How Do I Know What Door Handle to Buy? 

Often, little thought is being put into what door handle to buy. It’s such a small detail compared to the colour of house paint or the new layout of the kitchen being remodelled. These huge details often get the most attention in home improvement. 

Choosing what door handle to buy 

However, a door handle can still affect the overall appeal and functionality of a home or room. Although a small detail, the wrong choice of a door handle can cause discomfort or even cause someone to feel that there’s something inconsistent with the design of the room or home. 

For example, if your home has a rustic theme, a traditional door knob might be more appropriate than a lever-type door handle. For some, a lever-type handle demonstrates modernity and that a traditional round knob speaks more of age and tradition. 

When it comes to lever-type handles, their design and construction also has an impact on the door and the space they’re in. For instance, door handles with a curved design can emit a more playful or youthful vibe (which can be appropriate for doors in children’s rooms). In contrast, door handles with a straight and plain design can emit a firm and professional appeal. As a result, this can be a common choice in offices (as well as homes of professionals, investors and entrepreneurs). 

Aside from the design, it’s also good to think about functionality and safety. For example, door handles (whether curved or straight) are much easier to operate compared to knobs. People with disability or dexterity problems (e.g. issues with grasping and turning their hands or wrists) can find it more convenient to use a door handle. In contrast, a door knob can be hard to turn and they might struggle opening the door. 

On the other hand, pets can easily jump up and possibly turn the handle for the door to open. With a door knob though, they can’t easily turn it and cause the door to open. If you have a cat or dog in your home, it’s good to think about how they can possibly cause the door to open (which can expose your pets to danger outside). 

Those are just some of the things to think about when choosing a door handle (or whether you’ll go for the handle or knob). It’s always good to think about this tiny detail as this can affect the appeal, safety and functionality of a home or room. 

Here’s a quick summary of what we talked about. 

Choosing a door handle (or knob) often depends on the following: 

• The overall design of your room or home 
• How the occupants can or will use the door (e.g. humans with dexterity problems find it easier to operate a door handle; pets can find it easy to open a door with a handle and find it hard with a knob)