Modern Door Knocker
Buy the best modern door knocker selected and recommended by interior designers. By Tara Gosselin.
Before doorbells, guests announced their arrival at your home by knocking on the door. Door knockers made it easier for those inside the house to hear the knock. Modern door knockers give your entryway style and personality and come in many different designs and materials. Even if your guests don't use door knockers, they can still enhance your door's look.
Modern Door Knocker
Buying Guide
Tara Gosselin
Interior Design Expert
Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.
There's something that has to be said about the impression contemporary door knockers makes upon guests as they walk upon your stoop. Not only does it best describe your home's character but it also adds a valuable focal point to your front door. Just about every culture worldwide carries their own regional variations and traditions regarding this functional detail, and the options available today are broader and offer more expression than ever. For those who are looking for contemporary door knockers, there are a variety of styles and finishes for every budget.
You'll find that aluminum, chrome, and stainless steel are the most hardwearing materials for contemporary door knockers. Your best recourse is balancing price with the quality and overall look of the piece. In doing so, you'll find one that best fits your taste and the design you'd like.
Keep in mind that, just like anything else, you'll be getting what you pay for regarding door knockers if you select something inexpensive. Those that run on the cheaper end of the spectrum tend to lack in quality and durability, thus having an effect on their appearance and lifespan. For example, if you find an inexpensive pewter door knocker, it could be poorly forged and experience cracking or breakage.
It isn't uncommon for those who are styling with contemporary door knockers to be misled into believing they're plain or feature lackluster designs. However, when your home features a contemporary design, these door knockers are the perfect addition. In addition to being available in a broad range of shapes and finishes, you'll find that these door knockers add a bit of personality to your front door. Not only will you have a style featured that goes beyond that of the traditional animal head or ornamental antique design, but your front door will also feature clean lines and a unique appearance. Contemporary door knockers are available in satin and polished chrome as well as polished brass, each finish lending a crisp, modern feel to the knocker.
Under most circumstances, your contemporary door knockers will come with either a door mount or surface mount kit. You'll find that the surface mount kit is used primarily for those who have wooden doors. The recommendation for those who have other kinds of doors is to use the through the door mounting kit. You'll need a basic set of tools including an electric drill, bits, screwdriver, level, ruler, socket wrench (or small crescent wrench), and a hacksaw.
You'll be measuring to the center of the door and between four and five feet up from the floor to determine where to place the door knocker. You may find the best measurement is approximately 4.5" from the floor. Once you've found the measurement, it's a simple as drilling the holes, bolting in the screws, and tightening them down. If the screws are too long, you may have to shorten them with the hacksaw. Most contemporary door knockers come with installation instructions.
Choosing a stylish door knocker is important because it is the first thing anyone will see once they are at your front door. Even if you have a working doorbell, which you primarily use, an attractive door knocker is worth considering since not only is it a great conversational starter, but it can add an extra touch of charm to the exterior of your home.
Whether you are struggling with choosing the perfect knocker from the huge variety or you do not know the first thing about them, our guide is here to help you with all the gritty details.
Construction-wise, there are two main types of door knockers - surface mounted door knockers and through-the-door knockers. Surface ones are attached on the surface with screws and through-the door knockers are fixed with bolts from the inside, so they go through the whole door. The trough-the-door knocker is more secure, but you might regret it due to the holes it will leave in the front door.
Cast iron knockerswere a favorite in the old days due to their simple design and sturdiness.
Pewter is another favorite material used for knockers. Its alloy mix of tin and copper offers an alluring luster. It might not be as strong as other metals, but it compensates with its elegant texture.
Copper is known for its resistance to natural elements and is the only material that does not rust. Instead, it oxidizes, which means it builds a green stronger finish, which you find charming or not.
Stainless-steel emits an industrial chick aesthetic and is resistant to corrosion. This material is ideal for colder climates due to its anti-freezing properties.
Brass is a common alternative to cast iron. It's a generic term that refers to different copper-zinc alloys, which is why you will find in various colors from red and brown to gold and bronze. Brass is famous for its hygienic properties and durability.
Georgian styled exteriors beg for a brass door knocker. The Georgian era was about ornate designs and unlacquered finishes. A solid brass lion with a ring is a fabulous example of what would match this kind of exterior.
If you are settled in a Victorian property, the front door should be adorned by a heavier piece. For instance, a cast iron door knocker that incorporates an animal such as a fox.
Edwardian style homes ask for simple design and antique materials. A ring door knocker in antique brass would best suit this style.
Since they are surrounded by nature, country homes would implement nature-inspired accessories. Why not pick a small animal such as a hedgehog or bird in chrome?
For a Regency styled home, you should choose an elongated brass knocker with simple engravings. They look especially good on door with slimmer panels.
If you are a traditionalist, a simple ring knocker in any material will match and not clash with your exterior.
People living in contemporary homes have the most freedom when choosing a door knocker. Youcan go as bold and imaginative as you like. A very popular choice in Europe is a hand knocker, which best suits heavier, wooden doors. Another timeless door knocker design is one of a jesters, which is the perfect compromise between levity and simple.
If your door is wooden and in a light brown color, a chrome or in some cases brass knockers would match perfectly.
A dark colored door would look better with a black cast iron piece.
The handle of the door would also dictate the color and material of the door knocker.
Here is our cheat sheet that offers a briefer overview on choosing the right door knocker:
➢ There are two types of door knockers: a surface mounted door knocker and through-the-door knocker.
➢ There are five materials that are most commonly used to make door knockers - cast iron, pewter, copper, stainless-steel and brass. Each comes with different benefits such as copper does not rust, stainless-steel has anti-freezing properties, brass and cast iron are most durable.
➢ If you happen to live in a period home, you should stick with accessories in the same period. Georgian and regency homes beg for brass pieces. For Victorian styled ones, a cast iron door knocker is best.
➢ Contemporary homes have all the freedom in the world and the only thing is to best match the material of the door knocker to the material of the handle.
➢ Light brown wooden doors ask for chrome or brass and darker colored doors would look well with a traditional cast iron door knocker.