Decorative Doorbells
by Giorgina Devereaux
Decorative doorbells are the perfect
way to spruce up the exterior of your home without spending a fortune.
Nothing is more welcoming than a decorative doorbell because it adds a does of
charm and quaintness to the exterior of your home.
Incorporating this type of accent gives you the opportunity to add something
that reflects your personality while enhancing your entry door.
It is these types of decorative touches that go a long way in making your home
unique and lovely.
Click here to share a picture of YOUR decorative doorbell, and
let others "score" your decor!
Perhaps you may be thinking how a
doorbell can add appeal to the exterior of a home since it generally brings to
mind images of the old standard doorbell.
However, surprisingly enough, there
are many different styles, sizes, and colors to choose from. The choices are
endless. You can select from illuminated whimsical frog doorbells to
contemporary styles to vintage themes, and even wireless doorbells.
If you prefer a more traditional
style that is highly elegant, these are available too. The exquisite details on
these doorbells offer the elegance and hand-crafted quality of a bygone era. It
is a lovely way to grace your home exterior.
History of the Doorbell
To fully appreciate the doorbell, it
is nice to go back in time to understand how it evolved. The original doorbell
was a bell that was located near the main entrance of a building to announce the
arrival of a visitor. Manual door knockers were also used and created noise as
the visitor hammered the knocker.
The door knocker is still found in medieval
castles and homes and features vintage designs consisting of a part that is
attached to the door and connected to another part by a hinge.
It can be lifted
up and used to strike the door making a metal clanging sound.
It wasn’t until 1831 that the first
electric doorbell was invented by American scientist Joseph Henry. In the early
1900s, doorbells progressed from buzzers to musical chimes. The musical chime
doorbells made their appearance during the late 1920s and became popular during
the 1930s.
However, by the late 1960s, the novelty of musical chime doorbells had worn off.
Today, you can select from a variety of decorative doorbells to suit your
tastes. However, for mechanical purposes, there are two types of doorbells that
are available, which are wired doorbells and wireless doorbells.
The wired
doorbells operate off the household current and the bell is wired to the chime
through the walls. It is the most common type of doorbell and is found in older
and newer homes.
On the other hand, wireless doorbells do not require wiring. The bell serves as
the transmitter and is mounted at the front door while the chime is a receiver
and can be placed anywhere within range. Wireless doorbells offer flexibility
and ease since you don’t have to hassle with wiring.
When choosing a doorbell, there are different options available to you. Some
doorbells offer a larger range than others, with some having multiple chime
units to increase the area where you can hear the bell. Also, some doorbell
chime units allow you to select the type of chime you would like to hear and
give you the option of adjusting the volume of the unit.
Prior to purchasing a doorbell,
consider the areas where your doorbell may be inaudible, such as the basement,
garage, and attic. You want to make sure you purchase a doorbell that you will
be able to hear from all areas of your home.
Decorative Doorbell Designs
Decorative Doorbells are available
in the following designs:
-
Acorns
-
Bass
-
Bat
-
Bear
-
Bull
Frog
-
Butterfly
-
Cactus
-
Cardinal
-
Cat
-
Celtic
Cross
-
Cherub
-
Clavos
-
Compass
-
Cowboy
Boots
-
Coyote
-
Crab
-
Crown
-
Dog
Breeds
-
Dolphin
-
Dragon
-
Dragonfly
-
Eagle
-
Elephant
-
Elk
-
Embossed
-
Fairy
-
Flamingo
-
Fleur de
Lis
-
Gargoyle
-
Gecko
-
Giraffe
-
Golf Bag
-
Golf
Ball
-
Gothic
-
Grape
Cluster
-
Heart
-
Horse
-
Hummingbird
-
Kokopelli
-
Lighthouse
-
Lion
Head
-
Lone
Star
-
Maple
Leaf
-
Mermaid
-
Military
Insignia
-
Moon
-
Moose
-
North
Wind
-
Oak
Leaves
-
Owl
-
Palm
Tree
-
Pineapple
-
Pine
Cones
-
Rabbit
-
Rooster
-
Sailboat
-
Salmon
-
Scallop
-
Seahorse
-
Skull
-
Star
-
Statue
of Liberty
-
Starfish
-
Sun Face
-
Sunflower
-
Trout
-
Turtle
-
Victorian
-
Vintage
European
-
Wolf
Finishes, Materials, and
Additional Design Features for Decorative Doorbells
Decorative Doorbells are offered
in the following finishes and materials:
-
Antique
Brass
-
Brass
-
Bronze
-
Brushed
Nickel
-
Copper
-
Oil
Rubbed Bronze
-
Pewter
-
Polyresin
-
Steel
Decorative Doorbells are available
with stone back plates in the following stone:
-
Light
Travertine Smooth
-
Light
Travertine Rough
-
Dark
Travertine Smooth
-
Dark
Travertine Rough
-
Green
Slate
-
Grey
Slate
-
Rust
Slate
-
Black
Marble
-
Orange
Marble
-
Rose
Marble
Installing a Doorbell
How to Install a Wireless Doorbell
Installing a wireless doorbell is not
that difficult or time consuming. You can mount the bell at the front door
using double sided tape or you can use a screw to keep it in place. The chime
unit is placed on the inside of the house. Some chimes are independent units
that operate off batteries and require no electrical current. The only issue is
that these batteries have to be changed periodically. As an alternative, you
can plug in the chime unit to the household current, which will eliminate the
need for changing batteries.
How to Replace a Doorbell
Safety is always first. Begin by shutting off the power.
Even though most
doorbells are wired at 12 volts, which is considered a minimal electrical flow,
you don’t want to take any chances in case the bell is wired with a higher
electrical current than anticipated.
Remove the old buzzer by unscrewing
the two screws that go through the face plate. Pull the buzzer away from the
door jamb and then turn it over. If the wires are attached with small screws
then loosen them and remove the wires. If you notice that the wires are clipped
into a slot, then simply cut them free. This can be done using wire strippers
to expose a portion of the wire to install your new buzzer.
After the old buzzer has been removed, attach the wires to the new buzzer. If
the ends of the wires appear to be in good condition, then connect them to the
new one.
However, if they are frayed or if you had to cut them free, then use the wire
strippers to expose about ½” of clean wire, and then proceed with connecting
them to the new buzzer. It doesn’t matter which wire goes to which connector on
the buzzer. Use the screws that come with your new doorbell and attach the face
plate to the door jamb and then turn the power back on.
The process is almost the same if you decide to replace the chimes inside the
house with one exception. When wiring to the chime, care must be taken to
ensure that the correct wire is connected to the corresponding post. Keep track
of where each wire color goes when replacing the chime unit.
There’s more to a decorative doorbell than meets the eye. However, once
installed, the results will be lovely and something that will enjoyed for many
years to come. It is like entering a world of gracious living because of the
artistry and craftsmanship that the decorative doorbell evokes.
Got a Picture of Your Decorative Doorbell? Post it here.
Proud of your decorative doorbell? Need advice about decor? Snap a photo, upload it, and show it off to the world or solicit feedback from readers.
Other Decorative Doorbell Pictures
Here are pictures of other decorative doorbells. They were all written by visitors to this website.
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Related articles:
Decorative Interior Doors
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