How to Choose Interior Doors

Choosing the right interior door will enhance your home's style, improve functionality, and add to your overall comfort.

Interior doors serve both functional and decorative purposes. They define boundaries between rooms, provide sound insulation, and enhance the beauty of your interior. The entrance is the first thing people see when they enter any area in your home.

When selecting a door, you’ll need to consider several key factors including the room’s size and purpose, the available natural and artificial light, and the local climate. You’ll also need to think about the door’s material, color scheme, and style.

Understanding these key elements will help you make the best choice for your home.

Types of Interior Doors

Modern interior doors come in several styles, each with its function and unique design.

Panel Doors

Panel doors are the most common interior doors. They offer a classic look with versatile design options. These doors typically feature rectangular panels in a range of sizes and styles, making them suitable for most rooms. They complement both traditional and modern interiors. Panel doors are also available in a range of materials and finishes to match your home’s style.

French Doors

French doors add elegance and allow light to flow between rooms with their glass panes.

They create a visual connection while maintaining separation, making spaces feel open yet distinct. These doors work well in home offices and living rooms.

French doors enhance the overall aesthetic of your home by adding a classic, timeless appeal. They are perfect for creating a visual connection while still providing separation.

Sliding Doors

Sliding doors save space and work well in tight areas.

They’re often used for closets, pantries, and contemporary room dividers. These doors slide along a track, so they don’t swing out and take up floor space. Their sleek design adds a clean, contemporary touch to any room.

Sliding doors are easy to operate and ideal for areas with limited clearance. They also create a more open feel while maintaining separation between spaces.

Pocket Doors

Pocket doors slide into the wall, making them ideal for smaller spaces where a swinging door might not fit.

They maximize usable space by eliminating the need for door clearance. Pocket doors are especially useful in tight areas like bathrooms and closets. Their clean, minimalist design adds a modern, streamlined look to any room.

They help improve traffic flow in narrow hallways or compact rooms. These doors also offer a clean and minimalist aesthetic.

Barn Doors

Barn doors offer a rustic or industrial look and slide on a track outside the wall.

They have gained popularity for their visual appeal and space-saving benefits. They add stylish, rustic charm to both modern and traditional interiors. Installation is simple since they mount on exterior tracks, requiring no structural changes.

Barn doors are ideal for open-concept layouts, where you want flexible room separation without sacrificing flow. They’re also great for wide openings or where space is limited for a swinging door.

Bifold Doors

Bifold doors fold in sections and are great for closets, laundry rooms, and pantries.

They provide wide access while taking up minimal space when open. They feature a convenient folding design that makes them ideal for tight or narrow spaces.

Bifold doors are lightweight and easy to operate. They’re useful in areas where a full swinging door would be impractical.

Door Styles

Matching your door style to your interior design unifies the look of your home.

• Modern: Modern doors often feature clean lines, minimal detailing, and neutral colors.
• Traditional: Traditional doors typically showcase raised panels, intricate moldings, and warm wood tones.
• Rustic: Rustic doors use natural textures, distressed finishes, and solid hardware to create a cozy, rugged feel.
• Industrial: Industrial styles highlight raw materials, metal accents, and simple, bold designs.

Door Color

Color plays a crucial role in enhancing the look and feel of your interior doors and the rooms they connect. Choose an interior door color that works well with your home’s color scheme. Test color samples in the actual room, since lighting changes by room and season will affect how colors look.

Interior Door Finish Materials

The choice of finish materials not only enhances the door’s appearance but also impacts its durability and maintenance requirements.

Enamel Paint

Enamel paint is a popular choice for interior doors due to its smooth, durable, and scratch-resistant finish.

High-quality enamel coatings are often applied in multiple layers and cured under controlled conditions to ensure a long-lasting surface. This type of finish provides excellent protection against wear and damage while maintaining an attractive appearance over time.

Polypropylene (PP)

Another popular coating material that is highly valued by those who prioritize environmental safety and sustainability is polypropylene (PP).

