Door handles are among those often-forgotten yet highly defining features of a home. If they are chosen in uniformity they add class, aesthetics, distinction, and a rare refinement to your abode.
Moreover, if you choose to adorn your home with designer door handles it certainly lends an air of exclusiveness seldom found in other houses. Usually, door handles are made to last forever, so they come in sturdy materials like marble, brass, and aluminum. But which are the best materials for your door handles?
Take a look, only in this blog!
5 Best Materials for Door Handles
The material that makes up the handles for your doors, cabinets, wardrobes and drawers should ideally be different as it has to suit the look and décor of the room. In this blog, we look only at door handles.
- Marble
Marble door handles are sturdy, easy to clean and long-lasting. The material is not likely to get scuff marks and is extremely easy to polish. Moreover, marble door handles are considered very posh and elegant. They add a unique twist to the aesthetic décor of your home and if placed on wooden doors certainly up the ante look-wise. Marble handles are sleek and modern. They can come in a variety of styles and could match
your marble countertops.
- Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and has been used to create door handles for the longest time. You will need to maintain the brass door handles with wax or lacquer if it is to be maintained perfectly golden for long. Otherwise, a blue-green patina can form on the surface, completely spoiling the look. Brass fixtures are should be polished regularly and avoided in those spaces which are exposed to the environment. Brass is great if you’re looking for longevity as it won’t age or tarnish much through the years. However, this does mean that brass handles are fairly pricey. Another thing to note when it comes to brass handles is that polished brass will show fingerprints and can scratch
fairly easily.
- Aluminum Alloy
A common and excellent choice for designer door handles are those made from aluminum alloy. These are lighter and do not form rust which steel is prone to do. Moreover, it is perfect for the outdoors as it does not react to environmental conditions easily. Hence, if you are looking for long-lasting and easy-to-maintain door handles, choose aluminum handles. One of the most affordable metals for your cabinet handles and can be finished in a variety of ways. These handles are generally fairly durable but can dent slightly
easier than other metal handles.
- Wood
Wood should not be used as a door handle for the outdoors as it may react with humidity and rain and become spoiled. However, it is the perfect piece of durable and long-lasting material for indoor door handles. Wooden handles are perfect for traditional and rustic cabinets and are available in a large range of colors. Although they can be susceptible to water damage, wooden cabinet
handles are a great choice as they are very affordable, diverse and generally the easiest to grip.
- Zinc Alloy
Zinc alloy makes for a beautiful finish and hardy warehouse look to your surroundings. It is perfectly hardy and easy to keep clean and polished. Choose these because they are cost-efficient, affordable, rust-proof and corrosion resistant.
- Crystal
handles will add a shimmer to your home as they usually reflect and refract light.
Their geometric shape and trendy appearance is also a plus for these handles. Something to be aware of though, is that crystal cabinet handles may be more fragile than those made from other materials. 
Takeaway
With these considerations of materials to be kept in mind, designer door handles are the perfect way to enhance the look and feel of your home.
- Keep your door handles polished and sanitized regularly as they are usually touched by all frequently.
- Ensure that the door handle you choose is perfectly in sync with the rest of the house décor.
You need to choose door handles for their durability, design and especially their material. So, what are you waiting for? Choose the best material for your door handles today!
Still confused?
Talk it out with MANTARA!
MANTARA is a futuristic lifestyle brand offering dynamic, edgy and fun products. We believe in bringing changes and enhancements to our products to bring the best to the table for our customers. We offer you the perfect home décor handles, knobs and pulls, and more to enhance and style your interiors.
We take pride in the quality offered and pay attention to every tiny detail from
conceptualization to the final product. Our aim is to set the bar high for innovation and delivery.
How to choose the right cabinet handles for your home:
Renovating your home comes with so many decisions. It can get overwhelming very quickly. In this article I will break down how to choose the right cabinet handles for your home to help make this decision easier for you.
There are four main things to consider: Color, Material, Size and Style. For each of these four things, I will outline different options as well as giving you some of my top tips about how to make each of these decisions.
1. Color
Choosing if you want a handle color that matches, compliments, or is contrasting to your cabinets can be tricky. It is important to consider other accents in the room such as taps or appliances to avoid clashes. Another key thing to consider is whether your cabinets have cool or warm undertones. For example, if there are cool undertones, I’d recommend silver, black, stainless steel. Or, if there are warm undertones, I’d suggest gold, bronze or black handles.
- Size
It can be helpful to consider the rest of the room as well as the number of cabinet handles in the room to ensure that the handles don’t become overpowering. As well as being an aesthetic choice, you also need to take functionality into consideration when deciding on handle sizes. A couple of questions to think about:
- Does your hand easily fit into the handle?
- Is the handle easy to grip?
- Is the handle small enough that it doesn’t block any other cabinets from opening fully?
- Style
Two of the most common handle types are Bar handles and T-Bar handles.
Bar handles are both stylish and practical as they are very easy to grip and pull. Their clean and elegant style works well both modern and traditional style cabinets. They also come in a large variety of styles and finishes.
T- Bar handles are ideal for sleek and modern cabinets. They are available in a variety of shapes and materials and can be used horizontally or vertically.
Now you have a better idea of some of the different types of cabinet handles, make sure to order samples of your favorite's to test them out with your cabinets. This way you will be able to see how they look with your cabinets and how they feel to use.
I hope this article has helped you to decide which cabinet handles will work best for you. Be sure to explore Mantara’s range of stunning cabinet handles to add a modern and dynamic edge to your cabinets.
