Decorating
What's Your Door Knob and Handle Style?
No idea what knobs or handles to choose for your doors? Our guide will (hopefully) give you some closure on the subject
Although door knobs and handles are an essential architectural element in any home, they don’t always get the attention they deserve. I mean, when was the last time you stopped to admire the door hardware around your house? And for those who built or renovated their homes, I’m guessing you didn’t spend as much time choosing your door knobs or handles than, say, your colour scheme or light fittings, did you? I rest my case.
There are many things you must consider before setting out on a door-hardware shopping spree. While aesthetics will come into play, so too will your needs and living environment, as these factors will also influence the selection process. Below we guide you through 10 different types of knobs and handles that may just be the perfect door hardware match for your dwelling and lifestyle, as they go above and beyond their (obvious) practical purpose and are sure to enhance the functionality, durability, safety and security of your doors – and home – too.
There are many things you must consider before setting out on a door-hardware shopping spree. While aesthetics will come into play, so too will your needs and living environment, as these factors will also influence the selection process. Below we guide you through 10 different types of knobs and handles that may just be the perfect door hardware match for your dwelling and lifestyle, as they go above and beyond their (obvious) practical purpose and are sure to enhance the functionality, durability, safety and security of your doors – and home – too.
Weather ready. When choosing knobs or handles for exterior doors, it’s important to select designs that not only look good but are also made from materials that will withstand the elements. Otherwise you might just find that while your door hardware may make a strong first impression, they may not last all that long. Knobs and handles made from materials like aluminium, marine-grade stainless steel, chrome and powder-coated steel are ideal for use on exterior doors as they won’t rust or corrode and require minimal maintenance.
Easy to clean. After running around non-stop Monday to Friday, the last thing you want to do come the weekend is walk around your home and wipe a week’s worth of smudges, sticky fingerprints and grease off your polished door knobs and handles. Save yourself the hassle and forgo high-shine door hardware (think brass and chrome) and invest in brushed finish or matt powder-coated knobs and handles instead.
If you prefer the look of gleaming metallic hardware, just remember to have a soft cloth and wax polish or a stack of metal polishing wipes stashed away in your cleaning cupboard so you can make sure your knobs and handles sparkle and shine 24/7.
If you prefer the look of gleaming metallic hardware, just remember to have a soft cloth and wax polish or a stack of metal polishing wipes stashed away in your cleaning cupboard so you can make sure your knobs and handles sparkle and shine 24/7.
High tech. Who wouldn’t get a kick out of using a smart keyless door access system like the one pictured here? After all, these cutting-edge devices allow people to channel their inner spy every day of the week, as you have to scan your finger or tap in a passcode before the high-tech handle and locking mechanism allows you to enter your top-secret spy headquarters … sorry, home.
Novelty aside, it’s highly unlikely unwanted guests (that is, robbers) will be able to gain access to your home via your front door with one of these clever systems securing your dwelling. Unless, that is, they’re secret agents like James Bond or Ethan Hunt who override systems like these for a living … and happen to moonlight as burglars when they’re not off fighting bad guys and trying to save the world.
1Touch IQ2 keyless door lock and handle: Intelligent Biometric Controls
Novelty aside, it’s highly unlikely unwanted guests (that is, robbers) will be able to gain access to your home via your front door with one of these clever systems securing your dwelling. Unless, that is, they’re secret agents like James Bond or Ethan Hunt who override systems like these for a living … and happen to moonlight as burglars when they’re not off fighting bad guys and trying to save the world.
1Touch IQ2 keyless door lock and handle: Intelligent Biometric Controls
Family friendly. Kiddie-proof your doors by swapping handles with sharp, pointed edges with round knobs (like the delightful design pictured here) or gently curved levers. Doing so will give you peace of mind knowing your little ones are less likely to hurt themselves badly if they bump into a door while horsing around at home, compared to if they ran into less child-friendly handles that are angular and could cause more serious injuries.
