The hardware we select for our homes will act as the finishing touches to both the interior design and wider ambience. From increasing the value of your property to simply updating the internal aesthetics, it always pays to do your research before making a purchase – especially when searching for the best door handles. 

Countless homeowners, builders, and designers alike consider knobs to be the best door handles available on the market. Both highly functional and available in various styles and finishes, they match seamlessly with other forms of hardware in your home, such as on your cabinets and drawers. Moreover, oval-shaped knobs can even promote a better grip, assisting those with compromised wrist strength to make their way through the property. 

With the vast selection of traditional and modern door knobs available across Australia, however, it can be challenging to determine which option is right for your property. 

To help make your choice, our specialists at Paddington Hardware have compiled the ultimate guide to purchasing a quality door knob.

Decide on Your Preferred Style

Whether you’re designing your own home or renovating an existing property, be sure to ascertain your overall interior style and theme. This will flow throughout the entire property, right down into the design of each room and even the type of door you have chosen. 

For example, if your home embraces contemporary designs, the best door handles will be those with cleaner lines and minimalist ornamentation. On the other hand, if you’re searching for door knobs in Australia that can complement a more traditional design, such as Victorian, Colonial or Mid Century Modern, you may wish to opt for ornate, angular options.

Decide whether you would like to promote consistency throughout your home, or differentiate to create statement features.

Introduce Matching Finishes 

A pivotal addition to style is the type of finish for your door knobs, especially when attempting to create a cohesive aesthetic across your home. For example, if you have existing hinges on the door itself – say, satin nickel – selecting doorknobs of the same finish will avoid a jarring contrast and provide a complementary effect.

Popular finishes for door knobs across Australia include:

• Antique Brass
• Polished Brass
• Satin Brass
• Unlacquered Brass
• Stainless Steel
• Satin Chrome
• Polished Chrome
• Matt Black
• Polish Nickel
• Satin Nickel
• Graphite Nickel
• Antique Copper
• And more
  

Be careful when selecting through various brands or manufacturers, particularly when finding the best internal door knobs to match your cabinet handles and other hardware. Differences are bound to occur, after all, so perform adequate research and comparisons on all chosen options prior to purchasing.

Enable Suitable Door Function

Now that you have your preferred style and finishes, think about the door's function, and the best door handles to enable it. Will you need a door knob with a lock, for example, or merely a simple design to continue an aesthetic?

Common door knob types include:

• Entry Sets: A door knob with a lock and key function, typically for front doors 
• Passage Sets: A door knob without a lock
• Privacy Door Knobs: Internal door knobs with an integrated or separate locking function
• Dummy Sets: Fixed door knobs that do not hold a latch, often used for decorative purposes or for storage areas

Take your hallway and closet doors; there will likely be a higher level of foot traffic than the rest of your property, and as such, you will benefit from a non-locking passage knob. 

For bedrooms and bathrooms, on the other hand, occupants will want to control their level of privacy, offered to them by internal door knobs with a helpful lock mechanism. 

Prepare for Installation & Ongoing Maintenance

Not everyone has the same skill sets in the realm of home maintenance. Whilst most door knobs may prove simple to install, others holding more sophisticated technology or designs will require professional attention, potentially adding further costs to your budget.

The same consideration should be made for ongoing care & maintenance. With finishes like matt black – although incredibly elegant – even the slightest smudges and chips can detract from the desired sleekness, demanding the proper attention once introduced into your home. Other finishes, such as unlacquered brass, thrive over time, with natural oxidization pairing with water and oil exposure to transform the patina into a unique, rustic aesthetic.

When you know how best to care for your door knobs in Australia, you ensure they continue to look and perform their best.

Contact Our Experts at Paddington Hardware for More Information on Our Door Knobs in Australia

Now that you have a comprehensive starting point on what to look for, browse our online selection of high-quality door knobs available across Australia today. If you would like to learn more about our range or have any questions on the right style or finish for your property, please contact us at Paddington Hardware today.