Doorknobs - Getting to Know Them

Quick question - What are the types of doorknobs? The first things that may come to mind are wood glass, stone, etc. Those aren't kinds of doorknobs, those are materials doorknobs are made out of. Try again.
Not sure? You're not alone. Most people just think doorknobs are doorknobs. They are pieces of hardware that allow you to have something to grip on to when you open or close a door, right? Sure, but there's more. There are really four kinds of doorknobs and each has a different purpose in your home. The four types are entrance doorknobs, privacy doorknobs, passage doorknobs and dummy doorknobs.
Entrance doorknobs - Just as you would expect entrance doorknobs are the ones that you will find at the entryway to your home. These are doorknobs that will have a keyed cylinder so they can be locked and unlocked with a key. Some people choose to have these inside their homes, if they have an area of the home they would like to be able to secure with a lock and key. Entrance doorknobs often also come with additional deadbolt panels attached, to allow extra security in the home.
Privacy doorknobs - In rooms where you may want a little privacy, privacy doorknobs are often used. While these doorknobs don't have keyed cylinders, they do have some sort of a locking mechanism so they can be locked from the inside. These are most commonly seen in bathrooms and bedrooms.
Passage doorknobs - These doorknobs allow a door to be closed between rooms, but are not locking doorknobs. These are commonly used on doors that allow passage from one room of the house into another, where no one needs to be able to lock anyone else out for any privacy. Laundry room doors and those going from a living room to a dining room would be appropriate uses for passage doorknobs.
Dummy doorknobs - While these look like functional doorknobs, dummy doorknobs are really fakes. They are used to give the look of doorknobs where functional doorknobs are not really needed. It could be for closet doors or any other doors that don't need to have a latch or lock installed. The only functionality these have is to allow you a way to grab a hold of the door, but they do not turn. These are more for looks than anything else.
Once you know the doorknob types, then you can select from doorknob styles. This is where those materials and shapes come into play. No matter what decorative style you have decided on for your home, you should not have a problem finding doorknobs to suit your taste.
From Victorian glass privacy and passage doorknobs to modern entrance and dummy doorknobs, the world of home hardware is massive.
The creators of doorknobs have realized the importance of these relatively small pieces of hardware. While they may seem insignificant, they can really complete the look of a room and add a final spark of personality to a space. For this reason the options in the area of doorknobs are almost as limitless as your imagination.
Jennifer Akre is an owner of different online niche stores that provide Internet shoppers with information and products relating to furnishing and decorating their homes. Whether it's your living room, recreation area, kitchen, even your deck or patio, there is a slew of helpful tips that will have your space looking and feeling better than ever. Here, she gives buying advice when looking for classic antique doorknobs, elegant glass door knobs, and lovely glass doorknobs

Owner