Polypropylene is an innovative, eco-friendly finishing material with a distinctive texture and the color of natural wood. Its high durability, scratch resistance, and fade-resistant properties make PP an excellent choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

Interior Door Core Materials

The core material of an interior door influences its durability and insulation.

Engineered Solid Core Doors

Engineered solid core doors are durable and provide excellent sound insulation.

These doors are built to last and typically require less maintenance. If you choose an engineered solid core door, you won't have to worry about your doors ever warping.

A high-quality insulating core is often used to enhance a door’s durability and strength. Solid core construction provides added stability and improves the overall performance of the door slab. They don't lose their shape, thanks to the solid pine frame.

A further advantage is that these interior doors reduce noise. An engineered solid core saves your privacy due to soundproofing features without weighing the slab down as much as solid wood.

Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)

Medium-density fiberboard provides an affordable, stable, and lightweight option for interior doors. It's more cost-effective than an engineered solid core. The material is smooth and has no defects. It doesn't crack like wood.

Composite Core Doors (Honeycomb Core)

Composite core doors, often featuring a honeycomb structure, offer strength and rigidity. When you cut the door open and look at the core, you will see that it resembles honeycomb cells.

This is an eco-friendly material. This eco-friendly material adds strength and structural rigidity to the door slab while keeping it lightweight. Thanks to the honeycomb cells, these doors won't warp.

Choosing the Right Door for Each Room

Each room has specific needs that should guide your door selection.

Popular door types for each room include:

Bedrooms

Bedroom doors should provide privacy and sound insulation. Solid or engineered wood doors are ideal for these spaces.

Bathrooms

Bathroom doors require moisture resistance. Look for doors with protective coatings or materials like PVC. Proper sealing or protective coatings also help extend the lifespan of bathroom doors.

Closets

Closet doors should ideally be lightweight, such as bifold or sliding doors, which allow easy access without taking up much space.

Kitchens and Pantries

Sliding or swinging doors work well in kitchens and pantries. They offer quick and convenient access while maximizing available space.

Measuring for Interior Doors

Accurate measurements are critical to ensure a proper fit.

Measuring tips:

1. Measure the width of the door opening in three places: top, middle, and bottom.
2. Measure the height on both sides.
3. Measure the door thickness.

Enhanced Features to Consider

Modern interior doors offer more than just style and privacy.

Soundproofing

Soundproof doors enhance comfort by reducing noise transfer between rooms. Solid core doors are the best choice for this purpose.

Decreased Air Leakage

According to Energy Star, magnetic strips or tight seals in new door frames help block drafts and make doors more energy efficient.

Fire Ratings

Some interior doors, especially those near the garage or basement, are required to have fire ratings to comply with safety codes.

Smart Locks and Hardware

Smart locks add convenience and security, allowing keyless entry and remote access.

FAQs About Choosing Interior Doors

What is the most durable interior door material?

Solid wood and engineered solid core doors are the most durable interior door options, offering longevity and excellent soundproofing.

Which door style is best for small spaces?

Sliding doors, pocket doors, and bifold doors are ideal for small spaces since they save floor (and sometimes wall) space and offer easy access.

Can I use the same type of door throughout my home?

Yes, but it's often more practical to select door types based on room function. Solid doors for bedrooms and bathrooms and lighter doors like bifold or sliding for closets.

How do I choose the right door color?

Consider your home's color scheme, lighting, and decor when deciding on the color of your door. Bring samples home to see how colors look in your specific lighting conditions.

Choosing the Right Interior Door

Choosing the right interior door involves balancing aesthetics, functionality, materials, and room-specific requirements. Consider factors like soundproofing, door style, and material to find the perfect fit for your home. Your ideal interior door will enhance the look and feel of your home.

Take time to evaluate your needs. Consider durability and cost-effectiveness when choosing materials like engineered solid core, composite core, or MDF doors. Pick a color and finish that matches your home’s style and lighting. The right interior doors will add comfort and character to your home.