How to Choose Handles for an Internal Door

Choosing the handles to finish off your internal doors can be a fun and creative process. If you're looking to spruce up your doors and don't have the budget, time or inclination to replace all of the doors in your house, then just starting with the handles can provide a similar rejuvenation. At first, it might seem like a simple exercise, but once you start looking around you'll realize that there are hundreds upon hundreds of styles and materials to choose from. 

You'll want to find some handles that not only match the door but match the décor of the room. You'll also need to make sure that they will fit your door properly. 

This post will cover all the things you'll need to know in order to help you find the right handles for your internal doors. We'll look at door furniture materials, styles, and answer a couple of questions that you might wonder about finding door handles that work for you.

First off, we'll start with the basics and look at the main types of internal door handle.

What are the different types of door handles?

Most interior door handles fall into one of two categories. They are either lever handles or door knobs. Within these categories, there are other differences and distinctions, usually around appearance.

Lever Handles

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When you picture a door handle, chances are you picture a standard lever handle. This type of handle has a backplate, with an arm (or lever) that is used to work the mechanism inside to open or close a door.

If the panel that holds the lever extends out, far above or below the lever, this is called a backplate. Lever on backplates have fallen out of fashion in modern homes, though a sleek chrome or brass one can still

If the lever is attached to a small round or square plate, then this is called a 'lever on rose' handle. These give the door handles a much less pronounced appearance, making them perfect for modern interiors.

One of the biggest benefits of lever handles is that they do not need much force to use. This makes them a great choice for high traffic areas.

Door Knobs

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Door knobs are the traditional round handle that dates back to Victorian interiors. They come in a range of shapes, colours and designs but are most commonly thought of as brass.

As well as the standard round shape, doorknobs can be slightly squatter (a mushroom-shaped door knob), flat-topped (also known as tulip shaped) or more of an oblong shape (rim door knob).

Door knobs have classic good looks, making them perfect for a period home's interior doors. They are often stiffer and less user-friendly than a lever and the turning mechanism can be tough on weak wrists. In particular, perfectly round handles can be difficult to grasp, though an oval shape can be easier. You can also get tulip door knobs with textured patterns and groves which help establish a better grip.

What is the best material for a door handle?

Choosing your door handles can be as important as choosing the right internal doors. Plastic door handles might be cheap and cheerful but they will pull down the overall look of a room. They will usually have a much shorter life span which is why metals make a much smarter option.

Still, narrowing it down to the metal, in general, is not enough, so here are a few specific details to help you pick exactly which metal you want.

Nickel and Chrome Door Handles

Perhaps the most flexible of door handle materials are nickel and chrome door handles.

These sleek silver finishes are very popular as they carry all the strength and usability benefits of stainless steel but have a warmer tone. They come can come with a matt, brushed appearance or a bright, shiny one.

The colour and finish of these handles mean they can slip seamlessly into ultra-modern homes or more traditional interiors. You can get most types of style and shape in these popular materials, including round knobs and longer levers which further increase their flexibility.

The main drawback of these handles is that they can show up fingerprints like no other material. They're not great for use in homes with young children with sticky fingers, and you want to avoid using them on kitchen doors too - one messy cooking session will have the door handle looking grubby in no time. 

Black

With a matt finish black handle you won't have to worry about things like sticky fingers or food-stained hands. The finish/colour combine to give a much more forgiving surface, which is easy to wipe down. The finish is also impressively robust.

When it comes to minimalist or contemporary interiors, a set of black handles often make the perfect partner to a modern internal door. A matt black lever handle looks particularly striking against the large glass panels of bifold doors.

If you're looking for finishing touches to suit older properties, black can also be the period authentic option. The Victorian period in particular featured a lot of black door furniture including rim locks, latches, handles and hinges.

Brass or bronze

Another period perfect option is a brass handle. Brass has similar strength and functionality as stainless steel or chrome, but there are a few distinct differences it is worth nothing.

Brass is a more reactive metal. It will dull or change colour with age. Still, aged brass/bronze is actually a firm favourite colour choice for many, meaning this isn't always a drawback. However, if having an easy-clean handle is an important factor for you, then another material might be better suited.

