8 Types of Door Knobs and How to Style Them In Your Home

Door knobs are key players in the aesthetic, ambience, security, safety and functionality of your home. Just like fixtures, with door knobs and handles, there's a lot to choose from, and you don't want to pick the wrong ones.

For instance, do you know when you might need a privacy door knob (one with a locking mechanism) or a passage door knob?

These are just two doorknobs out of many; you need to know the difference and decide.

Not forgetting the shape, size, style, material, function and design either! Learn about the different types of door knobs, functions and how to select the right ones for your home with us today.

Types of Door Knobs

Internal doors and exterior doors often require different types of door knobs. To know the differences and how to decide on the best ones for your home, let's explore the common types of door knobs:

Privacy Door Knobs

Privacy knobs are precisely what they say they are; they're a door knob that helps you maintain your privacy. They have a locking mechanism inside the door. Often, the lock is secure via a button that's pushed, a key or a lever. In the case of an emergency, these door knobs can be unlocked from the outside with a thin key or stick.

Best used for: Bedroom doors, bathroom doors and home offices.

Passage Door Knobs

Passage door knobs are the opposite of privacy door knobs; they don't have an internal locking mechanism. Often these knobs open and close on their own with just a simple turn of the knob or pull on the lever.

Best used for: Areas that don't require a lock, such as a hallway, closet or even children's bedroom.

Keyed Entry Door Knobs

Keyed entry door knobs provide the option of privacy or not, depending on your preference. These door knobs have a handle which contains a lock which a key is needed to help unlock the door.

Best used for: Exterior doors such as garage, basement door, front door and backdoor.

Dummy Door knobs

Dummy door knobs are also known as "fake knobs". They're a door knob, but they don't really work. Often, they come in two styles, either single or double. In basic sense, a single is only a knob mounted on one side of the door, whereas a dummy contains a matching set attached on either side.

To help decide if they're useful, you can think of them being installed on doors that require someone not to enter, only access something. If you are looking for a door knob for your closet or pantry, as a second alternative, you might need to have a magnetic catch or ball catch at the top to help keep the door secure.

Best used for: Wardrobe doors, pantry doors and cupboard doors.

Door handlesets

This is a type of hardware that has a handle and locking mechanism, often a keyed lock. Sometimes, for extra security, a deadbolt is added to help protect your home.

Best used for: Your home's front, back, and side doors, helping secure entrances and enhancing the visual aesthetic.

Rolling Door Hardware

Technically rolling door hardware does not fit within the common types of door knobs category, but we thought we should highlight it anyways. Rolling door hardware is a piece of hardware which helps replace interior doors.They are designed and manufactured specifically to be placed on the top frame of a door, providing a sliding or folding movement.

Best used for: Compact spaces such as closets, barn doors, sliding doors and commercial spaces.

Door levers

Door levers are a way to add flair to your doors; they're a handle instead of a round knob. There's a range of different door levers you can choose from: straight, round, wave, scroll and a lot more. They're typically paired with a lock and latch mechanism.

Best used for: Bedrooms, bathrooms, closets and office spaces.

Smart door knobs

This type of door knob is modern and integrates technology to gain access to a home or room. The technology used in smart door knobs can vary depending on the style. A lot are keyless that involve fingerprint recognition, keyfobs, facial recognition, personalised codes generated from a mobile application and more.

Smart door knobs add an extra layer of security and often have a deadbolt. Due to the technology involved, electronic door knobs often require professional installation.

Best used for: Front doors, back doors, side doors, garage entry doors, commercial properties such as hotel rooms, short-term rentals and more.

Styling Door Knobs in Your Home

Just like door knobs, fixtures enhance functionality and add to the ambiance of your home. To maintain a consistent vibe, think about the finish of the doorknob, style, color, theme, and, whenever possible, the proportions.

Finish

Depending on the room you want to install your door knob in, consider the finishes of your lighting fixtures.

Note: Ideally, try to complement the finish of the fixture with a similar door knob finish. This helps tie in the elements, creating a uniform and well-balanced look.

Living room

For instance, a living room pendant light like Jewels & Pearls has a brushed gold finish which could work well with a brushed gold door knob creating a cohesive aesthetic.

Kitchen

Nowadays, one of the most popular trends for kitchens is installing contemporary lighting fixtures. Some of the best kitchen fixtures are minimalistic and sleek fixtures that focus on the kitchen's functionality.

