Door Stops Buying Guide
A door stop is a small fitting, but it does real work in a home, particularly in high-traffic areas where a door is opened and closed frequently enough that repeated contact with a wall or piece of furniture eventually causes visible damage. Beyond that practical role, a door stop is also one of the more overlooked opportunities to carry a hardware finish through a room consistently, since it sits at floor or door height alongside the handle itself.
Types of door stops
- Wall mounted stops attach directly to the wall to cushion the door before it makes contact, and suit areas with limited floor space where a floor-mounted stop would be underfoot. They pair well with a matte black door handle for a considered, contemporary look, since both sit at a similar visual weight in the room
- Floor mounted stops are fixed to the floor and suit doors that open to their fullest extent, giving a firm stopping point without any wall-mounted hardware. These are available across a range of finishes, and pairing one with a brushed brass door handle keeps the hardware finish consistent from door to floor
- Spring stops offer a more flexible, cushioned stopping action, often chosen for bedrooms and playrooms where a softer contact point is preferred over a fixed, rigid stop
- Magnetic stops serve a different purpose again: rather than limiting a door's swing, they hold it open. Magnetic stops secure a door in an open position via a magnetic catch, while kick-down stops are manually engaged with a foot to hold the door ajar. Both suit areas where a door needs to stay open for extended periods, such as a hallway or laundry
Matching door stops to existing hardware
A door stop is easiest to choose once the door handle finish for a room is settled, since matching the two keeps the hardware reading as one considered decision rather than an afterthought. Gunmetal door stops suit a gunmetal handle set, and a classic chrome door handle pairs naturally with a polished stainless steel door stop, since both share the same cool, reflective character.
For a still-cohesive but slightly less exact match, satin brass or brushed brass door stops work well alongside similarly warm-toned handle finishes, without needing to be an identical shade.
Installation
Fitting a door stop is generally straightforward, whether it's being screwed to the adjoining wall, skirting board, or the door itself, using a drill and the screws provided. Marking the intended position in pencil before drilling helps confirm placement is correct before committing to a fixing point.
A few things are worth checking before installation:
- Placement position the stop where it will absorb the door's movement effectively without sitting in a spot that's awkward to walk past
- Clearance confirm the stop won't interfere with the door's full swing or with nearby hardware such as hinges
- Durability choose a stop rated for daily use in busier areas, such as entryways, where it will be engaged frequently
Will a door stop damage my floors or walls?
Not if the right material is chosen for the surface. Door stops with non-marking materials, such as rubber or soft plastics, are suitable across hardwood, tile and carpet flooring without scratching or denting the surface. Confirming the installation method suits the specific floor or wall type before fitting helps avoid this kind of damage.
Can a door stop be used to keep a door open?
Yes. Magnetic door stops hold a door open via a magnetic catch, while kick-down door stops are manually engaged with a foot to keep the door ajar. Both are useful in spaces where a door needs to stay open for an extended period, rather than being limited to a single, fixed opening position.
Brands in this collection
This collection includes door hardware from Nidus, Lane, Lockwood and Zanda, allowing a door stop to be matched directly to a handle set from the same brand and finish family where an exact match is the goal.
Completing the room
A door stop is easiest to finalise once the door handle finish is settled, since the two are worth choosing as a matched pair rather than separately. The Blue Space's Door Handles collection is worth reviewing alongside a door stop selection, so the hardware throughout a room, or a whole home, reads as one considered choice.
