As home offices become more common, so does the need for privacy – and the demand for office-suitable internal door locks. Internal door locks are essential for home offices as they allow you to work in peace and quiet, without distraction. According to UK lock experts at Locks & Hardware, who helped us write this guide, indoor door locks for home offices are becoming more and more in demand.
If you’ve never worked from home, try it without locks.
You’ll soon wonder why everyone in your house seems to want to walk into your office. They could come in for a chat, to ask you to help with something, or simply to kill time. Either way, they will cause you to lose focus and distract you, meaning your productivity dips and you likely fall behind.
Who wants to go through that when, with some simple internal door locks, this is entirely avoidable?
Internal Door Locks: The Easy Way To Regain Home Office Privacy
As a professional working from home, your time is literally money. If you are struggling to finish your projects due to constant distractions, having a door lock with a key – or similar – is a great investment.
Why? Well, if the door is locked, people cannot walk in to bother you. Sure, they might be well-intentioned, coming to ask you if you want anything. More often than not, though, they’ll want a chat or to ask you to help with something. It’s not done maliciously, but people forget work boundaries when working from a home office. They assume your time is unlimited and fully flexible.
By installing door and lock parts into your home office door, you avoid this issue. The rules become simple: if your door is locked, come back later!
Privacy is essential to allowing you to enjoy a productive, calm working environment. Many people who work from home find that – with some added indoor door locks – they get more done than they would in an office that is likewise filled with potential distractions.
Now, the challenge comes down to finding the right kind of internal door locks. Do you go with a standard door lock and handle combination? Or do you future-proof your investment by going for a more modern option, such as digital locks?
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Choosing The Best Internal Lock For Your Home Office
The challenge with buying a suitable internal door lock for your home office is two-fold:
- You need a lock that is compatible with your current door type and door frame
- You require a lock that you can only unlock from the interior door side
If your office door lock can be opened from both sides, it does not quite do the job intended. Someone can just open the door. Yes, having an emergency override is useful in case of a medical situation or a fire, etc., but you generally want a lock that is only unlockable from the office side.
You also need to find a lock that is compatible with your current door type. Some doors will not be compatible with digital locks, for example. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular home office options for internal door locks.
Door Locks And Handles
Probably the most common choice is a door handle with an interior door lock connected to it. The handle makes the door nice and easy to open, especially for people with limited mobility.
The lock mechanism is usually either a keyed lock or a thumb-turn lock. Keyed locks need a key to open or close, but can be locked or unlocked from both sides. Thumb-turn locks are usually one-way locks that you can only lock or unlock from the inside.
This is probably the most common choice, and it works well for most home offices. Door locks with handles are usually vastly compatible, too, making them an easy fit for most door types.
Door Locks And Knobs
Much like the above, a doorknob is usually connected to a keyed lock or a thumb-turn latch. Door knobs are usually a little harder to open due to their girth, so they might not be suitable for people with physical limitations. Generally, though, knobs are sturdy, secure, and hard to manipulate.
Both door knobs and handles that have a lock are best installed by a professional. They can ensure the locks line up with the door latch and handles, and that everything works as it should.
Door Bolts
A door bolt works well if you want something you can engage from the inside. Think of this like the ‘snib’ you get on a bathroom door. Once inside the room, you simply slide the bolt into place, and the door cannot be opened unless someone were to use significant physical force.
They are highly effective if a little basic. The only downside is that in the event of an emergency, if the bolt is snibbed into place, someone would need to smash the door down to get to you. Bolts can usually be self-installed, too, as they usually just get drilled into the frame and door.
Door Chains
A chain is useful for simple home office security. The chain, once engaged, means the door can open slightly ajar: usually enough for someone to ask you a question, but not enough to allow them to slip in through the door or to disable the chain.
They generally work very well for basic privacy. You can also get keyed door chains, which are useful indoor door locks if you want to be able to secure the home office from the inside and outside. Chains can be easily fitted by yourself, especially if you do not require a keyed door chain.
Digital Locks
By far and away the most robust option, internal door locks controlled digitally are worth the cost. They provide remote access control, auditing of access into the room, access alerts, and, of course, the ability to lock and unlock the door without having to use a key.
Simply use a biometric scan, keypad or a mobile app to control the locks. This door locking mechanism will cost you the most, but it provides the best security and peace of mind. Digital locks should only be installed by a licensed locksmith, as the installation process is far more complicated.
Who Should Install Internal Door Locks in Your Home Office?
We hope that the above has given you enough information to make an informed decision. We want to touch on one final question, though: who should install your home office’s internal door locks?
Generally, we would only recommend DIY installation for people who are handy with tools and have prior experience in installing locks. Incorrect lock installation can leave you with a damaged door that needs to be replaced. If you are ever uncertain about DIY internal door lock installation, hire a pro.
A locksmith can do the job for you in minutes and can make sure everything works as it should. This is especially true if you go for the more expensive digital lock style. They can also recommend the right quality of lock, so you get the security, privacy and longevity you want from your new door locking mechanism. Get the job done right, and you can look forward to working at home without distraction!
