There are many situations when you want to secure your bedroom door. Do you want a safe space inside your home? Or do you live with roommates and need some privacy? Reinforcing your bedroom door is an obvious solution in both scenarios.
There are many different ways you can secure a door. Unfortunately, quite a few of the methods simply do not work as they should and only give you a false sense of security.
In fact, securing a bedroom door should not be complicated or time-consuming.
In my experience, most bedroom doors can be easily reinforced in just about 30 minutes or less depending on the method you choose. And this is true even if you’re a beginner DIYer.
In this article, I’ll show you my favorite tried-and-tested methods and give you some helpful tips to avoid the most common pitfalls.
FYI – In general, you should only lock your bedroom down if there’s an emergency (for sheltering purposes) or if you’re not at home. Also, keep in mind that it’s not recommended to lock any interior door if it serves as an emergency exit.
Without further ado, let’s move on to the best ways you can make your bedroom door secure.
1. Install a Keyless Door Reinforcement Lock
Using a keyless door reinforcement lock is a simple way to make your bedroom door (or any other interior door) more secure from the inside. It’s also a good choice if you want to lock your bedroom door without using any standard keyed lock.
I recommend you check out this model.
When I want to improve security on a door, I often start by adding this lock. And the reason is that in most cases it works seamlessly and it’s a great value for the price.
Installation can be done within just a few minutes. All you have to do is drill four holes in the door jamb and mount the lock using the hardened screws that come with the tool.
Using the device is straightforward. When you’re done with the installation you can easily lock and unlock your bedroom door with a single motion without having to use any keys: for an open position you just have to swing it away from the door and do the opposite for a locked position.
The durability and ease of use make this lock a great choice.
It can be especially useful if you’re afraid of a possible home invasion and want to convert your bedroom into a “safe(r) room” where you can quickly hide and gain some valuable time.
It’s also a good investment if you share an apartment with roommates and want to maintain privacy. However, it’s not a solution if you want to lock the door when you are out. If you need a reliable lock for your bedroom door that you can use from the outside, you’ll find some additional models in this article too.
According to the manufacturer, this keyless door reinforcement lock withstands up to 800 lbs. (363 kg) of force. That means it definitely helps make your bedroom door kick-proof and much more resistant to other types of forced entries too.
One drawback of this bedroom door lock is that it won’t work with outward opening doors. Fortunately, most interior doors open inwards.
If you want to secure your bedroom door without using any lock, make sure you also check out our comprehensive guide for the best methods.
Add a Night Latch
Another option is to mount a night latch on your door. It’s a kind of rim lock that you have to fasten to the surface of the door. It consists of two main parts: the lock body that you have to mount on the door and the keeper that goes onto the door frame.
While it takes slightly more time and work to install than the above-mentioned model, it has a major advantage: keyed models allow you to lock your bedroom door while you’re away.
2. Use a Security Bar: Quickest Solution to Reinforce a Door From the Inside
If you want to secure your bedroom without making any permanent changes or bothering with installation, you’ll probably love this solution. It’s a great way to lock your bedroom door without drilling and using any traditional lock.
A door security bar, also known as a door jammer, is a simple and affordable portable device that keeps your door closed from the inside and requires no real installation at all.
How does it work?
You just have to prop the top door knob cup under the knob while the padded foot rests on the floor. The length of the device is adjustable, so it fits most interior doors.
There is a pivoting ball joint at the end of the bar so that the foot always has full contact with the floor. Most security bars are pretty durable and can easily prevent unauthorized entries while you’re in the bedroom (and sleeping, for instance).
Moreover, using a security bar to reinforce a door is a real portable solution. So in case you move to another location in the future, you can simply carry it with you. Also, it’s a viable solution for traveling purposes.
Beware of poor-quality products as they only give you a false sense of security. Heavy-duty door jammers are way more effective than standard devices. Here you can find the model I recommend.
As an alternative, you can also choose a portable door lock that is smaller and therefore slightly easier to use and carry, such as this item (although these are not as robust as a security bar).
Related: Don’t settle for adding extra protection to your bedroom door, make your front door much more secure too.
