Door knobs are round objects attached to the door to provide a mechanism to open, close and lock the door. Door knobs can be used to contain privacy or can just be used as ornaments to add flair to the room. Nowadays, homeowners have numerous options when it comes to the design and the material that a door knob is made of, while considerations include the location of the door and the purpose that the door knob will serve.

Types of Door Knobs 

If you are renovating your old home or need the replace the old door with a new one, you also the opportunity to choose a new door knob. Door knobs come in four different types, namely: dummy, keyed, privacy and passage door knobs. Let us look at their characteristics one by one.

Dummy door knobs – are used to decorate rather than to truly function as a real door knob. Dummy door knobs are generally installed at places where side-by-side doors are located, such as the kitchen cupboard. These door knobs provide the means for the door to be opened or closed, but they do not latch, turn or lock as real door knobs do.

Keyed door knobs – are used to provide security to the area that they enclose. Ideally used for exterior doors, keyed door knobs are opened and closed both from the outside and the inside and can be opened with the use of matching keys.

Privacy door knobs – can only be closed and locked from the inside. Privacy door knobs are usually used to provide privacy to the area that they enclose, particularly bedrooms, bathrooms, private offices and other parts of the home where privacy is required.

Passage door knobs – are often installed in places where privacy is not necessary like the playroom, the children’s room and the entertainment room. Passage door knobs can turn but and latch, but they do not lock nor do they require keys.

How to Choose Door Knobs

Choosing a door knob may seem like a trivial matter, but it makes a lot of difference to use the appropriate door knob at the right places and for the right purposes. Here’s a short guide in choosing door knobs:

• Location – it is important to know what door knob goes to which door. The bedroom needs a privacy door knob while the front and back door of the house need a keyed one. For children and elder members of the family, a passage door is enough while closets, cupboards and cabinets generally require dummy door knobs.
• Finish – most of today’s door knobs are made of metal, but their finish differ from another. Door knobs are available in gold, brass, bronze, nickel among other finishes. Choose a finish that will complement the home’s interiors and the door’s appearance. Traditional-looking cupboards may look good with antique door knobs, while door knobs made of crystal and glass lend an elegant and sophisticated look.
• People – adults can be contented with round door knobs, but if very small children and elderly are residing in the house, door levers may be more appropriate. A door lever is a type of door knob that comes with a bar that twists up or down to open or close a door. This minimized wrist movement and is suitable especially for people with arthritis.

Door knobs may be small elements in the house but they also play big roles when it comes to convenience of access and security. The door knob may be small, but if it is right, it commands a second look.