When it’s time to install or replace interior doors in your home, you may be surprised and overwhelmed at all the available options. Choosing the perfect doors for your home gives you that last piece of the interior design puzzle, making your space look finished, customized, and perfect. In this post, we will share the 8 different types of interior doors to help you with your decision.
Prehung vs Slab Door: What is the Difference?
What is a prehung door, you ask? Prehung doors are interior doors that come attached to the frame by their hinges. They are ready to install in an opening that doesn’t have a door frame, so they are often used in remodels or new construction. Typically, they do not come with doorknobs and strike plates, although they are predrilled for those items.
Now, what is a slab door? Slab doors are doors that do not include the frame. They do not come with hinges. You must purchase and install them yourself. Sometimes slab doors come with the doorknob hole predrilled, and sometimes not.
This is something to pay attention to because if you are replacing an existing door, you may want to use it as a template to drill your new door’s hole, so they match. Slab doors can be tricky to install because they don’t come with the frame, but if your doorway already has a frame and you don’t want to tear it out, or you are adventurous and want to build the frame yourself, a slab door is a good choice for you!
For our renovations, we always go with prehung doors. If you are doing the work yourselves, I highly recommend prehung vs slab doors. It might cost a little more for the door, but will save you time with the installation. Remember that your time is valuable and has a price!
Hollow Core, Solid Core, and Solid Wood
These designations refer to how the doors are constructed. Many interior doors, especially on newer homes, are hollow core doors. This means they are made of pressed board or veneered wood, with a honeycomb interior, making them relatively hollow.
Hollow core doors are light and inexpensive. Unfortunately, they can be easily damaged, and they do not block much sound. They are a great choice for spaces such as pantries and closets, where sound transmission is not a concern. You certainly can use them for bedrooms and bathrooms. Just be aware that they do not provide much privacy.
Solid core doors have heavy fiberboard cores that make them much more sturdy and durable. They will not bend or warp and are much heavier than hollow core doors. Because they block sound much better (twice as much as hollow core doors), they are often a good choice for bedrooms and bathrooms, where privacy is important. They are more challenging to install because of their weight, and they cost as much as three to four times more than hollow core doors.
Solid wood doors are made of real wood entirely. They are very heavy and sturdy, and they have excellent resale value. Solid wood doors can warp if exposed to dramatic temperature differences, and they are an expensive option. You can add trim to solid wood doors, and they can also be painted or stained for a variety of design options. They block sound very well and look gorgeous.
Flush vs Panel Doors
For many types of interior doors, you have the option to go with flush or paneled doors. A flush door is smooth, with the surface made of one solid piece of wood or wood veneer. This gives it a clean, sleek, stylish look. It can be painted or stained.
Panel doors are more common. These types of doors have raised panels in different configurations that add interest and depth to the door. Six-panels are the most classic and commonly used kind, but you can also get a contemporary-looking door with four panels or a traditional-with-a-twist style with two panels. They can also have beadboard or other types of trim inset into the panels for a nearly endless variety of looks.
8 Types of Interior Doors
There are so many interior door styles you can choose from, and each gives you a different look and feel for your space. The best part is that you can mix and match throughout your house, using different types of doors to set the tone aesthetically and functionally for each area. Consider these 8 types of doors and see if they’re right for you!
1. French Doors
These are doors that look like windows. They have glass panes from top to bottom and are used in pairs. As exterior doors, they’re perfect for porches and balconies, and inside, they are often used to close off an office or separate the living room from the dining room. They give some separation between the two rooms, but they offer visual continuity, so both spaces appear larger and connected. Also, because they let light shine through, they’re great for making your home feel brighter.
2. Pocket Doors
These doors slide open right into a nook inside the wall. You can use one pocket door or two. They often have glass in the top half of the door to let in light. Pocket doors can be a great choice for an arched doorway. They’re good when you want to really open up a room, like a dining room when you’re hosting a dinner party, and they’re also good for smaller rooms like bathrooms, to maximize the useable space.
3. Barn Doors
Barn doors slide to the side like pocket doors, but instead of hiding them inside the wall, they sit outside the wall. They’re usually very decorative and make a statement. Because barn doors run on a track, they hang in place and don’t give you a tight seal. Like pocket doors, they are great for rooms where you want a wide opening some of the time.
4. Glass and Frosted Glass Doors
Let in the light! If you want your room to get all the light it can, glass doors are the way to go. They come in many styles from one solid pane of glass to glass in the top half of the door. If you want light but also privacy, like for a bathroom, you can use frosted glass. You can also DIY a frosted glass door by using frosted glass spray or adhesive paper on a clear glass door to get the look.
5. Louvered Doors
These doors are made of horizontal slats of wood (called blades) set at a slight angle. They cover the door entirely or can be used on just part of the door. Louvered doors provide airflow, so they are really good for closets and pantries–places where fresh air can be helpful. Because of the angle of the blades, they do offer privacy as well. The biggest drawback of louvered doors is that they can gather dust and be time-consuming to clean.
6. Bifold Doors
Bifold doors have two vertical panels that fold and stack when opened. They are usually used in pairs. Bifold doors are perfect for closets, pantries, laundry rooms, storage rooms, and utility closets. They can also be louvered as well, for places where airflow is important.
7. Arch Doors
If you have a gorgeous arched doorway and don’t want to leave it open or use a pocket door, you can actually get arch doors. Constructed with windows or without, as single or double doors, arch doors instantly elevate a space. They’re often used in foyers and formal dining rooms, and their unique design makes them a focal point in any room. I am a BIG fan of arched doors and doorways. If you are interested in knowing how to create an arched doorway, you might enjoy my post How to Make a Stunning Arched Doorway Using a Kit.
8. Pivot Doors
For a really different and contemporary look, consider using pivot doors. Where most doors have hinges on the side, pivot doors have them on the top and bottom of the door, completely changing how they open. Pivot doors generally use a wider opening and can open in either direction. They have a sleek, modern, surprising look that adds flair to your space.
Summary
In this post, we shared the 8 types of interior doors and more! There are so many options and choices when it comes to interior doors. Whether you are prioritizing function, aesthetic, cost, or a combination of those, you are sure to be able to find the type of interior doors that meet your needs. Interior doors can be a fun finishing touch to your home, setting it apart as unique and making it reflect your own style.
