Right before we installed the hardwood floors upstairs, we mentioned how we painted all of the blue trim and doors on that level. The painted doors look fresh and bright, but they were still missing hardware: the old knobs were rusted, pitted, and in several cases jammed or nonfunctional.
With the new glossy white six-panel doors, it made sense to replace the worn knobs rather than try to salvage them. Replacing the knobs (and hinges, which are easy to buy in contractor packs) was far more budget-friendly than replacing entire doors. Plus, new door hardware immediately elevates the look of a hallway and coordinates with the dark mocha floors we were installing.
We were looking for two things in our new knobs: a classic, timeless aesthetic that fits the house, and a touch of something distinctive so the hardware would feel intentional rather than generic. We considered several styles, finishes, and price points before narrowing our search. Here are the options we looked at:
- $56 white porcelain knob with a pewter stem
- $108 dark-toned antique-style knob
- $73 chrome knob with a square plate
- $35 oil-rubbed bronze knob with a rectangular plate
- $90 oil-rubbed bronze and crystal knob
- $109 plated decorative knob
- $105 polished chrome egg-shaped knob
- $28 oblong oil-rubbed bronze lever-style knob
- $24 chrome classic knob
- $30 satin nickel egg-shaped knob
- $97 crystal and satin nickel bling-style knob
- $16 classic oil-rubbed bronze knob
- $43 interestingly shaped satin-nickel knob
- $30 dark-toned lever knob
It wasn’t an easy decision—many of the options would have worked—but our final choice came down to personal preference and budget. A whole house of high-end knobs would have been prohibitively expensive, so we focused on getting the best look for the money. We’ve long loved the combination of rich mocha hardwood floors, crisp white trim and doors, and dark knobs for contrast. That high-contrast look felt right for this home and helped us eliminate several choices.
Photos that inspired us highlighted a small detail we liked: a rectangular backplate behind the knob added character without being fussy. The boxed silhouette felt classic and clean, and it tied the knobs into the overall trim and door style.
Ultimately we selected the $35 oil-rubbed bronze knobs with a rectangular backplate for the four bedrooms and the $24 satin-finish knobs for the two bathrooms. For the closets we chose the simpler, less expensive closet/dummy versions that match the rest of the hardware. Matching hinges in a dark finish were already installed, so the coordinated look is coming together nicely.
Before checking out, we searched for a coupon and applied a 10% discount plus free shipping, which trimmed the total cost. Small savings like that add up when you’re purchasing multiple pieces of hardware.
We expect the new knobs to complete the upstairs transformation: glossy white doors, dark hinges, mocha hardwood floors, and the right knobs will create a cohesive, classic, yet fresh feeling throughout the space. We’re excited to get them installed and see how the small details elevate the whole floor.
It’s wild to think that a few weeks ago the upstairs hallway was covered in old carpet and blue trim. Seeing the dramatic before-and-after makes it easy to appreciate how quickly a few targeted updates—flooring, paint, and hardware—can transform a space.
Before photos are a great reminder of where you started and how far a project has come. They make it fun to look back and say, “Remember that old carpet and blue trim?”—and then enjoy the clean, finished result.
Update: none of the product links mentioned in the original discussion were affiliate links.
