Interior doors do more than just give you privacy.
They also make your room energy-efficient and help drown out sounds coming from the rest of your home. That’s why shopping for doors is a little more involved than picking the cheapest option you can find.
We’ve put together this interior doors guide to help you learn what to look for in a new door.
So let’s get started!
Understanding the Basics of Interior Doors
The first step to buying new interior doors for your home is understanding the basics. Here’s what you need to know about the construction, size, and style of interior doors.
Construction
You can find interior doors made of all different kinds of materials, including fiberglass, medium-density fiberboard, steel, glass, etc., but here’s a closer look at the most common options.
- Solid Wood
This type of door is made of, you guessed it, solid wood. This has a number of benefits, including durability, energy efficiency, and sound insulation. Solid wood doors are also one of the most beautiful types of doors out there.
However, solid wood doors are more expensive than many other styles. If you want this type of door, you have to be willing to invest a handful of money.
- Hollow Core
Hollow core doors are most often made of plywood (but they can also be made of molded composite). The inside of this type of door is hollow, which makes them inexpensive.
Since these doors are hollow, they aren’t durable. They also don’t do a good job blocking noise or insulating a room.
- Solid Core
This type of door is similar to hollow core doors, but solid core doors are filled with wood fiber. Because of this, they have better durability and insulation than hollow core doors.
They’re also less expensive than solid wood doors, so if you’re looking for something cheaper than solid wood but stronger than hollow core, this is your best option.
Size
Doors come in more than just one size. Depending on your home or your personal needs, you may need to change the measurements of your door.
- Standard
Most homes have standard size interior doors. These are 6 feet 8 inches tall by 24 inches wide. In most cases, you should be able to stick with standard doors.
- Taller
Do you come from a tall family? If so, you might not want to duck every time you walk in or out of a room.
You can order “taller” doors that are a few inches taller than standard doors. Because you have to custom-make these doors, the exact height will depend on your personal preferences.
- Handicap
If you need handicap accessible doors, your doors will need to be at least 36 inches wide. It’s also a good idea to have wider doors (about 30 inches wide) if you plan to move a lot of furniture in and out of your home. Furniture might not be able to fit through standard doors.
Style
Now that you know what construction and size you need for your home, it’s time to think about the style. There are many different styles to choose from, but we’ve listed the most popular below.
- Flat
A flat door doesn’t have any decorations or designs. It’s just a flat surface of wood, but it creates a beautiful and simplistic look in your home.
- Panels
Panels are one of the most common type of door designs out there. There are many different panel designs you can choose from, and they’re a good pick for any room in your home.
- Louvered and False-Louvered
Louvered doors are a beautiful choice for closets and bathrooms, but if you don’t like the small gaps between the panels, you might want to buy false-louvered doors instead. These doors will look the same while providing you more privacy.
- Windows
You can also upgrade to doors with windows or glass panels. These are good choices for kitchen doors or family room doors. However, you may not want to use these doors for bedrooms or bathrooms.
Things to Consider Before You Start Shopping
Knowing what type of door you want to upgrade to isn’t always enough. Before you start shopping, you should ask yourself these questions.
What’s Your Budget?
Come up with a budget before you start looking at interior doors. This will ensure you only view options in your price range. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on doors, you should avoid pricier options, such as solid wood.
Where Are You Putting the Doors?
Where are you installing these doors? The doors you put on a bedroom might not be what you would install in your bathroom. Consider the function of the room before you think about the door style.
How Much Space Do You Have?
If you live in a small home and don’t have enough space for your interior doors to open (without smacking into something), you may want to switch to a sliding or pocket door. This will help you save space.
Do They “Fit In” With the Rest of Your Home?
You need to think about the overall aesthetics of your home before you buy any new interior doors. You don’t want to buy louvered doors if you live in a modern home. Make sure whatever you choose matches the style of your house.
Picking the Best Choice for Your Home With This Interior Doors Guide
If you follow the tips on this interior doors guide, you will be able to pick the best doors for your home. Do you want to learn some other helpful interior design tips?
Make sure you check out the rest of our blog!