It is easy to forget that they are there, but a door hinge is an important part of the functionality of your door. Yes, you need them to keep the doors upright and attached to the frame but you can also enhance your design by making them a feature on your door. Door hinges can be found on a wide variety of different doors. Any place there is a door there is a hinge that allows it to open and close without gravity forcing it horizontal. Where the doors are being used will determine what kind of hinges you’ll need and will help you determine when a hinge can be used to enhance your design.
There are times when the hinge isn’t normally visible because of the way the door was engineered or because of the way the designer intended the door to be placed. That doesn’t mean that you need to choose an unattractive hinge or ineffective hinge. Even hidden door hinges that recess into the framework and the back of the door come in different metal finishes and colors. One popular one are the stainless steel door hinges. You can choose hinges that are in the same style as the other hardware in your room to keep the elements cohesive.
Modern and contemporary designs don’t call for hinges that are visible because the minimalist or unencumbered look is preferred. If you do have a piece that you want to use in your space that has visible hinges you won’t go wrong with using a silver or chromed hinge. This lends the desired sleek and clean lines look that is often found in modern and contemporary design.
When your design style centers on a historical time period or specific regions then hinges have more of an opportunity for involvement in your design choice. This is especially true for the incorporation of strap, H, L, and cockshead hinges. Strap hinges extend across the surface (front and back) of the door to provide better leverage so that the parts of the hinge that moves won’t be misaligned due to the weight of the door. An H hinge was used for flush mounted doors as cabinet door hinges or door hinges on pieces of furniture. An L hinge was most commonly used as the hinge for outdoor gates. The cockshead hinge is very similar to the H hinge except the ends were curled up or down in the shape of a rooster head or other animals and were commonly used on smaller barn or stable doors.
Colonial design is a great example of a design style that allows the opportunity to use hinges as an aesthetic feature in the room. It is true to the historical times for the hinges to be much larger than they are today. Using strap hinges on your front door in black iron against a white door will make the door appear more substantial giving the impression that the door has been there for a long period of time. The hinges during this time period were always painted black.
If your home was built during the Victorian Era and you are keeping your home true to its origins than hinges are an excellent way for you to bring a fun element into your design. Victorian hinges were very ornate butterfly hinges that often incorporated a vine design or geometric patterns. Cabinets and shutters used H-hinges that were just as ornate. Both varieties were created in cast iron or bronze. Used on interior doors and furniture these hinges will add character to your space.
Another design style that will allow you the chance to use fun door hinges is Tuscan inspired design. Large ornately carved doors are the perfect backdrop for large ornate strap hinges. The substantial size and weathered appearance will lend the idea that the doors were transported from the old world to find a new home in modern times. These strap hinges are usually painted black or allowed to keep their rust color.
Take a cue from your design aesthetic and allow your hinges to become an integral part of your home decor. You can add fun accessories through the use of historically accurate hinges to dress up interior doors, exterior doors, and cabinet doors in the kitchen and on pieces of furniture. Using hinges for something more than function allows you to create interest in your space without taking away from the overall design concept.