Choosing Handles for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Are you in the process of remodeling your kitchen or redecorating your home? Cabinet handles are one of those features that can be easily forgotten since they are a small detail when it comes to your kitchen. Kitchen cabinet handles, AKA “cabinet knobs,” can easily change the look of your kitchen. They are also super easy to install and are cost-friendly as opposed to replacing the cabinets themselves or another kitchen item like a refrigerator or countertops.
Kitchen handles can improve the look of your kitchen and give you something new and refreshing.
Imagine how something so small is used all day. Getting new knobs for your cabinets can add a stylish look to your kitchen, and they are totally worth the small investment. So what are you waiting for? Get started choosing your kitchen handles today, and we’ll go over what you’ll need to know in order to choose the look that’s just right for you.
How to choose your cabinet handles
There is a difference between cabinet pulls and cabinet handles. This may seem like a petty decision, but if you think about it, knobs and handles have different features and can change the experience and look of your kitchen. Knobs are round and usually give a homey look to everything. Knobs would go very well if you have a country-style kitchen. On the other hand, handles and pulls can emit a sophisticated and modern look to your kitchen.
Once you decide rather or not you want knobs or handles, you will need to decide what kind of style you would like to go with. There are a variety of knobs and handles to choose from and that can feel really complicated, so a great place to start is your kitchen theme. You’ll want to make sure the knobs or handles you pick out will blend well with the rest of your kitchen. For a modern kitchen, you could go with kitchen handles that are simple or try going for a square shaped knob.
Once you decide what style of knob or handle you want, you will then need to decide on the material you want. For instance, you can choose from brass, nickel, stainless steel, wood, etc. Stainless steel would be a really good choice for a modern-style kitchen. If you want to go for a rustic feel, you can easily go with bronze handles. Once you choose your material, you can usually choose a finish as well. There are many options for you to be able to pick something that goes well with your kitchen’s look and theme.
The process doesn’t have to be difficult. Know what you want, and go for it. Examine your kitchen to decide which type of kitchen handle or knob will go best. And then sit back and enjoy the new look.
What size handle is correct?
Before deciding what size handle you’d like, you’ll need to decide whether to use knobs, handles or a combination of the two. If you choose to use bar pull handles, and your cabinets have existing drill holes, then you’ll obviously be limited to handles that fit the space.
On narrow kitchen cabinets, bar pulls may take up too much space. Using a smaller alternative, such as T-pull styles or kitchen knobs might be more appropriate for the space. On larger cupboards, small handles or knobs can look dwarfed, so if your cabinets vary largely in size, consider selecting a range of handle sizes.
Measuring for Kitchen Handles
Kitchen cabinet and drawer handles will normally have two screw mounting points. You need to measure the distance between each of the holes and record the Centre-to-Centre measurement.
Measure out how far down the door you wish to place the handle. Mark the location of the top door handle hold and then using the measurement for Centre-to-Centre, mark the position of the second hole.
Now the door is marked out for drilling holes, DOUBLE-CHECK, everything. Hold the handles over the hole marks to check its position. Double-check that you have the door the right way up, and if you’ve removed the door, check that you’re working on the front face of the door, on the opposite side of the hinges.
This positioning procedure remains the same, regardless of whether a handle or knob is being fitted, though knobs may only require a single hole to be fitted.
With drawer fronts, measure the width of the drawer (normally 495mm or 595mm) and subtract the distance between the handle holes. Divide this by 2 and mark the drilling position in from each side.
Drilling Holes in Kitchen Cabinets
Before you begin drilling, there are a few points to consider. Choose a drill bit that’s just a small amount bigger than the screw supplied with the handle / knob. If possible, select a wood drill bit. These have a very sharp point that makes positioning easier.
Before placing your kitchen door or drawer front on a flat surface, ensure you have a towel or other fabric on the surface to avoid scratching.
Always put a block of wood or MDF behind your door hole position. This prevents the drill from splitting the back of the door. If you’re using your kitchen worktop as a work-bench, be very wary of how far through you drill!
Place the drill bit in the drill and ensure it is tight. Position the drill bit onto the hole positions marked out earlier. Double-check these are the right hole positions, then keep the drill vertical and slowly start to drill. Don’t go too fast, apply too much pressure or bend the drill, as this risks the drill snapping in the hole. Once you have drilled the hole, repeat for any second handle holes.
Add the Screws to the Kitchen Handles
With the masking tape and any protective film removed, you are now ready to fit the handles. Often, kitchen screws are longer than necessary and may need to be trimmed down to the correct length. Modern screws have marked areas with no thread on them for you to cut or break the screw to the right length.
Push the screw through the drilled hole and test fit a handle. If there is a gap left between the door/drawer front and the handle, you will need to trim the screw-down by the additional length. If this is the case, measure the gap and then remove the handle. Place masking tape on the screw and mark how much you need to trim the screw. You should find that the trim length aligns with a non-threaded area on the screw. In this case, you can use pliers to bend the screw back and forth to snap the screw to length. If you have a fully threaded screw you will need to use a hacksaw or angle grinder to trim it. Using a vice to hold the screw securely is recommended, but you can use pliers / locking pliers.
Quality and Functions
The foremost criterion for choosing handles is their quality. A well designed, good quality handle stands the test of time. Handles and knobs are often touched and pulled while opening and closing kitchen doors and cabinets. They must look stylish, but more importantly, be functional and strong.
Test out handles before you decide to buy them, see whether they can be gripped easily, pulled properly. The grip is particularly important especially considering people who may have bigger hands or older people with joint problems.