Do you often look around a room in your home and think to yourself that although the room looks pretty, something is still missing? Or have you ever wondered what you can do to add some spark to an old room? Maybe the time has come for you to consider new doorknobs for your cupboards, drawers and doors. Doorknobs may seem unimportant when one redecorates or even have new cupboards installed, but it is actually a very important factor and actually completes a room and compliments the décor theme and look that was created. By choosing the perfect doorknob, you could create a lasting effect in your home.
How does one choose the perfect doorknob?
It is not as easy as it might seem, because there are many different styles and sizes to choose from. Keep the following general tips in mind when shopping for the perfect the doorknob:
- Don’t just settle for the first and best doorknob you can find – shop around and do your homework. This way you won’t end up paying a fortune for something that will not be suitable for what you had in mind.
- Decide on what the function of the knob / handle will be. If it is only going to be decorative you can get away with buying anything that looks pretty – but if it is going to be used on a daily basis you will have to invest in a more expensive and durable product.
- Stick to the look and feel of the room. If your child’s room is decorated in a butterfly-theme, try to choose door and cupboard handles that will compliment this theme – as there are many decorative options available.
- Decide what the function of your doorknob is going to be. If you are opting for a warm and cosy look and feel, a wooden knob could be ideal. If hygiene is what you are aiming for, you will have to choose a metal door handle.
- Take the furniture and other décor items in a specific room into consideration when choosing doorknobs. A bronzed doorknob will not compliment a modern room with a metal finish and coloured doorknob will not match a black-and-white-theme.
- When you decide to replace existing doorknobs ensure that the new knob will fit over the marks made by the previous knob. It is also wise to choose something that requires more or less the same kind of fitting or hole centre size.
We decided to ask some expert companies their advice / tips when it comes to choosing the perfect doorknob for a certain area.
Roco Fittings (a member of the KSA) says:
“Simply changing the handles on your kitchen cupboard doors can instantly give your kitchen a face-lift but you must remember that the governing factor in your choice of new handle will be the distance between the screw hole centres. Handles are generally manufactured in standard sizes. As you look for new handles you will find that you can probably only have a certain type of handle. Stainless Steel Bar Handles offer the widest range of hole centres. The market is also offering a range of Mild Steel Bar Handles that look identical to the range of Stainless Steel Bar Handles. Be aware that the quality of theses two product ranges is very different.
- The first few things you need to think about when choosing a cupboard door handle are the style and look of the home, the style, design, look and finish of the cupboard and room and the practicality of the grip. You can mix and match handles but be careful and get samples to test first.
- If you are choosing a handle for a bathroom cabinet that is modern remember not to over power the unit as these units tend to be very simple and do not need too much embellishment. Always remember to use a handle that has a good grip so that it is easy to open and close
- When choosing a handle for bedroom cupboards make sure the handle is the right size and proportion as bedroom cupboard doors are bigger and longer. You can mix and match by using a longer handle on the doors and, if you have drawers, either the same handle or the complimentary knob depending on the width of the drawer.”
Raiël (a member of the KSA) answered the following questions...
Q: Which door knobs / handles are best suited for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and why?
A: “Most of our handles are suited for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, depending on the theme.”
Q: How do you go about choosing a door knob / handle to suit the style of a specific room?
A: “The best way would be to visit Suppliers' showrooms and select at least 5 handles/knobs that may suit the style of a room. Attach, these handles to the doors with presstick and make your final selection. Most Suppliers will be prepared to take the handles that you don’t use back for credit.”
Q: In your opinion, which style door knob is the most practical and why?
A: “Aluminium natural anodised handles are easy to clean, scratch-resistant and do not tarnish at the coast.”
Q: What can we expect to see, with regards to door knobs, in the future?
A: “Longer handles will replace bar handles in stainless steel and antique brass finishes.”
Q: What should readers keep in mind when selecting a door knob?
A: “Brass and zinc plated handles may start to tarnish after 3 to 5 years at the coast. Be aware of imitation stainless steel handles, if you live at the coast ask for 304 grade stainless steel. Aluminium handles - natural anodised or nickel plated can also be a good option.”
Tip: If you are looking for a drawer that can open easily, no matter how heavy the load, opt for a Blum pull-out system from Eclipse.
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