Questions to ask yourself prior to purchasing window hardware manufacturer:

What is the door (or overall) style?

How will this piece look with my existing decor?

What is my budget?

What is the appropriate size hardware needed for this door, cabinet, wall, etc? Scale is important!

What does the installation process look like?

What are the requirements I need (privacy door knob vs. passage, ***, etc)?

Here’s a list of things to check / consider when you’re purchasing hardware online (or in person).

Consider the weight. It’s deceiving to determine if it will look “cheap” once installed just by looking at a photo of hardware. A heavier weight is typically a good indication of a better quality product that will look good- no matter the price.

Order one piece prior to placing the full order. Trust me- this step is worth it. Seeing the finish is person is key and it’s 100% worth investing the extra time and small shipping cost.

Read reviews. I’m one of those people who reads reviews, but it’s important to note- not all reviews are created equal. Some people have high standards, others skew a little low. It’s a tough call. Regardless, reviews can help with purchasing decisions! Lots of good reviews are a great indication of an awesome product. It’s always a bonus if someone takes the time to post a photo of the actual product.

Check the material. With hardware, it’s easy to differentiate good materials from bad. Metals, glass, wood and leather, for instance, are great materials. On the opposite end of the spectrum, avoid plastic, hollow and painted products. Product images can be deceiving, so check the specs!

Measure the size every time. Even I’ve fallen prey to this… I’ve impulsively made a purchase without checking the dimensions and it ends up arriving in the mail, I excitedly open it, only to discover it’s way too big or small. Every single time I make an online decor purchase, you better believe I whip out my measuring tape and visualize the piece in person. SO important!

Shop around. You’d be surprised that the same hardware can be sold at so many different price points. Google the name or model number and find the best deal. Some people don’t like spending the time (and that’s totally fine), but I love scoring something for less.

Shop outside the box. In addition to shopping around, check unexpected resources. Rejuvenation is not the only place that sells fantastic hardware. Believe it or not, some of my best finds have been from Etsy. Even though Anthropologie seems like a prime choice for clothing, their hardware is also top notch. You can also find the manufacturer of these products and buy direct from the manufacturer in some instances.

I would like to chat about how I landed on the hardware in our new home. So far, we’ve installed all of the door hardware for the interior doors, closet doors, and exterior doors. I got everything from Nostalgic Warehouse (love love love their products!). We’ve yet to address the kitchen, so cabinetry hardware will happen later down the road. When selecting door hardware, I knew I wanted something classic, timeless, unique shaped, brass, and knobs with a backplate.

Our interior door style is pretty simple… each door has three panels, with the center panel being the smallest. The backplate perfectly anchors the center panel balancing the visual weight. I’m still gawking at the beautiful hammered texture on the knob.

For the closets, I wanted the same finish, but smaller back plates and a different knob style. I landed on classic ovaled knobs. These were installed on five sets of french doors throughout the home and they look stunning! Now if only I could kick myself into gear and finish painting all the doors.

I’m a big fan of purchasing the interior and exterior door hardware from a single company so the finishes match exactly. With that being said, I’m not into the super “matchy, matchy” look… that’s why I opted for a different hardware style on the closet doors.

The exterior hardware is equally important. If you’ve been following our renovation, you might’ve noticed we replaced a digital keypad lock system to a traditional locking set. I definitely prefer the way it looks and our home feels more secure. Emmett voted for the digital keypad, and I voted for the traditional set. We tried his option for awhile (compromise, people!), but it never worked properly. We’re actually happier with the set we landed on below. It feels much more appropriate with the door style and brick exterior.

Here’s how it looks from the inside… nice and clean.

One last thing to note on interior / exterior doors… if you’ve never had to purchase hardware before, you should familiarize yourself with a little door set lingo. When it comes to door sets, privacy, passage, and *** are common terms.

Entry = This is a lockset that operates with a key on the exterior and a turn-piece/button on the inside. Entry sets are used where security is important (like your back or front door into your home).

Privacy = This is a lockset which can be locked by a button or turn-piece on the inside, but has no key function. They are used on interior doors in bedroom and bathroom applications. Generally all privacy locksets have an emergency entry hole on the outside to allow easy access to a room if needed.

Passage = This is a lockset which has no locking function at all. It’s used anywhere a locking function is not needed… like closets or entrances to rooms where privacy is not an issue.

Full *** = These sets are full-size door knobs or handle sets that have no mechanical latch mechanism. They are flush mounted and require no mortise, or hole, through the face of the door. Full *** sets are used in certain decorative applications such as double doors, closet, pantry, and utility space doors. A *** knob or handle set cannot be distinguished from its fully functional counterpart by simple visual inspection, allowing it to blend into the hardware scheme of your home.

Half *** = Same as the full ***, but instead of a pair of knobs or levers- a single knob or lever is provided. Generally used on linen closets and other closet applications where a matching knob or lever is not needed on the inside of a door. Acts as a pull only and are *** onto the face of the door.

Interior Mortise = Typically found on vintage interior doors. Knobs turns and operate a latch. A skeleton key is used to lock and unlock the door (I actually had these at my previous home, shown below).

Alright, let’s transition into cabinetry hardware…

This is an entirely different thing, but the shopping process is the exact same as interior / exterior hardware (weight, finish, etc). You will need a new set of vocabulary though…

Recessed Pulls = Recessed pulls mount into the cabinet, and are flush with the door. These have a great, custom, vintage look!

Cup / Bin Pulls = Cup or bin pulls contain a rounded, cup-like shape that is easy to pull open. Their heavier, unique shape is what makes them popular.

Knobs = Knobs are self explanatory… these looks great on upper or lower cabinetry doors.

Bar Pulls = Bar pulls are shaped like a handle. They’re sometimes referred to as “t-bar” pulls.

Appliance Pulls = Appliance pulls are like bar pulls on steroids. They’re made especially for heavy, large scale doors (like appliances or pantry doors).

If you’re on the hunt for a certain style, it’s definitely helpful to search using the correct term. You wouldn’t believe what a difference something that simple makes.

As a professional door handle manufacturer,we accept all kinds of window hardware orders, welcome to consult.