For example: Sylas is a modern pendant perfect for being hung above a dining table or kitchen island.

To match with the black ash finish of Sylas, a modern door handle with a minimalist design and a matte black finish, would work well.

Bathroom

Most of the time, bathroom fixtures tend to either be wall-mounted or installed as downlights for functional and safety measures. If you have wall-mounted lights in your bathroom like Emma Sconce, which has a brushed gold finish, then opt for privacy door knobs with brushed gold, or ones that have warm metals such as bronze or brass.

Style

Take into account the theme and style of your lighting fixtures before choosing your door knobs. If you have outdoor lights like Haylen that are modern and have a black metal finish, you might want to opt for a smart door knob that helps you look stylish and up to date.

Whereas if your hallway or lounge has a rustic or retro theme, brass dummy door knobs work well and add warmth to your aesthetic. Moreover, living door rooms or dining areas with Mid-Century fixtures may be complemented by functional door levers with a brushed gold or black finish balancing the ambiance.

Contrast

You don't always have to opt for a cohesive look when looking to align your door knobs with fixtures; creating a contrast also adds visual depth.

Living room

For instance, if you have a modern chandelier in your living room like Charlotte that has a brushed gold finish, than a matte black door knob might provide a bold contrast.

Bathroom

Add visual interest to your bathroom doors by contrasting door knobs to your fixtures. If your bathroom fixtures have a chrome or brushed gold finish, often matte black or nickel-coated door knobs can provide a contrasting look.

Kitchen

If your kitchen has modern pendant fixtures like Diana with a crystal finish, you might want to opt for graphite nickel finished door knobs. These gunmetal black door knobs provide a contemporary and sophisticated contrast to your doors.

Other considerations when selecting a door knob

In addition to fixtures and other furnishings in your home, there are some factors that you should take into consideration, such as:

Door thickness

Before buying a doorknob, you’ll want to accurately measure the thickness of your door. Measurements are crucial for the doorknob to fit right on the edge and function properly. Most of the time, doorknobs are designed to fit doors with a standard thickness, with interiors 1.3 inches thick and exertion 1.9inches thick. If the door is not of an average thickness length, then you will most likely need to buy special hardware.

Bore hole diameter

To ensure you get the right-sized door knob, you should ensure the diameter of the borehole (the area where the door knob is going to be mounted) is the right size. On average, a standard-sized bore hole is 2 1/8 inches in diameter.

Backset

Another factor to consider is the backset, the space between your door’s edge and the borehole. The recommended space should be between 2 3/8 and 2 ¾ inches on average.

Bolt Style (Square vs corner)

When choosing a doorknob, think about the bolt style, whether it is rounded/corner or square. Square bolts provide more of a traditional aesthetic, blending in with many types of interiors, though they require a precise cut for installation. Meanwhile, rounded designs are easier to install but more rigid when blending in with other types of designs.

Final thoughts

Overall, door knobs and handles are essential interior furnishings that cannot be overlooked. Just like lighting fixtures, there’s a range of styles to choose from, from privacy door knobs, passage, keyed entry, dummy, smart door knobs, and more!

To truly select the best door knob, you have to think about the existing ambiance of your room, style of lighting fixtures, door thickness, borehole, bolt style, backset, and a lot more. Once you’ve decided on your doorknob, think about the installation.

Some door knobs can be DIY projects where you need a screw and wrench, whereas others might be a bit more complex and might require a professional.

On the contrary, if you’re furnishing your home for the first time. Why don’t you browse our fixtures first and then select doorknobs after?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a dummy knob and a passage knob?

Dummy knobs are just a decorative door knob that is not functional. They’re typically used on closet doors, pantry doors, and areas that only need access. Whereas a passage knob has locks and is more suitable for interior doors.

What are the three types of door handles?

When it comes to door handles, there are a lot of different types; out of them all, there are three main common ones: door knobs, lever handles, and pull handles. In short, door knobs are round handles that you use to open and close your door. On the other hand, lever handles are horizontal handles that you pull down to open the door. Pull handles are more like draw handles where you grip and pull a door open, so they’re more suited for draws.

Do all my door knobs need to match?

No, not all of your door knobs need to match. While you can match them to the same style as your interior or fixtures for a cohesive look, there’s no fixed rule. In fact, if you want, you can try mixing styles to add visual interest and quirkiness.