Choosing Handles for an Interior 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 material 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. 

Photo by Mat Reding on Unsplash

Fitting Door Handles And Locks

Fitting your door handles/locks is a fairly simple task for even beginners at DIY.

There are a few basic tools you’ll need in your kit:

Hammer

Chisel

Pencil

Drill

The only major steps are lining the latch plates up and then removing a section of the door for the plate to fit into, and securing it.

Here’s a step-by-step guide, with diagrams and a how-to-video to make it easier for you to follow. 

Fitting A Door Lock 

There are two main types of lock which you may come across when choosing you door locks, they are called Mortice locks and Yale locks. The difference between them is that a mortice lock you can open and shut without having to use a key, a Yale lock will require a key to be locked every time you use it.

A simple Yale lock should be sufficient for an internal door lock, the more complex the locks are – the harder it is to pick them which makes them perfect for external doors.

Here’s a guy who knows his stuff, showing you how to fit a Yale lock to an internal door… should you wish to use another door lock, we have articles about that here.

Brass and Chrome Door Handles 

Choosing your door handles can be as important as choosing the right internal doors. Plastic door handles might be cheap and cheerful but might cheapen the overall look of a room. Chrome or brass handles are cost effective but have a timeless appeal. Wrought iron handles would look beautiful in Victorian terraced properties, enhancing the other authentic features of the room – shopping for vintage handles should be great fun, and can be found at flea markets or in vintage shops.  

Chrome door handles will show up fingerprints like no other material – if you have kids, this might not be the right material to choose from, and if this is the door to kitchen then chrome not be suitable either – one messy cooking session will have the door handle looking grubby in no time.  

Black Door Handles  

If you want something that will look minimal and sleek, then consider getting a black door handle – if will require little polishing or cleaning as finger prints won't how up. Simple matte black styles are an interesting take on contemporary handles and wrought iron would suit a period property perfectly, adding a little theatre to the finish of a room.  

Novelty Door Handles  

For a children’s bedroom, you might want a novelty door handle, and with eBay and Amazon being so accessible, it's not hard to find novelty doors handles inspired by Disney or other popular children’s stories.

Bathroom Door Handles 

Bathroom door handles can be particularly tricky to find. You’ll need one that is easy to grip when wet, and a metal handle is always preferable over wood, as the wood might rot from the condensation. Choosing a simple handle that is easy to grip when you have wet hands shouldn’t be a problem if you visit any large, local hardware store.

 You might want to think about if you want a similar style door handle in every room – if you are happy with the consistency then it might be worth looking into getting a pack of handles to keep costs down.

If your house has a different interior design style in every room, then this might not work with the themes of your house.

There are so many options available to you, all you need to do is look around and you’ll soon find a style that suits you – creating a Pinterest board of style you like is always a good start! Happy door handle hunting!