Disclosure: For this post I received gifted product from Grandeur Hardware. All opinions are my own and always will be! Thanks for supporting content that keeps Jojotastic going.
The last time we chatted about door hardware, it was exclusively about the gorgeous porcelain knobs we installed in the cabin from Grandeur Hardware. You know me, I’m always one to eschew a more traditional route and instead change things up. So while I was selecting our hardware, I chose a totally different collection for our external door hardware. The combination of interior hardware and exterior hardware is complementary, but not the same… cousins instead of siblings! So today, I wanted to walk you through my design process and thinking + share tips on how to mix and match door hardware with confidence… and show off a bit more of our still very much in progress bedroom renovation!
Mix and Match Interior and Exterior Door Hardware Like a Pro With These Tips
There’s no rule saying it all has to match!
I think so often we get caught up in making sure everything throughout our homes are uniform and consistent because that’s what is typically seen on social media and blogs. That’s totally fine, but sometimes you can diverge from the norm to create a more exciting design. Here’s the thing: there is no hard and fast rule. So if you feel like mixing and matching interior and exterior door hardware, give it a shot!
Take your time deciding
Selecting hardware is a major investment for any home, no matter the size (read all about how to select interior door hardware). I am a really big proponent of investing in the best quality you can afford because quality hardware is essential to a secure home. This is one home decor element not to skimp on! Because of this, I always recommend taking your time to decide on finishes, shape, and details. If you’re able to, take a picture of the doors and Photoshop on the hardware to help you decide… I do this ALL the time! For a more low tech route, you could print out a photo of the hardware, cut it out and tape it onto the doors to help judge which would work best.
Select hardware with a common theme
I like to think of selecting coordinating hardware as the same thought process as mixing prints: one piece will always stand out from the crowd, but there needs to be an element that unifies the overall design in the space. The combination of hardware should still feel like they are a family, but not immediately related like siblings. Think cousins, aunts and uncles, etc.
For us, this meant that our interior knobs would be black porcelain, including the interior side of the exterior door hardware. This common thread unites all of the hardware, but establishes a ‘form language’ for the exterior door that’s different. Your unifying theme could be the finish, the knob shape, or detailing on the metal backplate. I also made sure that our hinges were the same shape, but in the coordinating finish for the location. Simple considerations like this help to make the overall design plan more consistent yet unexpected.
Choose different finishes that still complement each other
I have grand plans to paint our front and back doors a bold pop color eventually, so I wanted a darker hardware finish to go with that eventually. Even though I’m not ready to paint the doors yet, careful design considerations like this will save us money in the long run. I chose the Fifth Avenue One-Piece Entry Set in Timeliness Bronze because I loved the darker finish that still had some warm tones to complement the brass on the inside of our home. Both finishes are warm, so they work together. You can also apply this advice to cooler finishes like stainless steel or nickel.
Get the look — here’s the hardware and hinges we installed:
- Black Porcelain Coventry Knob with Georgetown Rosette in Vintage Brass
- Button Tip Round Hinges in Vintage Brass
- Fifth Avenue One-Piece Entry Set in Timeliness Bronze with Coventry Knob, D Grip
- Button Tip Square Hinges in Timeless Bronze
Do you have any other tips to factor in when mixing and matching door hardware? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment and let me know. And I’d love to know what you think of the pieces we chose for our cabin!
