Bells, knobs and beyond: a guide to door hardware

Sometimes, when you're shopping for a door, you just want a door – something sturdy, secure and easy on the eye. Other times, you want to make a statement.

If your home is your castle, your front door is your calling card. It can reflect your personality, be it restrained, flamboyant or anything in between.

One way to take the postman's breath away is by entering the world of door hardware – those handles, knobs and knockers that enhance your door in the same way that jewellery can tie your outfit together.

The market is heaving with options. Door furniture comes in a wide range of styles, colours and materials.

So if you're wondering how to increase your kerb appeal – or simply want to feel satisfied each time you come home – join us as we run down some of the most common types of door hardware.

It's more interesting than you might think.

Handles and knobs

There are several types of door handles and doorknobs.

You can either get a "keyed' doorknob or a so-called "dummy doorknob". This is like a sewn-up pocket on a pair of jeans – strictly for aesthetics with no practical function.

Doorknobs can make a real statement. They've come a long way since being patented in 1848 by Osbourn Dorsey, a 16-year-old African-American inventor – but they've always had the potential to combine style and function.

In terms of handles, there are push-pull handles – often used in commercial settings where the door is constantly in use – or long lever handles, typically found on uPVC doors.

For something so commonplace, doorknobs and door handles play a surprising role in cinema – from the talking doorknob that Alice has to fit through to enter Wonderland to the red-hot doorknob that Kevin uses to deter the robbers in Home Alone.

Letterboxes

Letterboxes are another great example of how the mundane can be beautiful. And their history is actually quite fascinating – no, really.

The story starts in 1516 when Henry VIII founded Royal Mail. Back then, it was the recipient who paid for postage – not the sender (imagine!)

So in order to deliver a letter or parcel, you had to do it yourself if you wanted to collect your postage fee.

Fast forward to the 1830s and the Post Office was losing money. A teacher, inventor and social reformer named Rowland Hill had a solution.

He argued that prepayment would make the transfer of letters cheaper, safer and quicker – and that if prices went down, poorer people would start sending post, resulting in greater profits for the Royal Mail.

And it worked. In 1840, the year that saw the introduction of the penny stamp in the UK, the number of letters doubled.

This revolution in the postal service meant that the sender no longer had to collect postage fees. Letters could be left at a property without fear of monetary loss, hence the advent of the letterbox.

Letterboxes were touted as secure – something that mattered a lot to people at a time when letters were the primary form of communication.

Over the years, letterboxes have been made in a staggering number of styles and materials – from cast-iron and solid brass letter plates in Victorian and Edwardian times, to curvaceous art nouveau specimens, to today's modern oblong fittings.

A good-quality, aesthetically appealing letterbox can liven up any front door – so it's worth taking a look at what's available.

Knockers

Unlike letterboxes, door knockers have been around for ages. In fact, the earliest example dates from Ancient Greece.

But despite the arrival of doorbells, knockers are still a common feature in the UK – either because it's an economical choice or, contrariwise, because you want to impress the Amazon delivery driver.

There are two main types – either screwed to the door or attached from the inside with bolts.

Door knockers have always brought out the impish side of ironmongers. In Spitalfields, London, you can see knockers shaped like women's hands, Sphinxes and even an upside-down dolphin.

One of the world's most famous doors is at 10 Downing Street – and it's partly memorable because of its black iron knocker in the shape of a lion's head.

Writers, too, have turned to door knockers for dramatic tension. Just think of the famous "porter scene" in Shakespeare's Macbeth or the knocker that morphs into Jacob Marley's face in A Christmas Carol.

More everyday, but no less stylish, there are a whole host of knockers on the market in a variety of styles and materials.

Locks

Locks aren't just there for safety and they're not just there for beauty. They can also influence your home insurance premium.

Many insurers consider the safest model to be a five-lever mortice deadlock that adheres to BS (British Standards Institute) 3621.

In commercial properties, electronic locks are on the rise – and they're also starting to appear in domestic settings.

While they're undeniably convenient, they present a couple of challenges. First, they're connected to Bluetooth, which is vulnerable to hacking. Second, they're seen by some insurers as a security risk.

Just like knockers, knobs and letterboxes, locks can be beautiful. Have a browse – you'll be surprised by the range of colours, designs and materials available.

Doorbells

Electric doorbells have been a fixture of British life since the early 1900s. Today, you can still get a classic model – or invest in a smart doorbell with a video stream for added security.

And of course, you can choose the right ringtone for you – anything from a classic "ding-dong" to Beethoven's Fifth.

Want to doll up your door?

Here at Calder Windows, we stock a wide selection of doors – ranging from the minimalistic and elegant to highly customisable statement pieces.

Whether you're looking for a uPVC front or back door, a door with a traditional timber look, french doors, inline patio doors or uPVC stable doors, we can help. We provide a complete front door fitting service – and all our designs come with extensive opportunities for decorative hardware.

Want to make your door something you look forward to coming home to? Take a look at our range online – or pop into our showroom in Normanton to see what we offer.