We tend to take interior doors for granted, but if you’re building a new home or remodeling an existing one, choosing the right interior doors for your situation is a big decision that can impact the style and function of your home. There are so many types and styles of doors available that making a decision can be trying and confusing. Here’s some information to help you sort it all out.

Traditional Hinged Interior Doors
These are the standard doors that you find in most homes and are typically used in doorways to interior rooms, but may also be used for closets and pantries, at the top of a stairway, as so forth. Hinged doors come in solid wood, composites and hollow core doors and in most cases, all varieties can be stained or painted as you desire.

Solid wood doors are the most expensive option, however they are more durable and heavier than composite or hollow core doors. You’ll find many styles of hinged doors, from flat surface, to raised panel and even louvered doors. Traditional and older style homes look elegant with raised panel doors, while flat doors have a clean look that works nicely with more contemporary styles. The biggest drawback with traditional hinged doors is that they use up a lot of space swinging open and shut and in a small area, one of the options listed below may be worth considering.

Pocket Doors for Space-Saving Convenience

Pocket doors are a great option in a smaller home or in an area where you need to save space; they doors slide right into the wall and take up no floor space whatsoever, so you don’t need to allow for clearance around the door. They come in flat or raised panel styles are perfect for rooms that have multiple doors, such as a master suite where you may have a doorway into a walk-in closet and another into a bath. Pocket doors are easiest to install in new construction, but with proper planning they can be installed in existing homes as well; just be sure that no electrical wires, ductwork or plumbing is housed in the wall where the door is to be installed, or plan on re-routing as needed.

Bi-Fold Doors Save Space as Well

Bi-fold doors fold outward in the middle, so they save space as well and are typically used for closets and pantries. They run on an overhead track and can be installed as a single 2-panel door or as a double door, each with two panels. They allow easy access into a closet or pantry without requiring a lot of floor space. Like pocket doors, you may choose from flat or raised panel styles, as well as louvered styles. As a downside, if not properly installed or over time, the track and bearing can become worn, causing the door to stick or jump off the track.

Sliding Bypass Doors

Sliding bypass doors also save on space since the doors simply slide past each other on a track, so they are typically used for closets. They can be found in solid or hollow core styles with flat or raised panels, as well as mirrored glass. While they do present a streamlined look in a room, the main drawback is that one panel is always covering the entry, so full access to the closet is never available which can be problematic when taking large items in or out of the closet.

Author Bio: Home design expert, Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com, is particularly skilled in designing with red metal wall hangings and blue metal wall hangings.

Category: Home Management
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