As is often the case, there are no security considerations when it comes to choosing interior doors for the home. One would say that picking an interior door is a piece of cake – a pure walk in the park. And although it’s not, it’s about to become once you read the following tips.
Before we dig deeper into the world of interior doors, let us point out that the whole purpose is to find the right fit and also a door that will make an aesthetic difference. What you need to do is to consider your project. Is this a general home remodeling project that involves interior doors installation? Or do you want one door replaced? Why will such things make a difference?
Let’s consider the second example – the one where you want to replace an interior door. If one door goes, the new one coming must match the rest – at least, most of the time. And if this is your case, you have some limitations – design-wise. Let us now open the door to the fabulous world of interior doors and help you choose for your home.
Measure, measure, measure
It may not be joyful to talk about technical things, but it’s practically impossible to order a door without knowing what size you need. We all agree on that, right? You need to measure the width and height of the existing door – or opening. First, you need to decide if you want a pre-hung door or a slab – that’s with or without the frame.
A small piece of advice: let the measurements to the door contractors. Why? Because if you get a swing door and the floor is not level in all sections, the door may not open all the way. You will also need the assistance of experienced door installers if you want to get a door with concealed hinges and a hidden frame.
Door materials make an aesthetic difference too
When you consider door materials – like wood, laminate, glass, and more, think of style. Think of privacy too, especially if your intention is to get glass doors. You also need to decide if you want hollow or solid doors.
Well, since this is the interior of your home and chances are high that there’s no security consideration, you can opt for hollow doors since they are less expensive. If this was a front door installation, you would be concerned about durability. That’s not the case here.
With interior doors, the concern is to have a consistent look and a great style indoors. So, it’s mainly about aesthetics. And although this will be highly affected by the color and finish, some materials have a distinctive finish. Laminate doors, for example, have a wavy pattern. In their defense, the last generation laminate doors are solid with no waves. If we are talking about glass doors and there’s a matter of privacy, you need to consider the glass panel obscurity.
Will you swing or slide?
The door’s operation style is as important as the dimensions. The whole point is to be able to use the door. If you cannot open it due to obstructions, what’s the point of getting a door? It’s not a coincidence that sliding doors are very popular. In fact, many homes utilize pocket doors to save as much space as possible.
Let’s talk about interior door design
The aesthetic of the door is crucial to the interior design of the home. It’s always best that the door style and color are consistent to bring continuity and serenity. Today, the choices are numerous but it mainly has to do with your personal taste and the home style – traditional, modern, contemporary, et cetera.
• Style
The style has to do with the panel. It may be paneled and so, molded with a trim to give a raised or recessed feeling. Flush panels and doors with concealed hardware work well in contemporary homes. If you get glass doors, they may slide or swing and they may – or not, have panels and frames.
• Color
Traditional home styles go well with wooden doors colored all wood hues. Grey, white, and black doors work well in contemporary houses. If you want to use a door as an accent, any color will do – the more vivid and the brighter, the better.
• Hardware
If there’s no latch on the door, a dummy knob will do. If it locks, you can get a knob or lever handle. If there are children and old people in the house, it’s best to get lever handles because they have a better grip than knobs – hence, they are easier to operate.
