While you may not give much thought to the interior doors that connect the rooms in your home, they serve several important functions. For instance, interior doors can complement a room’s style, ensure privacy and security, reduce noise transfer between rooms, and improve energy efficiency, thereby helping you maintain a comfortable indoor temperature while keeping your utility costs low. Therefore, if you are planning to install new interior doors, it’s important to do your research and choose products that will be right for each particular space.

At the The Window & Door Store, we offer a vast selection of interior doors, and our design team is available to help guide you through the process of selecting the best options to suit your needs. We’ve compiled the following overview of some of the key factors to consider when installing new interior doors:

Style

One of the most important things to consider is the style of your new interior doors. As with any other architectural elements, interior doors should suit your home’s aesthetic while fulfilling their intended function. For example, a pocket or barn door may be a good fit for sealing off a closet or laundry room, while a hinged door may offer better privacy for securing a bedroom or bathroom. Similarly, different styles may be better suited to contemporary homes, while others will look best in homes with a more traditional aesthetic. To help you understand the different options available, here are some of the most popular styles of interior doors:

  • Shaker. Known for their prominent straight lines, squared edges, and minimalistic design, Shaker doors have a clean, simple aesthetic that complements a range of architectural styles. They also tend to be a cost-effective choice, making them a great investment for any homeowner.
  • Flat panel. Also characterized by a minimalistic look, classic flat-panel doors have ultra-clean lines and a flat, smooth surface. At The Window & Door Store, we carry flat-panel doors with up to five panels, as well as in a beautiful Craftsman style.
  • Raised panel. Offering a more ornate look than the previous two options, raised-panel doors can be further enhanced by incorporating beveling and beading. Our raised-panel doors are available with up to five panels and a choice of squared or arched edges, making it easy to add visual intrigue to any room.
  • Knotty alder. With a distinctively rustic, Old World, or European flair, knotty alder doors feature informal, naturally occurring knots in the 100% wood. They bring a sense of warmth and character and are a great complement to farmhouse or ranch-style homes in particular.
  • Barn. Barn doors have surged in popularity over the past several years, offering an eye-catching appearance and a space-saving solution. While they are often associated with a rustic or farmhouse aesthetic, barn doors are highly customizable as far as sizing, color, finish, and panel style.
  • With a timelessly elegant appearance, French doors are perfect for allowing natural light into a room. While they are typically associated with a classic architectural style, more contemporary options are also available.

Material

Another key consideration when choosing interior doors is the material from which they are made. This factor affects not only the door’s appearance, but also their durability and how well they insulate a room against noise. Here are a few of the most common materials for interior doors:

  • Solid wood – offers long-lasting durability, maximum noise reduction, and a warm, stylish appearance.
  • Solid core – engineered with a combination of real and synthetic wood composites, solid core doors offer a similar style and durability as solid wood, but at a lower price point.
  • Hollow core – consisting of a honeycombed interior of wood or cardboard material enclosed by a thin wood or fiberboard frame, hollow core doors are generally the most cost-effective option.
  • Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) – MDF is another excellent alternative to solid wood, offering many of the same benefits at a more affordable price.

Color

One of the most fun parts of customizing your new interior doors is selecting a paint color. While white and other neutral hues are the most common choices as they easily complement other colors in the room and allow the décor to take center stage, many homeowners opt for edgier colors. For instance, black doors can bring a modern flair and a sense of drama to a space, soft green or blue hues are reminiscent of nature, and bold shades—such as navy, yellow, or red—can give a room character and visual intrigue. Another option is to paint the doors the same color as the surrounding walls, which helps create a seamless look.

Casing

Also known as the trim, the casing surrounding a door consists of two long strips on the sides and a shorter piece at the top of the door frame. While the purpose of casing is mainly functional—it conceals unsightly gaps between the frame and the surrounding walls—it also offers another opportunity to customize the appearance of your door. To select the right casing for your doorway, it helps to understand the two main types:

  • Mitered, which features matching trim pieces that connect at equal angles in the upper corners
  • Butted, which is characterized by a wide head casing atop the two side panels. This option is recommended for rooms with high ceilings, and may be better if you opt for a decorative design on the head casing.

Both mitered and butted casings may be further customized with the addition of decorative blocks called rosettes in the top corners.

Hardware

One of the final touches on an interior door is its hardware, or the handles or knobs. In addition to helping secure a room, the right hardware can enhance the door’s overall style. As you select hardware, you may want to ask yourself questions such as the following:

  • Does the door require a locking mechanism?
  • Is accessibility a concern for anyone in the home? For instance, levers tend to be easier to use for the elderly and anyone with dexterity issues.
  • What is the style of the room? Knobs generally have a more traditional look, but there are a multitude of design options available for both knobs and levers.
  • What are the finishes on cabinetry hardware or lighting fixtures in the room? For a consistent look, you might consider matching the door hardware to these items.

Is your home in need of new interior doors? The team at The Window & Door Store is here to guide you through the wide variety of options that we offer to help you find the best products to suit your needs and style. Contact us today to request a quote!