I hate locking doors on bedrooms. To me it feels like a safety issue no matter the age of the kids. I want to be able to get in there quickly if necessary in an emergency. My kids know they can trust me not to enter their rooms without knocking. And yours are definitely old enough to follow that rule too. If you said you have a 15 year old and a 3 year old it might be a bit different, but in that case I would do a hook and eye latch up high that can be popped open with a butter knife or even your hand. In fact, that is what we did give to our teens to keep their younger sibs out.

I also have a certain degree of "this is my house and I can enter any room I want to, when I want to." I realize that is pure obstinacy! And in practice I do not ever enter their rooms without an invite unless it's to retrieve my own clothes lol.

For guest rooms a locking door will probably be very appreciated unless your guests are young children.

As for what is done in spec homes, that's irrelevant. Spec homes are designed to be as inoffensive as possible to the greatest number of people as possible. In your home, your decisions should be made based on the needs of your own family. If the next owner has different needs then doorknobs are easy to change.

I've never locked a door when I've stayed in a guest room. It just seems like common sense that if the door is closed, you knock before entering any room - including your kid's room. Must be a regional thing...

I'm thinking fast access more for middle of the night fire or kid is throwing up in bed kind of emergencies. Not so much getting up for school, that I can handle quite effectively, lock or no lock!

The only privacy knobs I have in my house are the bathrooms. I do not see the need for them in bedrooms etc. As someone else mentioned, you knock first...but completely personal preference.

We have always had locks on the bedrooms, you can easily open with your fingernail but yes. I have double locks on my bedroom. Stay out kids! LOL

...it appears several commenters have never experienced a "Daddy & Mommy are just wrestling moment". Locks rule!

Regional? I don't know. Three children, each has their own room and share an upstairs bathroom. I've encouraged them to shower and vacate the bathroom for the next person. Get dressed and fix hair in their own rooms. It can be humid here so maybe someone doesn't get fully dressed right away. Toddlers/young children may not knock.

Chiflipper, a friend of mine calls that a nooky hook!

It looks like the consensus is half an half. I don't want my kids locking their door, but once they leave I'm not sure if guests will feel funny not having a lock. I never paid much attention until I went to go order the doorknobs. I think I'll order with locks and tell the kids to keep them unlocked unless they feel the need to lock when changing if guests are here etc.

If I know kids, those doors will be locked 24/7 lol.

Chiflipper absolutely locks on master bedrooms! I remember once telling my then 3-yr-old "one minute honey mama and papa need privacy" and she looked at me and said "to kick and giggle?" "You got it kid, OUT!!"

I can't imagine bedroom doors without locks. Rarely if ever locked, but the principle is there.

Locks on bedrooms and bathrooms that can be opened with a pin. I don't recall my kids ever using the lock when they were home. We did lock the master room door when it was mommy and daddy time. Now I lock the master if my husband is away. I figure it will give me an extra couple seconds to wake up and reach my ruger on the night stand.

Oh, look lindsey what was written - i wonder if I should ask what she means by 'wrestling moment'.....or....maybe i should have said this on the other post.

...it appears several commenters have never experienced a "Daddy & Mommy are just wrestling moment". Locks rule!

No locks. My husband called it a benevolent dictatorship.

I am constantly annoyed when I go to see my 8 year old in his room, and the door is locked. I am always saying I’m gonna remove the lock. But, it won’t be long until he’s a teen, and I do not want to walk in on my teen boy doing teen boy things. Or worse, have his sister walk in on him. So the lock stays. I’ve never lived anywhere that didn’t have locking doors. They are easily opened with a pin as others have noted

Maybe I'm just unreasonable fearful of a house fire, or unusually short on pins when I need them.

Lindsey- there is a linen closet outside my sons room with dozens of paper clips in it, just for that reason. If I need/want to get in, I can unfold a paper clip to gain access. Have done it lots, when he’s got earbuds in and can not hear (read ignores) my request to come in.

No. You get true locking privacy when you can PAY for it All by YOURSELF. No. NO. NOOOOO, until then.

Ya wonder what's wrong in this world? There ya go, Go ahead and yell.

Knock. Expect access. You are paying. They are lovable freeloaders. : )

Or as one mom (friend of a client ) discovered............after no answer and said:

"When you're done fooling with that..........dinner is ready". Use your imagination, kids.

I never even knew this was an issue as I've never been in a house or owned a house that didn't have locks on bedrooms. Every locking door has its special key above the door frame. My kids (15, 10, 10, 9) know that they aren't allowed to lock their door unless they are changing clothes. Door must stay open as well. We have special circumstances with our youngest, though, that warrant this as he's prone to just enter any room he deems necessary whenever he deems necessary. That situation will never be easily rectified (or at least not for a long time).

Jan, you are so funny!!

No, our bedrooms do not have locking doors. When a door is shut, the unwritten rule is to knock and wait until you are invited in. When the kids were little and napping, they were not allowed to leave their room until I gave them permission. It was never a problem.

The bathrooms do have locking doors, but are rarely used. Actually, they are rarely closed. Because I work nights, I am home alone. A lot. So, privacy in the bathroom was never an issue.

We have discussed this on Houzz before. Somehow, I never am in the bathroom by myself when everyone is home. Between the husband, kids, cats and dogs....it seems the bathroom is the only place they have me totally at their beck and call!!! If I truly minded, I would shut and lock the door. Apparently, I do not mind.

Can you picture that? Of course....that's why we laughed ourselves sick.

Bathrooms and master bedroom are the only locking interior doors.

Never occurred to me to wonder. I believe every residence I've ever occupied had locks on interior doors. I don't believed we've ever locked a bedroom. Never had a 'wrestling moment' either, kids (all in their teens now) know to knock before entering ever since they were tall enough to reach a door knob. I don't believe we taught them that specifically, just by example. We never burst into their rooms unannounced either, unless there was some kind of a distress call.

