How To Choose The Right Door Handles

If you thought that choosing new door handles was a simple task, then you have obviously never spent much time looking around at them!.

There are literally hundreds of designs and colours to consider and it is all too easy to gone home with the wrong type of handle altogether….

After all, a good door handle is not all about looks alone; there is also practicality, quality and functionality to be aware of.

Here is a brief guide which will help you to find the most suitable handles for your doors –

Which is the most practical material to have? This will all depend on which room you are purchasing your handles for. You will find designs in brass, acrylic, glass, wood, aluminium, porcelain, wrought iron, chrome and stainless steel (and that is naming but a few!).

Most modern door handles will be practical enough, but some will be better suited to certain rooms than others.

For instance –

• Acrylic handles are an excellent choice for children’s rooms because they are so easy to keep clean.

• Glass looks great in a bathroom, but it will constantly steam-up. This doesn’t mean that is should be avoided, but it is worth mentioning…

• Porcelain handles will add to the femininity of the decor in a girl’s bedroom. And many porcelain handles will feature delicate floral designs.

How can you settle on a particular style?When you realise just how many styles there are, purchasing door handlesfor your home really can become a little daunting!. But there are a few ways to narrow down your options…

Door knob or door lever?

The basic styling of your door handles will be tied-up with aesthetics, but there are also a few important practicalities to consider; such as –

Will any of your visitors struggle to operate door knobs?. If they are elderly or if they have arthritis in their hands, then levers may be a far better idea…

Are door levers going to jut out too far in your room?. For instance, they may not be the best choice for a pantry or cloakroom door.

Which style of backplate?

If you are looking for a handle with a backplate, then which will be the best shape?. A backplate may be situated at the rear of the handle for a purpose, but it should also be pleasing to the eye. You will need to choose from a wide variety of shapes and sizes; patterned, plain, round or square.

What type of handle will be most in keeping with your home?You will need to think about the overall style of a room before you fit new handles to its door. For example, if you are buying handles for a traditional country kitchen, then contemporary brushed steel ones will not be the ideal choice…

Stand inside your room and look across at the door. What will be the best type of material to choose?. And what type of style will be most in keeping with your room?

Most modern bathrooms will look great with chrome handles, whilst wooden handles are will blend in really well with more traditional decor.