Exploring Door Styles

Just as your entrance door color makes a statement and needs to align with your home design choices, so should your front entry door handle finish and other hardware finishes. When choosing the right door handle finish for your beloved home, consider aesthetic appeal, durability and quality.

Explore these door handle finishes that will help tie together the look and feel of your interior and exterior design.

Understanding Different Door Hardware Finishes

When looking for the right door handle finishes, understand that there are as many potential finishes as there are door hardware components. When looking at finishes, it is also wise to examine the durability and maintenance requirements of the one you choose. 

To help you make a more informed decision, check out these popular door handle finishes that satisfy different tastes and styles.

Brushed Nickel

Brushed nickel door handles are often crafted using a nickel plating typically over brass, steel or zinc. The final product is a bright, satin-like finish that includes a textured appearance that is somewhat muted. The non-reflective cooler silver tone complements a range of interior design styles, but it is particularly ideal for modern, contemporary and minimalistic homes. 

Brushed nickel is durable and resistant to wear and corrosion in medium to high-traffic areas. This finish also resists fingerprints and smudges, making cleaning simple and appropriate for most homes. With children, you may need to use a damp cloth more often to remove smudges and fingerprints.

Satin Nickel

Satin nickel door handles offer versatility and are sleek and elegant with a more neutral finish, which makes them an ideal alternative to polished nickel or chrome. They also blend well with both contemporary and traditional styles. The finish is softer and silkier than brushed nickel and has a subtle sheen. The color is often more silver-gray with a smooth texture that balances modern and timeless. 

This durable finish resists tarnishing and corrosion. In homes with moderate traffic, satin nickel needs minimal cleaning and upkeep. Maintenance involves cleaning with a soft, non-abrasive cloth and mild soap to remove fingerprints and dirt. 

Polished Chrome

Polished chrome is undoubtedly one of the more modern door handle finishes produced by plating brass or steel hardware with chrome. This sleek and metallic finish is eye-catching with its shiny, reflective, mirror-like appearance. It exudes a current yet elegant look suitable for modern and minimalistic styles. However, due to its lightness and sleekness, it is also appropriate for contemporary and Hamptons styles. 

This finish is particularly resistant to tarnishing and corrosion and is suitable for all traffic levels. However, homes with children and high traffic will see more significant wear, including fingerprint marks and scratches. Polished chrome requires regular cleaning to maintain its shine, though you can easily wipe it with a damp lint-free cloth or use a mild detergent. 

Polished Brass

Polished brass is a popular door hardware finish, especially for customized hardware, due to its glossy golden appearance that exudes luxury, elegance and warmth. The high-gloss and often curved design lends a classic appeal to polished brass. The timeless look and color are ideal for various interior designs, including modern, traditional and vintage-inspired.

Although corrosion resistant, polished brass finish requires fairly regular maintenance to retain its golden luster, including regular polishing with a gentle brass cleaner. It is best to incorporate polished brass door hardware in low to mid-traffic areas to limit the amount of maintenance required.

Antique Black

Antique black door handle finishes can come in various materials, including wrought iron and brass. They typically have a matte look or a subtle sheen. Depending on the precise finish, it can result in a rustic and aged appearance or elegance and sophisticated style. Their neutral dark tones and charming and somewhat vintage look make them appropriate for traditional, rustic and even transitional interior design styles. 

This finish tends to be highly durable. However, it requires regular dusting to maintain its elegance and care to ensure it does not endure too many scratches that potentially reveal underlying metal. Although a beautifully ornamental style, it does best in medium-traffic areas. 

Matte Black

Matte black has a non-reflective finish that eliminates shine and creates a stylish and minimalistic look reminiscent of wrought iron. Matte black door handles offer a sophisticated take on black tones and can be paired with an array of interior styles, but contrasting it with white offers a stunning look. 

Matte black is easy to clean and maintain, with outstanding durability and corrosion resistance. However, dust and fingerprints may show up more quickly than other finishes. Thankfully, you only need a soft cloth and mild, soapy water to keep this finish pristine. Limit it to low and medium-traffic areas if you hope to maintain its appearance.

Tuscan Bronze

Tuscan bronze door handle finishes are ideal for rustic and traditional looks, as they typically exhibit a warm, reddish-brown hue and subtle gold undertones. Traditionally, Tuscan bronze doorknobs and handles include intricate and ornate designs reminiscent of Tuscan architecture. This leads to that rustic and almost antique feel. However, some styles include more contemporary and minimalist designs.

This door handle finish offers excellent durability and resistance to corrosion and wear and maintenance and cleaning are simple. You only need to wipe the door handles occasionally with a soft cloth and mild soap while avoiding abrasive detergents. Although ideal for traditional and rustic settings, limiting it to medium or low traffic is advisable to reduce the cleaning required. 

Considering the Existing Interior Design Style

When it comes to choosing the right door handle finish, there are no fixed rules regarding what pairing you should have in your home. You can combine door styles with a range of door hardware, so long as it compliments the rest of the interior design and your taste.

• Traditional: Traditional interior design style focuses on classic comfort, symmetry, rich colors and timeless elegance. When choosing the right door handle finish for your style, polished brass or antique bronze complements the classic aesthetic by incorporating a touch of sophistication.
• Modern: Modern interior design focuses on minimalism, clean lines and general functionality. There are usually neutral colors with a mix of metal, wood and glass. When selecting modern door handle finishes, consider matte black, brushed nickel or polished chrome.
• Contemporary: The style is ever-evolving, incorporating current trends and technologies. You’ll want to watch the latest trends for door handle finishes, but popular choices today include brushed nickel, matte black and polished chrome. 
• Rustic: This style includes wood, stone and other earthy elements. A rustic interior design creates a tranquil, homey air with warm, earthy tones and rough textures. When selecting door handle finishes, consider antique black brass, wrought iron and Tuscan bronze. 
• Industrial: Industrial interior design includes raw forms and neutral colors such as blacks, whites and grays. Many components, such as exposed brick, metal beams and concrete flooring, are seemingly unfinished. For door handle finishes, you’ll want a rugged and utilitarian aesthetic such as matte black or antique black, aged brass, brushed nickel or polished chrome.
• Transitional: The transitional home is a calculated mix of traditional and modern or contemporary interior design styles. A transitional style features an often neutral and subdued color palette with a harmonious blend of textures and balanced proportions. For this popular style, you’ll want to consider one or a mix of brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, satin nickel and Tuscan bronze.

Trust Premium Hardware for Your High-End Door Hardware Finishes

Whether you have a traditional home aesthetic, a contemporary design or you’re looking for modern door handle finishes, there are options for you. At Premium Hardware, we supply high-end door hardware for various residential applications and understand the importance of finding aesthetically perfect door handle finishes. 

Browse and shop our range of premium residential door hardware or speak to a leading door hardware expert. You can call us at 510-296-5584 or complete our online contact form and we’ll respond to your inquiry with a product recommendation, door hardware advice or an innovative solution.