors slam, bottles and fragile items stay in place
- Increased durability — soft-close hinges have a lifespan of 80,000-200,000 open-close cycles. Without damping, lifespan decreases significantly
At Téchne, soft-close is standard on all hinges and slides — it's not an optional extra. We consider damping a necessity, not a luxury.
Drawer Slides: Technical Details
Drawer slides are the components that allow drawers to open and close smoothly. The differences between types are significant:
Partial Extension Slides
The drawer opens only 75% of its depth. The back section remains inaccessible. They're cheaper but frustrating in use — objects at the back of the drawer are hard to reach.
Full Extension Slides
The drawer opens 100%, providing complete access to contents. This type is standard at Téchne and at all quality manufacturers.
Technical specifications of Häfele slides used by Téchne:
- Load capacity: 40 kg — sufficient for drawers full of clothes, linens or heavy objects
- Extension: full (100%) — complete access to drawer contents
- Damping: integrated soft-close — silent closing from any position
- Life cycles: over 80,000 — equivalent to over 10 years of intensive use (20+ openings/day)
- Material: galvanized steel — resistant to corrosion and deformation
Hinge Types for Different Door Sizes
Not all hinges are the same. The size and weight of the door determines the type and number of hinges needed:
- Doors up to 60 cm height — 2 standard hinges (Häfele, 110° opening angle)
- Doors 60-100 cm — 2-3 hinges, depending on facade weight
- Doors 100-160 cm — 3-4 hinges. At this size, hinge quality becomes critical — cheap hinges deform under weight
- Doors over 160 cm — 4+ hinges. Heavy-duty hinges with increased capacity are recommended
Opening angles:
- 95° — standard opening, suitable for freestanding wardrobes
- 110° — most common, allows good access to the interior
- 155-170° — wide opening, necessary when the wardrobe is placed next to a side wall and the door needs to open fully
The Téchne configurator automatically selects the correct number and type of hinges based on the door dimensions you configure — you don't need to worry about these technical details. This automatic process eliminates the risk of error: you can't choose hinges or rails that are incompatible with the size or weight of the fronts.
What Hardware Téchne Includes as Standard (No Extra Cost)
Every piece of Téchne furniture comes with a complete Häfele hardware package, included in the price shown in the configurator:
- Häfele soft-close hinges — number and type automatically adapted to door dimensions
- Full-extension slides, 40 kg capacity — on all drawers
- Expanding-head minifix connectors — factory pre-assembled
- Wooden dowels — for alignment, pre-positioned
- Adjustable feet — for compensating floor unevenness (up to 2-3 cm)
- Eccentric key — the only tool needed for assembly
- Digital assembly diagrams — accessible on your phone, with zoom on every detail
There are no hidden costs: the price in the configurator is the final price, with all hardware included. Compare this with manufacturers who display a base price and then add 15-25% extra for "premium" hardware.