Interior doors protect and decorate, at the same time. They are called to provide privacy and isolate noises, while making the interior more glamorous. Still, they must be easy to use and resistant to moisture, if needed. While all that seem like a lot to ask from the doors that lead to our bedroom or bathroom, they surprise us with tons of designs, colors, and styles. Yes, it’s true. These days, the interior door options are truly numerous at any level – style, size, material, color. The question is which one do you need? And this is how we are going to help you.
Interior door types
One way to categorize interior doors is by their type – in other words, by the way they open and the direction they open. For example, a swing door opens up to the next room or inwards, to this room. Which are the main types?
• Sliding doors slide, of course. And that’s their main advantage. They are ideal when there’s not sufficient floor space and when it’s necessary to open the doors all the way, leaving a large opening for traffic. Often used as patio doors, slide doors run on tracks placed on the floor and ceiling. Indoors, they usually run on a ceiling track, leaving the floor free. Barn sliding doors are such a style too.
Although slide doors are excellent for space-saving, they need some side opening space. Bypass sliding glass doors are also a good choice for large opening. Sometimes, for both space saving and interior design reasons, slide doors insert in the wall – the known pocket doors. It’s fair to say that sliding doors mainly have advantages. The drawbacks would be the limited noise insulation and their expensive price tag.
• Swing doors have the advantage of easily be handled by everyone. Their handle may be found on either side of the door, serving all directions. They may open inwards or towards the next room, giving you a choice based on the home’s layout.
Swing doors may be single and double. Double doors may also have a fixed leaf and one moving one. Double swing doors with glass panel are also known as French doors. They are perfect for all parts of the home, and even serve as patio glass doors.
Although they usually come out in some standard sizes, they may also be customized to meet your height needs. Now, the basic disadvantage of swing doors is the very fact that they swing. Although this is convenient and such doors may provide some good insulation, they may become a nuisance if there’s limited space.
Interior door materials
The material of the interior doors makes a difference in terms of aesthetics, durability, resistance. Naturally, one main distinction is the construction of the door. While this is important for exterior doors, in other words, when you plan a front door installation, it often plays no role indoors. Interior doors may be hollow since they are not meant to provide security but privacy. As far as the common materials used for interior door installation projects, they are plenty and have their own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at three main ones.
• Wood is always the king of all materials thanks to its excellent appearance, robust looks, authentic & unique aesthetics, and warmth. But wood is one of the most expensive materials and may warp down the road.
• MDF is an alternative since Medium Density Fiberboard doors are made of recycled wood fibers. As far as the durability and appearance are concerned, this material doesn’t even come close to real wood. To their defense, they hold better in moist environments than real wood and are more resistant to rotting, warping, and damage. No wonder they make an excellent choice for indoors – also due to their affordable price. Besides, they can be painted any color and look wonderful.
• Glass doors are wonderful, but not the choice you want if you seek privacy. They may be paired with wood or aluminum and, overall, the options among designs are numerous. They stand better in modern homes and would look “colder” in traditional homes, and this plays a role since they are usually installed due to their sleek looks. Now, glass doors are resistant to humidity and that’s another plus. But we are talking about glass panels. Glass may be strong but it’s still glass – it may break.
