French Door Hardware

How To Upgrade French Door Hardware

French doors are one of the most popular architectural accents in homes of all styles, from traditional to modern, but many people don’t know how to enhance their beauty using quality hardware.  Learning the different options that are available in French door hardware can be highly helpful in making your French doors look good.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about the hardware on a French door is the handle.  A traditional handle will have a curve to it similar to that on the handle of a teapot.  Another option that is popular for the handles of French doors is cut glass knobs.  At any rate, if you are replacing the handles on your doors pick something decorative, and keep in mind that handles for interior French doors are significantly different than those for exterior ones.  For example, French doors that go out onto a patio need to lock, while those that go onto a sunroom with an external door won’t have to.

Another of the common accessories for a French door is the window divider.  Some French doors, particularly older versions, have individual glass panes on each of them, but the newer versions tend to have one sheet of solid glass. In this case you may want to purchase a wooden or resin window divider that will give the appearance of individual panes. 

If your French door also encompasses some other style of door such as a pocket door, there may be additional hardware you need to purchase to make it function properly. In this case, discussing it with a home improvement professional is recommended.

Finally, if you don’t have French doors in your home but would like to add the look without spending the money to replace existing doors, keep in mind that you can buy a piece of furniture such as a cabinet with French doors built into it.  However, if you do this it is not recommended that you change the hardware on the piece because it may be nonstandard size depending upon where the piece was manufactured.

If you’re thinking that you don’t want to upgrade the hardware on your French doors because it will be too difficult, keep in mind that the Bobvila site shows videos that will teach you how you can do this quickly and easily.  Upgrading French door hardware can make a significant difference in both the appearance and functionality of the doors.