Good rule of thumb for hinges?

[demandypants]

Even with the difference in cabinet size, I would stick with a constant so many inches from the top/bottom. Our last house had visible hinges and that was how they were laid out. Some were just closer together because they were on smaller doors. i cant think of any other way to make them look cohesive besides that.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'm with demandypants on this one. Every cabinet in our house is the same measurement (from the top and bottom) on the hinges, despite being of varying heights. I don't know that there's a better way to do it at all.

My favorite rule of thumb for hinges is to place the hinge flush with the bottom/top of the door, mark the top/bottom of the hinge, then scoot the hinge up/down until the bottom/top of the hinge is at the mark - which direction you go is obviously dependent upon whether it's the top of bottom of the door. I hope that explanation makes sense.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Just a note, the farther in from the top/bottom of the door, the more stress you put on the hinge, especially if it's a wider door. I actually like the visual of hinges placed very close to the top/bottom, too, so I may be slightly biased.

Also, be sure that whatever option you go with doesn't interfere with any shelves inside the cabinets. The hinges on some of our uppers limit the shelf placement and I hate it, because the shelves really *need* to go exactly where they can't.