WHAT BLACK HANDLES ARE TRENDING NOW?
Black door handles have never gone out of fashion. Many people consider them to be ‘antique’. Certainly they are suitable for country cottages, rural homes, barn conversions, rustic interiors, ledged and braced doors, painted timber doors and heritage style renovations. Traditional crafting methods remain active in specialized foundries producing malleable iron components to suit legacy buildings and projects, but black handles can still be minimalist and as contemporary as you choose to make them. Black interior door handles and black exterior door handles are versatile and ever popular. Here are some of the most popular in our range and collection – why not pop them in your basket now?
Featured trending black handles
WHY ARE BLACK INTERNAL DOOR HANDLES SO POPULAR?
One of the beauties of ‘black’ is that it can be so enigmatic. Kitchen doors, loo doors, bedroom doors, study doors, drawing room doors – whether an internal door or an external door a matt black handle conveys a sense of mystery. At the same time they add the sense of honesty, security and the strength that comes with iron. When it comes to living spaces, offices and other interior spaces, you don’t mess with a black door handle, it is a bold statement you treat with respect.
A HISTORY OF IRON DOOR HANDLES
Black iron handles and other black door furniture dates back to the Middle Ages. Black door handles first appeared around 1380 AD, forged primarily by local village blacksmiths. Early pieces were heavy, plain, and utilitarian cast iron made to secure large wooden entry doors and heavy oak beams. Round roses and square roses came much later, along with backplates. Due to primitive manufacturing, early ironmongery was fastened directly to doors and doorframes using simple iron nails rather than threaded black iron screws.
DESIGNER DOOR FURNITURE
However high-carbon cast iron is brittle, so blacksmiths later transitioned to wrought and malleable iron, which allowed for easier shaping and bending to create crafted and stylish black ‘door furniture’ as it is known in the trade. This led to a flourishing age for decorative handles and classic designs such as monkey tail and Fleur-de-Lys patterns. Handles on a round rose or a square rose, along with an elegant backplate, also became a very popular way to distinguish or differentiate your sense of style.
Featured traditional and designer handles
IRON HANDLES ARE FAMOUS FOR DURABILITY
Being made of iron, plain uncoated handles from medieval times were prone to rust. Our modern black door handles are subject to salt-spray testing (often exceeding 172 hours) and finished with protective metallised or powder coatings to resist rust on exterior and interior period renovations. Whatever style of black handle you purchase from us you can be sure to discover its stylish durability.
A BLACK ROUND ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME …
Shakespeare probably wasn’t thinking of a black rose when he wrote Romeo and Juliet but a rose on any black internal door handle is a beautiful finishing touch., whether it is a round rose or a square rose. The fact is that if you use black door furniture you will always be able to find complementary or sympathetic black ironmongery – hinges, door and finger plates, door catches, ventilators and grilles, judas plates, key-hole covers and escutcheons – the world is full of black accessories, the perfect touch to add when you enter or exit a room.
If the door needs to lock, the rose handle is normally combined with a separate escutcheon, keyhole cover or bathroom turn-and-release in a matching finish. Browse our matt black door handles on rose for more contemporary options, or black antique door handles on rose for more traditional designs.
Featured handles on rose
Black Door Handle Brands
Our black lever handle collection brings together traditional foundry-made ironmongery and modern architectural hardware. The brands below give you a useful starting point when you want to keep the handle design and finish consistent throughout a project.
KIRKPATRICK BLACK IRONMONGERY
The firm of Kirkpatrick has been producing the highest quality Malleable Ironmongery at its foundry in Walsall since 1855. They have a selection of ranges and are especially known for their black antique door handle collection, a range traditionally made by skilled Blacksmiths right here in the UK.
Featured Kirkpatrick handles: Kirkpatrick 2439 and Kirkpatrick Tudor 2449.
FOXCOTE FOUNDRIES BLACK IRONMONGERY
Foxcote Foundries reproduces the best of traditional English hand-made iron work. Combining timeless style with the latest manufacturing techniques creates a classic range of black ironmongery perfectly suited to restoration projects and period style homes.
Featured Foxcote handles: Traditional FF111 and Fleur De Lys FF311.
LUDLOW FOUNDRIES BLACK IRONMONGERY
Ludlow Foundries collection of black antique handles and hardware combines the most up-to-date production processes with timeless design. Their period range is a collection of traditionally crafted and hand-made black antique, pewter and beeswax ironmongery including handles, door knobs, window and cupboard furniture, and hinges and latches.
Featured Ludlow handles: Barley Twist and Fleur-de-Lys.
M. MARCUS BLACK IRONMONGERY
Established over 80 years ago as a traditional foundry, M. Marcus is one of the leading suppliers of architectural ironmongery in the UK. Their traditional black ironmongery is made from malleable iron which is then treated with a zinc phosphating process before being black powder coated with a UV protection coating, making these handles a great choice for external use as they are rust-free and virtually maintenance-free.
Featured M. Marcus handles: Black Iron Ludlow and Donnington Square Rose.
Zoo Hardware Black Door Handles
Zoo Hardware offers a broad selection of modern lever handles, including clean rose designs and handles on backplate. Black finishes work particularly well with the simple lines of the Stanza collection and contemporary residential interiors.
Featured Zoo handles: Stanza Merida and Stanza Leon.
Alexander & Wilks Black Door Handles
Alexander & Wilks is a strong option for modern statement hardware. Reeded, hammered and other tactile lever designs bring extra texture to a black finish while retaining the clean proportions associated with contemporary handles on rose.
Featured Alexander & Wilks handles: Spitfire Reeded and Spitfire Hammered.
