Door knobs or door handles?

[mobear]

Just that! Do you prefer door knobs or door handles?

I prefer the look of door knobs but we have really annoying round smooth ones that you can't open if your hands are wet.

In some countries you're not allowed knobs to meet fire regs because people, especially elderly people, get trapped in rooms when they can't get a grip to open them.

Door handles but cupboard knobs. Handles are easier.

There was a thread recently about round door knobs and the difficult of opening with wet hands. Apparently an oval shaped knob is easier, but gives a similar look to the round ones.

I also like the look of round, but function of handle. What style/era is the house?

I hate knobs. Our wardrobes have knobs an i can never open the bloody things. It makes me irrationally angry.

@Elouera It's an Edwardian house we're renovating.

I have round faceted crystal knobs which are beautiful. Doors are never shut so not a problem, but why would you have wet hands when using a door?

@ExpressDelivery

In some countries you're not allowed knobs to meet fire regs because people, especially elderly people, get trapped in rooms when they can't get a grip to open them.

In some areas you're not allowed handles, at least on outside doors, because bears can open them! I think both rules apply in different parts of Canada.

I've googled Edwardian door knobs and they are almost all round, some oval and a few beehive style with groves around them. Like the oval, the grooves also help with grip.

TBH, depending on the rest of the decor, you could find a complementary, heritage handle style if you prefer that look rather than round. Another vote for handle, when you have both hands full, carrying a baby/dog, shopping etc and need to open a door. With the handle, you can use your elbow to push it down, whereas the round you can't.

I like knobs best. We have a mix of knobs and handles.

OK, no handles if OP has bears...

@ExpressDelivery

OK, no handles if OP has bears...

hehehehe!!! That's hilarious (well not if you live in Canada!)

We don’t have bears but we have some very clever and intimidating cats!

We are in a house built in 1880 so it's door knobs all the way - but they can be a pain to open.

If you have door knobs they usually need to be fitted on 4 inch latches to sit further into the door and avoid hitting your knuckles on the doorstop. That's why they work really well with 4 panel doors as you have the room to fit them on the middle panel.
If you have a Mexicano or Vancouver style door, for example, you'd only have room for a 3 inch latch so would be better with handles.

[quote mobear]@Elouera It's an Edwardian house we're renovating.[/quote]
In that case, you should have horizontal sashlocks, and doorknobs.

I agree about oval ones being better than round because you can grip them.

This would certainly be true, although just be aware that horizontal locks have a much bigger lockcase and so therefore take a much bigger amount out of your door.
And be aware of door style to make sure they fit

If the Edwardian house has original doors, or replicas, it should already have horizontal sashlocks. In some houses they will be rimlocks, which avoids the problem of tenons in the middle rail.

I dislike the painted rimlocks found in smaller houses. The grander brass cases look very fine, but are expensive.

You can buy extra-long mortice latches as substitutes, for doors that need never be locked.

Thanks @PigletJohn! The house currently has its original doors but we’ll have to replace them as they’ve been dipped by a previous owner and are on their last legs.

Victorian house here and replaced knobs with handles. The knobs just didn't work well. I think some had been added in as a feature and were too near the door frame so you banged your knuckles. Took ages to find handles that were chunky /not modern and not silly price , much better though, they shut properly.

@mobear

Thanks *@PigletJohn*! The house currently has its original doors but we’ll have to replace them as they’ve been dipped by a previous owner and are on their last legs.

If you can find an experienced joiner, he should be able to dismantle, repair and reassemble them. Panelled doors are basically just half a dozen pieces of wood, cut, planed and joined together.

Edwardian house, beehive round knobs throughout (better for grip) however we put a handle on the inside of the kids' bedroom so they can easily get out from the inside when the door is shut. Although saying this, they have no problem with the round ones in general but for nighttime panics/nightmares we thought this to be a good idea.

I have door knobs on 1930s type doors as I feel they look better.
Two outer doors (uPVC) have handles and I keep getting my short sleeves caught on them as a go past. Perhaps I'm too wide?

@Somanysocks

I have round faceted crystal knobs which are beautiful. Doors are never shut so not a problem, but why would you have wet hands when using a door?

Erm just finished washing up, just finished washing hands? It's also a problem if you've just put hand cream on too! Faceted crystal ones sound great through, where did you get them? :)

I've just renovated an Edwardian house and we went for beehive knobs of dark wood with nickel plates. In our old Victorian house we had plain silver knobs and they were annoyingly slippery. The beehive grooves are definitely better.