Navy blue panelled door opening onto a room with putty walls and an oak floor, fitted with an antique brass mushroom knob on a stepped round rose
Interior inspiration · Painted doors

Navy doors with a plain brass knob

Deep navy panelled doors in a pale putty hall, each with the simplest knob there is: a smooth antique brass mushroom on a stepped rose.

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The look
Fittings
Antique brass
Doors
Deep navy
Walls
Warm puttyWhite panelling
Floor & furnishings
Light oakIvory rugTan leather

Flat navy paint on the doors, warm putty walls over crisp white panelling and architraves, light oak boards and an ivory rug, with antique brass taking the edge off all that blue.

Up close
Landing with navy blue panelled doors in white architraves, putty walls above white panelling and a dark painted banister, each door with a small brass knob Antique brass mushroom knob above a round antique brass keyhole escutcheon with key, on a navy blue panelled door, with a study of dark wood shelves and a leather armchair beyond Close-up of an antique brass mushroom knob on a stepped round rose fixed with four screws, on a light oak panelled door
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Dressing a navy door

Navy blue panelled door with an antique brass mushroom mortice knob on a stepped round rose 1
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Other knob shapes, and mushroom knobs in other finishes

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Good to know

Why a plain knob suits a dark door

EraVictorian to 1930s
Trend statusRising: deep painted doors are in demand
Inspired byDark doors in pale, panelled halls
SuitsTerraces, semis and new builds with panelled doors

Where it comes from

The plain round knob is the workhorse of the British house. Victorian, Edwardian and inter-war homes fitted them to almost every internal door, usually in brass because a simple rounded shape is comfortable to grip and suits any room.

Why antique brass on navy?

Bright brass against dark blue can look a little nautical. Antique brass is darkened and lacquered, so it sits closer in tone to the paint: the knob still stands out, but softly, and the stepped rings of the rose pick up a thin line of light.

Why it still works

When the door itself is the bold colour, the hardware doesn't need to compete. A smooth mushroom knob is the quietest option there is, and keeping it the same on every door lets a run of navy doors read as one scheme against the pale walls.

Getting it right

Knobs need a 3in latch

Mortice knobs work with a tubular latch fitted in the door edge. Choose a 3in (76mm) latch, not the common 2.5in, so your knuckles clear the frame as you turn. The knobs are half sprung and come in pairs with the spindle and screws.

Know the sizes

Each knob is 60mm across on a 63mm rose and projects 63mm from the door. If your doors have narrow stiles or you prefer a lighter look, the same knob comes in a smaller 54mm-rose version.

Locking doors

On a study or a door you lock with a key, add the 53mm round key escutcheon below the knob; it has a concealed fixing, like the rose. On the bathroom, fit the 53mm turn and release with a bathroom lock.

Paint first, then fit

Paint the doors before fitting the knobs and hinges, and swap plain steel hinges for antique brass butt hinges. A projection door stop at 76mm sticks out further than the knob, so the knob never meets the wall.