How Do I choose a door handle?

Knowing the different handle options available should help you on your search to find the right one for your home. However, specifically choosing between the styles might still seem overwhelming.

Here are a few questions that are frequently by people trying to decide which handle they should pick.

Are door handles universal?

Unfortunately not. There is no standard or universal size for door knobs.

This won't be an issue if you are installing a handle on a brand new internal door. As you will be creating the borehole to hold the handle from scratch you have almost complete freedom in picking a handle, regardless of size or style. If you have a particularly thin door (thinner than the standard sized doors which are around 35mm) or a particularly thick door, you may well need to check the measurements for your handle. The same goes for doors with a narrow stile, most common in glazed doors with large glazing panels. Other than, though this you can be flexible with your choice.

If you are sprucing up your doors by replacing an existing handle, however, you will need to pay more attention to the size. Things like backstop size (the length of the latch) and position will be important. As will the size of your existing borehole.

Should all interior door handles match?

Absolutely not. Internal door handles can be used as small but significant design details in any room, so allow yourself the freedom to mix them up to suit the room rather than other doors.

Of course, it can be nice to have some cohesion. Pick perhaps a colour, or a basic style to keep consistent and this will help the flow of your whole-house design feel complete. For example, if you're building a modern, minimalist look through your house, you could choose to the clean simplicity of chrome lever handles to tie your interiors together.

However, you could still vary across individual doors. You could pick a matt chrome and sweeping handle shape for your carefully curated living room, while sticking to a more straightforward round lever handle for your functional bathroom.

If you're look for more symmetry across your hallway, it can easier to have matching handles on all your rooms. But you can still pick out slightly different designs to give yourself some variety.

What door handles are in style?

If you're looking to keep your home looking bang on trend, you might ask are brass door handles in style or is chrome door furniture more fashionable.

There are plenty of reasons not to let your interior decor be dictated by fashion. However, sometimes current trends can help you choose between different styles of handle that have similar practical benefits.

We are currently fans of matt black door handles. As well the practical benefits, we find they sit so well with the industrial trend that is very fashionable now. They are eye-catching, but sleek and help create a feature for your internal doors.

Are brass door handles in fashion?

One type of door handle seems to stick out to people as being unfashionable. This is brass. Perhaps because they are more distinctive than standard chrome. Still, there will always be a place for these door handles.

In terms of brass and bronze door furniture, this colour will have eternal appeal. They are perfect for period properties and usually the most authentic choice possible. Their beauty often grows with age, and they suit vintage or rustic interiors wonderfully.

What Door Handle Is Best For A Bathroom?

Bathroom door handles can be particularly tricky to find. You’ll need one that is easy to grip with wet hands. This makes a lever-type handle a great choice, as it will be hard for your hand to slip off.

Unlike other rooms, bathrooms will also require locks or latches to be fitted to maintain privacy. With internal doors, you don't need to worry about anything as complicated as multipoint or yale locks. A simple tumb turn lock is far more suitable as it is easier to fit, easier to use and a lot cheaper.

Many of our handles are available as privacy latch packs that feature a simple thumb turn lock. These are built in to the body of the handle for ease of installation.

Do interior door handles and hinges need to match?

While it is often unnecessary to match your handles across your rooms, it is usually a good idea to keep consistency across the door furniture on each internal door.

This won't effect whether you choose silver, brass or black door hardware in the first place but once you have picked a colour it is usually best to stick with it for that door atleast.

What is the best internal door handle?

It's impossible to name a catch-all example of an internal door handle that would suit everybody. When it comes to choosing door handles, it is often a case of individual taste, as well the general look of your home interior design aesthetics. You may want a period authentic choice to match a gloss white 4 Panel door, or you could prefer to finish your engineered oak veneered door with contemporary handles, something sleek and silver to provide a point of contrast.

We can't tell you which handle will best suit your internal doors, but we can offer you a wide range of door furniture to choose from, all at an exceptional value. Check out our range of internal door handles today!