Square Doorknobs Are A Thing — And They Might Just Be The Better Choice

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We've all done it — applied lotion post-shower, only to be met with a greasy hand that couldn't grip a round doorknob. Clamp down tight as we may, there was just no way that hand was going to do anything with that knob. Enter the square doorknob. And while its quirky appearance may look like something out of an "Alice in Wonderland" book, the magic it brings to the door-opening experience is anything but otherworldly. It's very practical. 

Aside from making the door handle easier to grip, the influx of square doorknobs serve a purpose in your home's design. That is, their sleek, yet somewhat boxy appearance adds a bit of whimsy to the decor. In the post-monochrome-home era, details like bright pops of paint and unusual hardware are having their day. People want to show off their personalities through their home design, and adding details like square knobs to all of the doors in the house is one way to do that.

Such an item also offers you a way to create visual cohesion in a space. For example, add a square doorknob to your kitchen's pantry door to complement the square drawer pulls you've featured on the cupboards throughout the kitchen. The space looks pulled together due to the repeating square forms in the room, and in the process, this cabinet hardware trend makes the room feel more comfortable and inviting.

Like their wheel-shaped counterparts, square doorknobs come in a variety of styles and designs, from fairly plain boxes to sleek see-through glass numbers. And there are even more combinations within the design, such as glass square knobs with a metal base. Styles can also include a mix of metals. Think gold door plate attached to a polished black metal knob. The square knobs with duo- or triple-tones can serve a secondary purpose, in addition to their visual aesthetics. For those who are visually impaired, they can be easier to see, and therefore, navigate, thanks to the color contrasts. While these types of door handles are not 100% ADA-compliant, they do go a long way toward making the environment more comfortable for some. 

Square knob styles can be found at various retailers, from shops on Etsy to the Amerdeco Matte Black Interior Door Knobs on Amazon. As far as decorative embellishments go, you'll find features like beveling, which gives the doorknob a layered look. Some square drawer pulls also have this feature, so you can match the doorknob on your pantry or bathroom door with the pulls on the cabinets in the room in question. These features, as well as the materials, lend themselves to certain decorating and design styles. Think Art Deco decor, which feature bold, geometric patterns and designs mounted on luxury materials, and you're understanding the vibe these doorknobs can bring to your home's aesthetic.