3. Install a Door Lock With Keypad to Improve Bedroom Door Security Without Keys
If you want to secure your bedroom door from both the inside and outside, often it’s best to replace the existing doorknob with a keyed model or use a deadbolt or mortise lock.
These solutions will allow you to lock the door not only when you’re inside the room but also when you’re away. If you don’t want anyone (roommates, for instance) to enter your bedroom in your absence, you must secure your door from the outside.
There are many models out there, however, I prefer those with a keypad for a good reason: I don’t really want to carry my bedroom door key with me each time I leave the house. Using a keypad is much more comfortable, and you don’t have to worry about losing your key. It simply gives you peace of mind.
As I have already mentioned, there are many keypad door locks out there, however, I don’t want to leave you without any recommendations. Schlage is a trusted manufacturer that sells reliable and good-quality products, including electronic door locks.
This keyless lock works great with most interior doors, and it’s a reasonable choice for bedrooms. Since it’s an ANSI Grade 2 lock, it provides enhanced security.
It has a sleek and modern design and comes with a fingerprint-resistant numeric touchscreen (so others can’t guess your access code). It offers one of the best and most convenient solutions if you need a keyless bedroom door lock to keep your door locked when you’re away.
If you’re not a big fan of a keyless solution, just get a standard keyed doorknob or a deadbolt lock.
You can also install a smart lock, however, I think it’s a bit overkill for a bedroom door.
Quick Tip: In most cases, burglars start searching in the master bedroom, therefore it’s not the best place to hide your valuables. Check out some great secret places where you can hide your safe here. Also, make sure to avoid the worst ones.
4. Use a Strike Plate Lock: Simple and Durable Solution
I know many of you have never even heard about this device. It has been around for a while now, and it’s a great example of how you can solve a problem using some simple concepts.
So what is exactly a strike plate lock?
It’s basically a non-traditional door chain (see the image above) that is mounted only on the door frame. All you have to do is remove the existing strike plate and replace it with this device. The complete installation can be done in 5 minutes without much hassle.
Why is it better than a standard door chain lock?
First, it’s more secure: according to the manufacturer, a strike plate lock is extremely durable and can withstand more than 50 kicks. So it definitely helps you keep unauthorized persons outside of your bedroom.
Second, it’s very easy to use and install (and remove) without having to drill holes into your door. Also, it works with most standard doors (with both knobs and levers), so it can serve as a reliable bedroom door lock.
Here you can check out the current price on Amazon.
If you’re not convinced that this device is for you or don’t like the design, as an alternative you can opt for a traditional chain lock or door guard to secure your door from the inside. In this case, you want to choose a heavy-duty model made of hardened stainless steel, such as this one from ABUS.
5. Door Barricade: For Emergency Lockdown Situations
Door barricades use the strength of the floor, thus they can withstand immense force. They’re easy to install and allow you to quickly lock your bedroom down from the inside in case of an emergency.
A door barricade prevents kick-ins and many other forced entries too.
Whether you live in a house or an apartment, using a door barricade is one of the best solutions to keep intruders outside and turn any room into a safe shelter. For instance, it comes in really handy during an overnight home invasion. Many schools and offices have this device installed as part of emergency preparedness.
This model works with inward swinging doors (both single and French double) and this one can be used with both inward and outward opening doors.
Check out the video below to see how door barricades are used in a high school:
Putting It All Together
If you want to make your bedroom door more secure, you can easily do it by applying one of the above-mentioned methods.
Which one should you choose?
Well, it depends on your needs. If you live with roommates and want to make sure nobody enters your room while you’re away, I recommend you put a keypad lock on your bedroom door. It’s a simple and secure solution.
If you want to prepare for a possible future emergency, go for the door barricade. It’s really durable and sturdy.
For a portable solution, opt for a security bar: it’s easy to set up and requires no installation at all.
If you just need some privacy and want a keyless solution, check out the door reinforcement lock. It’s easy to install and use: it allows you to lock (or unlock) your bedroom door with a single motion.
Photo: Flickr