Atlantic Hardware Black Door Handles
Atlantic Hardware brings together a wide choice of contemporary lever styles and finish options. Matt black appears across slim roses, square roses and minimalist designs, making Atlantic useful for modern apartments, new builds and coordinated whole-house schemes.
Featured Atlantic handles: Tupai Rapido 5S Covas, Forme Foglia, Stanza Alaska and ORO Ace.
Frelan Black Door Handles
Frelan offers a particularly useful selection of contemporary black handles, including the Nero collection. These designs focus on modern matt black finishes, concealed roses and clean lever profiles that suit minimalist interiors.
Featured Frelan handle: Nero Vecta Matt Black.
Carlisle Brass Black Door Handles
Carlisle Brass offers architectural door hardware across traditional and modern styles, with black finishes available on a range of lever designs. It is a useful brand to explore when you need coordinated handles and complementary door hardware for a larger project.
Featured handles: Carlisle Brass Trentino and Manital Ibra.
BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK
Black is beautiful, black is elegant, black is stylish. Black door handles go with just about anything – as a stark statement against white, as a tone of grey, as a trendy wake-up call against red. If you want to be super-cool why not try ‘Black-on-Black’ - matt black handles on black gloss doors create a subtle shading, the various angles and surfaces available on door knobs and handles reflecting light in very different way. Explore our range, collection and selection and discover that it allows for a breadth of options whilst maintaining optimum practicality and the opportunity to upgrade for perfect results whatever type you choose.
Featured contemporary matt black handles
- Zoo Hardware Stanza Merida Door Handle on Rose - Pair
- Alexander & Wilks Spitfire Hammered Lever on Round Rose - Pair
- Atlantic Hardware Stanza Alaska Door Handle on Rose - Matt Black - Pair
- Atlantic Hardware ORO Ace Lever Door Handle on Square Rose
- Frelan Nero Vecta Lever Door Handle on Rose - Matt Black
KEY FEATURES
Each pair of our fitted black door handles and all complementary black iron door furniture and accessories are manufactured to the highest specifications, offered with a no quibble money back guarantee. Key features include all necessary fixings.
OUR BLACK DOOR HANDLES WILL KEEP YOU ‘IN THE BLACK’!
We listen to our customer and know that whilst top choice, quick delivery and service are important when it comes to buying black door handles, so is price. We consistently check our products against high street and out-of-town shopping mall outlets to remain competitive on price.
Choosing the Right Black Door Handle
Before ordering, check more than the finish. The right handle needs to suit the door, the latch or lock and the way the room is used.
- Rose or backplate: choose a compact rose for a minimal look, or a backplate when you want more decorative detail or an integrated keyhole or bathroom function.
- Latch, lock or bathroom: make sure the handle style is compatible with the latch or lock already fitted, or with the new lockcase you intend to use.
- Internal or external use: check the product specification and finish guidance before fitting a handle outside.
- Sprung or unsprung: some levers include their own spring assistance while others rely on the latch or lock spring. Match the components accordingly.
- Matching accessories: consider hinges, escutcheons, turn-and-release sets, door stops and other visible fittings at the same time so the finishes coordinate.
- Fixing centres and existing holes: when replacing handles, compare backplate dimensions and fixing positions to avoid unwanted marks on the door.
FAQS
How quickly are my handles delivered?
AS a general rule our black door handles are delivered ex-stock within 24 hours of order. If not in stock delivery is normally within 2 working days. For handmade to order ranges like Kirkpatrick, Croft and Frank Allart, then the lead time can be between 2-8 weeks, depending on the manufacturer.
Do door handles come with fixings and instructions
Yes. They come packed with the necessary complementary fixings and are easy to install.
Are black door handles suitable for old and heritage properties?
Yes, there are many historic designs for black door handles that date back to medieval times. That makes it easy to pick a design to both make a bold statement and sympathise with the age of any property, whilst maintaining security.
Will matt black door handles suit my contemporary apartment style?
‘Matt black’ is traditionally minimalist and goes with any colour, especially white or tones of grey. Pick an angular and edgy casting to make a real modernist statement in living, bedroom and office spaces..
Can I get matching push plates, hinges and escutcheons to blend with black door handles?
Yes, More Handles offers a comprehensive range of suitable crafted black door furniture with identical screws and fixing to ensure your project can be harmonised.
Are matt black iron doorhandles sustainable
The great thing about matt black handles is that they are 100% recyclable – if you decide to change them make sure you put them in your metal and plastic recycling bin. Don’t forget to include screws, backplates and any other complimenting fittings. Also, when replacing your current handles with black door handle, make sure you check if the ones you are throwing away can be recycled too.
How long will my black door handles last?
Iron handles crafted with a powder coated finish are very durable. Typically an internal black door handle can easily last up to 50 years. Externally their life may depend on ‘wear and tear’ – if the surface coating gets chipped and they are exposed to moisture, they can rust which will reduce their lifespan.
Do black door handles ned maintaining
Powder coated black door handles are designed to require little maintaining and durability. However in living spaces where there is high traffic their life can be extended by occasionally wiping with a damp cloth to remove dirt and skin oils plus a light coat of beeswax or maintenance oil to prevent rust.
Do prices include VAT and delivery
At More Handles value added tax (VAT) is included in the prices displayed for all of our door furniture Delivery prices as stated.
MORE HANDLES OFFERS A COMPLETE IRONMONGERY RANGE
As one of the UK’s leading supplier of black door furniture More Handles offers a complete range of products suitable for builders or individuals alike who are looking to add traditional character to a newbuild project or refurbish an existing building. Our traditional door handles and other products have been used and trusted for cottages, country homes, barn conversions, period properties, rustic interiors, and heritage renovation projects. For further details of our full range of complementary door fittings check out:
For specific handle styles, browse