Seamless and space-savvy. Slimline flush inset handles, like the one used in this bath zone, are an ideal hardware solution for cavity doors. Why? Because, unlike D- or bar-shaped designs, inset handles sit flush against the door, allowing the panel to slide fully into the recess. This leaves the doorway free and clear for you to walk through without any obstacles – such as a bulky, protruding handle or a chunk of sliding door – in your way. The minimalist handles help create a more clean and seamless look, too.
Ergonomic and easy to use. Does anyone in your household suffer from hand mobility issues? If so, rather than choosing round knobs for your doors (which users must tightly grip and twist their wrist to operate – manoeuvres that people with hand mobility issues may find difficult or painful), opt for lever handles instead, as they can be operated with ease by young and old, even those with limited strength and movement in their hands.
For extra user comfort, you might like to consider selecting lever handles that are contoured to suit the shape of the hand, such as the one pictured here, as they’re more comfortable and easier to grip.
For extra user comfort, you might like to consider selecting lever handles that are contoured to suit the shape of the hand, such as the one pictured here, as they’re more comfortable and easier to grip.
If your heart is set on using door knobs throughout your home, compromise by choosing oval or egg-shaped knobs, which offer additional grip and leverage compared to designs that are circular in shape.
Security first. If a fancy fingerprint-scanning entry access system isn’t really your thing, but you want hardware for your external door that offers better security than a basic lockable design, consider a knob or handle that’s attached to a backplate and comes equipped with a deadbolt (like the one pictured here), as it will offer extra peace of mind.
Germ free. If you’re a bit of a germaphobe or someone who simply wishes to create a healthier living environment at home, you might like to deck out your doors with knobs and handles made from copper (like the striking semicircle-shaped handle seen here) or brass, two metals that can kill and help stop the spread of superbugs and other dangerous bacteria, including E. coli and the flu virus.
Thanks to their antibacterial properties, brass and copper door knobs and handles are a great (and smart) addition to any area of the house, in particular the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms.
Privacy plus. The bedroom and bathroom are two areas in the home you can escape to when you need some peace, quiet and personal time. However, as I’m sure you can all relate, it’s all too easy for family members or housemates to disturb your downtime when there’s nothing stopping them from entering your sanctuary.
Installing privacy door knobs or handles in these rooms is one solution to the problem. As the name suggests, these knobs and handles boast one-way keyless locking mechanisms (either push or turn buttons) that can only be engaged from inside of the room. However, they usually also have an emergency release feature, which allows the door to be opened from the outside if necessary.
Oil-rubbed bronze door lever handle
Installing privacy door knobs or handles in these rooms is one solution to the problem. As the name suggests, these knobs and handles boast one-way keyless locking mechanisms (either push or turn buttons) that can only be engaged from inside of the room. However, they usually also have an emergency release feature, which allows the door to be opened from the outside if necessary.
Oil-rubbed bronze door lever handle
Eye-catching. People with vision problems can sometimes struggle to find and operate door knobs and handles, especially if the hardware blends in with the colour of their doors. Choosing bright, eye-catching door hardware, like the bold yellow handle to the left, is one way to make your home – and the rooms in it – more accessible and easier to navigate if you, someone else in your family or a frequent visitor suffers from a vision impairment. Selecting a design that’s oversized or boasts a unique shape will make your knobs and doors more visible, too.
TELL US
What types of door handles or knobs have you used in your home? Do you have any door hardware shopping hints that you’d like to share? We’d love to know, so tell us your thoughts and tips in the Comments.
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What types of door handles or knobs have you used in your home? Do you have any door hardware shopping hints that you’d like to share? We’d love to know, so tell us your thoughts and tips in the Comments.
MORE
Get a Grip On Handles and Knobs from Classy to Brassy
6 Factors to Consider When Choosing Handles for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Weekend DIY Project: How to Make an Ugly Interior Door Elegant