Decorating
10 Outrageously Stylish Door Fixings to Up Your Interiors Style
Knobs and handles may seem like a tiny detail, but you'll be surprised at their impact – let these inspire your choices
Replacing or revamping the doors in your home? Choosing show-stopping door knobs and handles like these will give your doors a bespoke look, your rooms an effortless style boost – and will make your hallways that much more interesting. The key to success? Be adventurous with your choices, but consistent with finishes and materials.
Choose glass knobs for glass doors
Glazed doors are all about glamour and reflecting light into a small or dark space – and you can enhance their effect with glass door knobs. Opt for clear globes of glass for a contemporary feel, or cut-glass door knobs for a vintage-style room or more traditional space.
Traditionally limited to doors upstairs, glass knobs can also be used to give downstairs rooms hotel-luxe appeal.
Glazed doors are all about glamour and reflecting light into a small or dark space – and you can enhance their effect with glass door knobs. Opt for clear globes of glass for a contemporary feel, or cut-glass door knobs for a vintage-style room or more traditional space.
Traditionally limited to doors upstairs, glass knobs can also be used to give downstairs rooms hotel-luxe appeal.
Opt for almost-not-there contemporary
If your room is highly modern and your doors have been designed to blend in rather than stand out, it makes sense to choose handles that are noticeable by their subtlety. Slim, contemporary designs in polished nickel or chrome are the perfect choice, but don’t be tempted to choose a design that’s too small for your door – proportion is everything when it comes to door handles, so experiment before you buy.
If your room is highly modern and your doors have been designed to blend in rather than stand out, it makes sense to choose handles that are noticeable by their subtlety. Slim, contemporary designs in polished nickel or chrome are the perfect choice, but don’t be tempted to choose a design that’s too small for your door – proportion is everything when it comes to door handles, so experiment before you buy.
Use natural materials to add texture
The trick to creating an interesting room is to layer different but complementing textures, colours and materials within a single space – and the same goes for doors and door furniture. So, how to compete with – or rather complement – a door made of beautifully grained wood? A woven leather door handle has to be at the top of any list of must-buys for it. Quietly stylish, this makes for an effect reminiscent of private clubs and upmarket hotels.
The trick to creating an interesting room is to layer different but complementing textures, colours and materials within a single space – and the same goes for doors and door furniture. So, how to compete with – or rather complement – a door made of beautifully grained wood? A woven leather door handle has to be at the top of any list of must-buys for it. Quietly stylish, this makes for an effect reminiscent of private clubs and upmarket hotels.
Go industrial
Kitchens, walk-in larders, utility spaces and home offices typically suit heavy iron handles that might have once been on factory or school doors – and they’re perfect for hefting a sliding door open and closed.
Want to keep the balance between homely and industrial? Painting the door in a soft pastel colour – rather than a neutral or monochromatic tone – will do the trick.
Kitchens, walk-in larders, utility spaces and home offices typically suit heavy iron handles that might have once been on factory or school doors – and they’re perfect for hefting a sliding door open and closed.
Want to keep the balance between homely and industrial? Painting the door in a soft pastel colour – rather than a neutral or monochromatic tone – will do the trick.
Match your door knobs and hinges
It’s easy to overlook this detail – but if you make a point of buying your hinges at the same time as you hunt down your door knobs or handles, you’ll not only enhance the effect your new fittings have on your doors, you’ll also give your home that expensive, well-coordinated, interior-designed finish that’s so easy to achieve with a little planning. Show them off with crisp-white paintwork for timeless appeal.
It’s easy to overlook this detail – but if you make a point of buying your hinges at the same time as you hunt down your door knobs or handles, you’ll not only enhance the effect your new fittings have on your doors, you’ll also give your home that expensive, well-coordinated, interior-designed finish that’s so easy to achieve with a little planning. Show them off with crisp-white paintwork for timeless appeal.
Exaggerate the size of the door handles
Whether you’re simply revamping plain doors or replacing old ones with contemporary models, adding supersized door handles is a simple way to inject bags of style.
These were made by a joiner and their success is down to the contrast of the woodgrain with the rich blue paintwork – and the fact that they are delicately slim, despite their length.
Whether you’re simply revamping plain doors or replacing old ones with contemporary models, adding supersized door handles is a simple way to inject bags of style.
These were made by a joiner and their success is down to the contrast of the woodgrain with the rich blue paintwork – and the fact that they are delicately slim, despite their length.
Try to be complementary
Kitchens present a particular challenge for door knob shoppers, as they tend to be rooms that are already highly populated with knobs and handles. So, how to get it right? The best route is to be consistent. Choose a door knob or handle in either a material, a style, a finish or a shape that complements or matches those on your cabinetry. Heading down the coordinated route? Apply the same rule to all ironmongery in the room.
Budget Decorator: Small details to give your kitchen a design edge
Kitchens present a particular challenge for door knob shoppers, as they tend to be rooms that are already highly populated with knobs and handles. So, how to get it right? The best route is to be consistent. Choose a door knob or handle in either a material, a style, a finish or a shape that complements or matches those on your cabinetry. Heading down the coordinated route? Apply the same rule to all ironmongery in the room.
Budget Decorator: Small details to give your kitchen a design edge
Be practical with pocket doors
The beauty of pocket doors is that they can be stashed away into the wall – the downside is that if you choose the wrong door handles for them, you’ll spoil the effect. So, take care to find flush or recessed handles that won’t stop the progress of the doors. These types of handles needn’t be limited to pocket doors – they’re great for contemporary but small rooms or hallways, too, as they’re unobtrusive and space-enhancing.
The beauty of pocket doors is that they can be stashed away into the wall – the downside is that if you choose the wrong door handles for them, you’ll spoil the effect. So, take care to find flush or recessed handles that won’t stop the progress of the doors. These types of handles needn’t be limited to pocket doors – they’re great for contemporary but small rooms or hallways, too, as they’re unobtrusive and space-enhancing.
Shop for character and presence
Trawling antique markets and car-boot fairs is well worth the trouble if you find interesting door knobs for your rooms. In the likely event that you are unable to source an entire set of matching vintage knobs or handles, why not choose a series of one-offs for added interest? Picking knobs with similar proportions and in the same material will give continuity, while painting the doors in a bright shade will highlight your eclectic choices.
Which door knobs and handles in your home are you happiest with and why? Share your choices and tips in the Comments section.
Trawling antique markets and car-boot fairs is well worth the trouble if you find interesting door knobs for your rooms. In the likely event that you are unable to source an entire set of matching vintage knobs or handles, why not choose a series of one-offs for added interest? Picking knobs with similar proportions and in the same material will give continuity, while painting the doors in a bright shade will highlight your eclectic choices.
Which door knobs and handles in your home are you happiest with and why? Share your choices and tips in the Comments section.
In a vintage-style room, don’t shy away from using door knobs or fittings traditionally fixed on exterior doors. This rim lock door fitting could well have graced your grandma’s back door, but will look fabulous on a kitchen, utility or home office door, particularly if it’s part-glazed. Why part-glazed? Because the delicate appearance of the glazed upper panels will balance the chunkiness of a weighty-looking door knob.
Decorating: Interesting internal windows and gorgeous glazed doors