There are so many things in life that frustrate us human beings. Having my child lock his door when I need to get in is not one of them that I choose to entertain.

When my son was 8(now 14) he was upset over something I said to him so he locked the bathroom door. I immediately went to the master bedroom and pulled off one side of the closet door knob. When he came out of the bathroom, I switched the side of the closet door knob with the side of the bathroom that has the lock side. Needless to say he can no longer lock the door and when he closes it completely, it takes someone from the outside to help open it. Thus, the only locks are in the master bed, master bath and downstairs powder room and we never have to use the ones in the master part of the house.

We have international students and they have locks on their rooms and use them I have no problem with someone wanting privacy I knock they open what is the problem

I have threatened to take a door of the hinge. A friend's husband did that when their mouthy teen slammed her bedroom door in anger. He stored it in the garage for a month. No more slamming. :-)

ha, ha - I like that.

I have never had a house that didn't have locking doors on all the bedrooms. Your kids are old enough to expect some privacy. We had the key thing that would allow us to open the door if absolutely necessary. If you expect to be able to lock the master bedroom for privacy, I think that you should provide the same for your children. The only exception to me would be a child that is very troubled and would harm themselves if allowed to lock the door.

I would not put locks on bedroom doors. Only bathroom doors.

My house was built almost 14 years ago and I've locked the master bedroom door - ZERO - times. I just said to my husband last week, oh, I've forgotten that this door has a lock. It's a non-issue in my house to lock a bedroom door because we respect one another's privacy when the door is closed.

The only doors that need locks to me are the ones that go to the outside.

My kids never lock their doors (despite always having locks on their doors and they’re teenagers)...we all trust each other as well...however my guests should have the ability to lock their doors. That’s just good hospitality. How would you feel going to a hotel and not being able to lock your door...

Also even though we all respect each other’s privacy and such, if I’m having “wrestling time” with the hubs I am damn well locking that door. I would not EVER want that image in my kids’ heads just incase they accidentally opened the door...

tqtqtbw That is why doors have hinge pins! To thwart the teenager who wants to slam the bedroom door. Took my daughter twice to learn not to do that.

I know several kids who have lost the privilege of a door by slamming it...

There are many privileges I allow myself that I do not allow my children. Sex, alcohol, driving, and a locking bedroom door are among them.

Locks on all the doors...what if you are home alone and someone breaks in and the only place to hide is the bedroom without a door lock? Would the intruder knock and ask if he or she can enter because the door is closed?

Yes definitel,y. Everyone deserves their privacy when they want it.

A closed door IS privacy, unless that door is glass. . An "international student" is usually not your own kid, and probably more than eight or eleven, or fourteen years old.

Privacy means a knock........ a delay until answer and courteous within reason entry . Even a five year old can be taught to KNOCK. And to wait for the door to open.

I can tell you when I'd let a kid or teen lock me out of the very room he or she was "RENTING" at zero cost, but a possible chore or two,. The far side of never, that's when.

If someone breaks in these days? You have far bigger problems than a hollow core "locked door" or a closed door. .................no kidding.

@Karen Rose, my BFF had that exact scenario happen by not locking her door. I cannot imagine a master bedroom with no lock. Not going to happen here for sure.

I think that a kid can be taught just as easily to NOT lock his door or close his door as he can be taught to knock and wait. And a locked door would NOT stop me from entering. My teenager can vouch for that. It was removed from the hinges only one time for lesson to be learned. I still can't believe this is an issue. To each his own, I guess.

Never lived in a house that bedroom door locks !

When I was a teenager, that lock on my door was the only thing stopping my "annoying" siblings from busting through. Yes, we knew how to knock and wait and be polite, but sometimes when you're kids you just want to annoy each other and bicker, etc... I had amazing parents and I am a fully functioning adult, but teasing, playing, and just being obnoxious to each other definitely happened in my home growing up. It makes me laugh to think about the stuff we did to each other! Locking my own parents out of my room never crossed my mind - it was their house and they were in charge - that would have been a big NO NO!

On a side note - every teenage boy appreciates a lock on their door.

yes for locks on doors. if its abused, time enough then to rectify the situation. siblings can be horrendous.

ha, ha.....I hear ya Lindsey heard a rumor that Sophies back!!

No........ She is not back. Not coming back. She is on Fakebook:)

As dad always said: " Write when you get work"

ttranslation Don't let the door hit ya in the A - - on your way out!"

Lock on master, maybe lock on guest but NO lock on kids. Safety is reason enough but teen age years you should be able to still check on them. You are the boss of the home. A closed door should tell anyone you want privacy. The only rooms with locks in my homes have been outside entry and bathrooms. It's never been an issue.

I have no desire for locks on any interior doors -- not bedrooms, not bathrooms.

EXCEPT that we plan one small locked closet for our new house. It'll hold guns and our safe.

A slightly off topic comment here - My DD recently got her first solo apartment after always living with family or roommates. At her last visit, she commented that she had been to a fire safety program at work and learned that she should sleep with her bedroom door closed. She had always used the door for privacy and did not realize that it was a good practice to sleep with the door closed even when you live alone. We had always kept the doors closed but had not actually discussed with the kids why we had done so.

Growing up with 5 siblings and 1.5 bathrooms and for some reason you couldn’t lock the bathroom door! I recall on many occasions being inside, when a sibling would threaten to come in and would jiggle the knob if I didn’t hurry up. Needless to say I couldn’t finish fast enough, fortunately it didn’t scar me for life. I have locks on all my doors, but have never used them, only one child and he never used his. Nice to have the option though.