The entryway of your home is the first place visitors see and acts as a familiar touchpoint as you come and go in your daily life. The right hardware and finish on your door adds curb appeal to your home, while setting the tone for the rest of your sacred space inside.

Choosing a finish for your door hardware that matches your style can be challenging, especially considering the wide variety of options. Let's walk through everything you need to know when choosing door hardware, and share the distinct Level lock finishes you can pair with that hardware. Level locks will effortlessly fit with the design of your home, making it easy to find the finish that meets your style.

What Is Door Hardware?

Door hardware refers to the components attached to a door, such as doorknobs, door handles, latches, and locks. This combination of mechanisms is known as a lockset.

Before choosing a finish for your door hardware, you’ll want to determine the type of lockset you have.

Types of Handlesets

Let’s explore the most common types of doorknobs and handlesets.

Dummy Handleset and Lever

Dummy handlesets and levers are the most basic option. These usually do not have a turning or latching mechanism and cannot be locked.

Dummy knobs and levers are used on doors opened by pushing or pulling, like French doors and on one side of double doors.

Passage Handleset

Passage handlesets are double-sided (unlike the dummy handlesets) and twist to open instead of pushing or pulling. They include a latch but do not lock. Passage handlesets are usually used for interior doors for closets and halls.

Privacy Handleset

Privacy handlesets also come with a latch and are opened by turning.

However, privacy handlesets have a button lock, which is used by pressing or turning a button to lock the door from one side. These are commonly found on bathroom and bedroom doors.

Keyed Entry Handleset

Keyed entry handlesets are similar to privacy handlesets but include a locking mechanism accessible using a key. The handleset can be locked from both sides of the door and requires a specific key.

Exterior doors such as front and garage doors tend to use these handlesets.

Keypad Handleset

Instead of a key, keypad handlesets are operated using a pin code. This style can still incorporate a standard handleset that turns after entering the correct code.

Keypad handlesets are typically utilized on exterior doors, private rooms, and offices.

Door Lever

With door levers, a simple downward push disengages the lever, allowing for easier usability.

This is ideal for people who do not have a strong grip or great hand mobility. Levers can also be used for aesthetic purposes.

Types of Door Locks

Just as there are many varieties of handlesets, there are also many locks.

Deadbolt

Deadbolt door locks add a second layer of security to lockable handlesets because they are difficult to open after being locked from the inside.

You can replace a standard deadbolt with Level Bolt to make it smart. This invisible smart lock maintains the design integrity of your home while providing smart conveniences like keyless entry and auto-locking.

Hand Lever

Hand lever locks are commonly equipped with levers on the outer side of the door and a twistable handleset on the inside. These locks are easier to open with one hand but don't offer the same security as a deadbolt, making them convenient for doors inside a house.

Barrel Bolt

Barrel bolt locks are also called sliding bolt locks. They are considered precautionary locks as they are installed inside to add security. One part of the lock attaches to the door frame, while the other part is secured to the door. Many people add this lock in addition to other locks on their door.

Mortise Lock

Mortise locks are similar to a hand lever with an added pocket — or mortise — cut into the edge of the door to place a lock. Instead of the typical tubular mechanism, a large metal box slides in and stays rooted in the door. This type of lock typically requires special door preparation to install.

Chain Lock

While similar to barrel locks, chain locks have a chain with a catch attached to the door frame that slides into a piece bolted into the door.

This lock allows the person inside to open the door just enough to see who is there without allowing the visitor inside. The visitor can enter only when the chain is released from the catch.

Handleset Lock

Handleset locks include a deadbolt and a handle coupled with a thumb-operated latch on the external side of the door and a handleset that locks on the other side. The aesthetics of these locks make them an appealing choice for front doors.

Magnetic Lock

Magnetic door locks utilize magnetism to prevent the door from opening. Electric current helps strengthen the lock.

Smart Lock

Smart locks generally work over WiFi or Bluetooth, eliminating the need for a physical key. You won’t have to worry about making copies of your key or hiding one under the mat. Instead, you can share access to your home with people you trust via digital keys, often through a phone app. While some smart locks are visibly bulky, Level locks hide technology on the inside of the door - giving them the smallest footprint of any smart lock ever made.

What Are the Best Door Hardware Finishes?

There are several hardware finishes to choose from, and ultimately comes down to your personal preference.

Polished Brass

Polished brass is a shiny gold finish usually covered with lacquer to prevent it from wearing out over time. It is a classic look and fits seamlessly into almost any house style.

Polished finishes are highly reflective and offer a bright, shiny surface. These finishes have a clean appearance that adds some sparkle to your door. However, they can lose their dazzle with too many fingerprints, so these finishes are best for hardware with less hand traffic.

Satin Nickel

Satin nickel has a smooth appearance that hides fingerprints and abrasions. This finish has a balanced, non-reflective texture similar to stainless steel. The warm silver finish stands out the most against dark colors like navy blue or black.

Satin finishes have a smooth, uniform appearance. The softer appearance of the metal diffuses light for a quiet glow. Fingerprints and watermarks are less visible on these finishes, so they are ideal for high-use hardware such as kitchen cabinets and doors.

Satin Chrome

Satin chrome has a contemporary look that complements most styles. It is usually used for commercial applications but also works well for homes. Door hardware with a satin chrome finish gives you the shine associated with chrome with a smooth, soft finish that diffuses light.

Matte Black

Matte black is a stylish, top-trending finish that adds a modern, dramatic touch to a house. It reflects very little light and hides fingerprints well, maintaining a clean, fresh look.