Types of Interior Doors: What to Look for Before You Buy
Are you getting ready to replace the doors in your home? Take a look at the different types of interior doors and what to look for before you buy.
One of the most underappreciated aspects of a house is the interior doors. Different types of interior doors serve a wide range of purposes. Many times, people don’t notice the doors until they’re not there.
Before you buy or replace the doors inside your home, consider a few variables.
Aesthetics
Do the doors inside the home match the colors and style of the architecture? A striking trend sweeping across the country includes placing sliding barn doors for entertainment rooms.
The texture and dimensions a door provides can complement a room and bring a designer’s vision together.
While neutral tones and colors can go with any pattern or room, special themes require extra attention. Make sure you choose decorative design and color to coordinate with a sports room, office, theater, or game room.
Think about whether you want your doors to be inviting and friendly, basic and neutral, or vibrant and showy. The aesthetics of a door set the mood and comfort of a house.
Functionality
Some homeowners only focus on the color and beauty of the things they buy for the house. Don’t let doors be one of those things.
Bathrooms and bedrooms require thicker doors to provide privacy and some soundproofing. Closets only need doors to block a view so there’s no need for elaborate specifications.
Pantries and specialty rooms can have custom doors designed for distinct uses. A young child might appreciate a door that allows them to hang pictures or posters. A movie theater will require a heavy thick door to repel all sound in and out.
Another option includes picking a universal design. Universal designs are meant to allow people of all dimensions and abilities to use a door. These doors can be placed anywhere without any special changes.
Go through your home or workplace to determine the appropriate function and need for the room.
Materials
When you figure out the aesthetics and functionality for your interior doors, it’s time to pick materials. Inevitably, different materials will have different effects and costs. Check out these materials to use:
Solid Wood
A traditional solid wood door is the best for soundproofing. Solid wood doors are heavy and cost the most. They will also expand and constrict based on the humidity in the air.
Glass
Doors that contain glass, metal, and wood in a combination tend to be used for offices or specialty rooms. A full glass door is possible but usually comes with a more difficult installation.
Glass doors are popular for rooms that need more light but don’t need privacy.
Hollow Core
A hollow core door is an inexpensive option best used for pantries or closets. The materials used are a lightweight composite with a hollow inside. It’s easier to hang a hollow-core door, but sound easily passes through.
Don’t use these doors for bathrooms or bedrooms.
Solid Core
The solid core door is a happy medium to solid wood and hollow core doors. Designed just like a hollow-core door, the solid core option has a wood fiber blend in the middle instead of being empty.
These doors offer good sound buffering and temperature management without costing the same as a solid wood door.
MDF
Small and large homes alike utilize medium density fiberboard (MDF) doors. As the most popular option, MDF has similar qualities to wood without weaknesses.
MDF doesn’t warp when the humidity changes and is affordably priced. Don’t expect any extravagant patterns, but it is easy to paint whatever color you want.
Construction Types
There are a variety of different construction types for doors, but the most common options are panel doors and flush doors.
Panel Doors
As their name suggests, panel doors have segments of panels. The patterns of the panels can be arranged in any way with different textures. You’ve probably seen panel doors that have raised or recessed patterns.
The reason for their popularity pertains to the fact that these doors can be made of any material.
Flush Doors
Flush doors are a simple no-frills door. Without patterns or details, flush doors are a lightweight single piece of wood.
The plain look makes this an inexpensive and popular option for homes. Usually made out of solid or hollow core doors, any customization will depend on your paints and stains.
Different Types of Interior Door Styles
Check out these different styles of interior doors to figure out which ones will work best for you. Here are some of the options:
Sliding Doors
Everything from sliding barn doors to a Southeast Asian style, sliding doors have become a popular choice due to their space-saving design. Don’t worry about hitting anyone since the doors don’t swing.
Hinged Doors
This is the most popular type of interior door. It has traditional hinges on one side that allow it to swing open. If you want to buy these doors, make sure they are pre-hung so installation is quicker and easier.
French Doors
If you are looking for class and culture, French doors offer it all. Comprised of two doors that open in the middle, these doors often have glass panes to allow light through.
Pivot Doors
Most hinge doors have hinges on the side of the door frame. Pivot doors have a hinge in the middle. This allows a person to push or pull on either side of the door and it will open.
Folding Doors
Sometimes called bi-folding doors, folding doors open up and fold into two segments. They are perfect for pantries, laundry rooms, or other places that need to save space.
Pick the Right Door
Knowing the options you have for different types of interior doors is the first step to completing your home. Make sure you have the right aesthetic, function, and design for all your doors.
If you’re ready to start replacing and buying interior doors, contact us today for a free estimate.