Door Hardware Selection Guide
A practical overview to help you choose the right hardware for every door in your project.
You've selected your door handles—great. Now comes the next step: choosing the right door hardware to go with them.
It’s a common scenario. The design is locked in, but the hardware behind the handle hasn’t yet been considered. What’s needed for the front door? What do you use for bedrooms or bathrooms? What about wardrobes or linen cupboards? For the ease of use in this guide we will leave out the extras like hinges and door stops.
That’s exactly why we’ve put together this straightforward guide—to help you make sense of what’s required for each door type. Of course, our expert team is always here to assist with tailored advice, but this overview should give you a clear starting point—and maybe even spark ideas for mixing different hardware types throughout your project.
Entrance Set – External Security Doors
These are typically used for external doors where security is key—front entrances, garage doors, cellars, and even private offices or studies.
An entrance set includes:
- A pair of door handles
- A mortice lock
- A euro cylinder
- A pair of euro escutcheons
From there, you have configuration options. The cylinder can be keyed on both sides or include a turn snib on the inside for quick locking. The level of security you choose depends on the room’s purpose—but all exterior-access doors should start here.
The door handles can come in a plate option and that would take away the requirement of euro escutcheons as the plate acts as the dressing. A convenient way to have an entrance set is to use a deadbolt. This option requires a set of levers, a tubular latch and the deadbolt, that's it.
For the entrance set you can also go with a pull handle. This would change the mortice lock from a latch lock to a roller lock. The rest stays the same. So you would select the length of pull handle, your roller lock, the euro escutcheons and the type of euro cylinder your require.
Passage Levers – For Simplicity and Flow
For doors that don’t require locking, such as hallways, laundries, or guest bedrooms, a passage set is your best bet.
You’ll need:
- A pair of lever handles
- A tubular latch
That’s it. Clean, simple, functional. This setup offers free passage and is ideal in areas where privacy isn’t a concern.
Privacy Handles – Internal Rooms That Need Locking
Privacy handles are designed for rooms that benefit from a little more security, without the need for keyed access.
This setup is commonly used in:
- Bathrooms
- Bedrooms
- Studies
You’ll need:
- Lever handles
- A tubular latch
- A privacy bolt
- A privacy snib/turn
This combination gives you the ability to lock the door from the inside while still allowing emergency access from the outside if needed.
We do have a range of privacy door handles that has the privacy lock on the outer rosette so you don't have to have them separate so there are varying options within this category.
This also includes there are privacy mortice locks which can give your privacy door are great look overall and a much stronger security, however this option is purely personal preference.
Dummy Handles – Fixed Function, Full Style
Dummy handles are ideal where you want the look of a functioning lever, but without the actual operation.
These are perfect for:
- French doors
- Wardrobes
- Linen cupboards
There are a few different ways to install dummy handles—some are fixed with screws, others with plates or brackets—so it's worth checking in with our team to make sure you're getting the right setup for your door thickness and material.
Cabinet Handles – Not Just for Kitchens
Cabinet handles are no longer confined to just the kitchen. Today, they’re used throughout the home—on wardrobes, vanities, drawers, laundry doors, even flyscreen doors and letterboxes.
Just ensure the screw length is suitable for the surface thickness—drawers are usually thinner than wardrobe doors, for example. If in doubt, our team can recommend the right hardware.
We have the ability to source almost anything your require so if you like something and it's not on our site, it doesn't mean we won't be able to get it for you.
Not all cabinet handles come with the screws as well so please get in touch with our team to let you know if they will or not.
Need a Hand? We’re Here to Help.
This guide is a general introduction—each project will have its own requirements and nuances. If you’re unsure what’s needed for a specific door or want to confirm compatibility with your selected hardware, don’t hesitate to reach out.
The Architectural Choice team is here to assist with personalised advice and full door scheduling. We’ll help ensure everything is specified correctly from the start, so your project runs smoothly and looks exactly the way you envisioned.