Your choice of door hardware, especially the handle is not only important for design purposes, it also complements your security plan. Whether you're building new house or simply upgrading your doors, carefully choose your door handles based on these tips.

1. Select doorknob type

There are different handle options available on the market, and what you choose depends on your design style as well as the type of door on which it will be put:

• Closet knobs – these are commonly used in closet or hallway doors where a locking mechanism isn't needed
• Privacy knobs – these are lockable knobs that close on locking, without the need for a key. They are commonly put on bedroom and bathroom doors, and can be opened with special pin keys. Be careful about this type of knob if you have young children in the house – keep the keys out of their reach to avoid losing them
• Keyed entry knobs – are placed on external doors and require a key to unlock

2. Choose between knob and lever

Knobs are the traditional oval or round handles, and they can be used on any door type. They are ideal for families with young children since they are harder to open. You can choose levers however, if you want young children to be able to work the door themselves so that you don't have to do it. Knobs should also not be installed if you have people with limited wrist/arm strength, such as elderly people.

Levers are a more modern choice and are easier to open than knobs. If installing levers, consider the door-swing orientation: right-handed levers should be put on right-handed doors, and similarly for left-handed doors. Levers are not ideal for doors you don't want children to access, since there are fewer child-safety cover options. Avoid levers with extra-narrow or sharp edges as they can present a hazard to children.

3. Choose the rosette

Your choice of rosette is also an important decision. The rosette is the face plate on which the lever/knob will rest on. You can get them in square, round, oval and rectangular options and in a number of metallic finishes. The key is to ensure that your rosettes stand out from the door colour for proper visibility, but should work well with your doors. Silverish tones are ideal for many colour schemes, but you can choose chrome, pewter, stainless steel or satin nickel finishing among others. Satin nickel and chrome are less polished and therefore ideal for traditional décor, while stainless steel and bright chrome finishes are ideal for modern or ultra-retro themes that need high polish. Bronze tones match well with both modern and traditional themes.

Bonus: Door handle best practices

• DO ensure that door handles within each other's view are finished similarly and in the same colour
• DO carefully select the shape of the rosette as it impacts the entire door's look
• DON'T use privacy knobs (those which lock on closing) on closet doors