Different Types of Interior Doors

Once you’ve figured out how your home’s exterior should look, the next step is selecting a design for your home’s interior. Part of the design selection is choosing the type of doors to install. You’ll find that there are several types of interior doors to choose from to give each space the look that you really want while also serving its function. But before you begin, it is important to note how many rooms you have, how many doors you would like installed, and the function of each door to understand the choices you need to make.

Here is a list of the different types of interior doors to give you an idea of your choices:

Passage Doors

Passage doors are the most commonly-used doors in homes. They can be purchased as a simple slab or as a pre-hung unit and swing open and close on two or more leaf hinges. Pre-hung doors come pre-installed within a door frame and already attached with hinges. They save installation time by eliminating the need for a carpenter to construct the jambs, mortise the hinge gains, and fit the door to the jambs. However, they are available in limited selections.

Pocket and Sliding Doors

Pocket and sliding doors slide in and out of a space hidden within a wall. They come as either as singles, which slide from left to right to open and shut, or as double pocket doors, which slide together and meet in the middle from both sides. They are primarily used on areas that have wide opening such as a closet or master bathroom and are generally installed to save space.

French Doors

French doors offer a dramatic addition to your home. They have rectangular panes of glass extending the full length and hang on hinges located at each side of a wide door opening, which swing toward each other, meeting at the center. They are usually used as a way to divide rooms without compromising visibility or the feeling of a large open room. They are a frequent popular choice for rooms that are traditionally dark because of their ability to allow light to pass. They generally increase the value of a home and make a great addition to any remodeling project.

Panel Doors

They can have either horizontal or vertical panels and are generally made up of three parts – the panels, stiles, and rails. True raised panel doors have panels that float within the frame of the door and are not glued to allow for expansion and contraction of the door panels. The rails are the horizontal and/or vertical pieces in the door that surrounds the panels and attach to the stiles. One side of the door is attached to the door jamb with hinges. The other side is bored for the door knob or lever, so that it can latch to the jamb when shut.

Louver Doors

Louver doors have wooden fins that permit open ventilation while preserving privacy and preventing the passage of light to the interior. Because they are typically weak, they are mostly used for closets, utility rooms, and laundry rooms where they provide good ventilation. They are made from wood and available in a variety of species including pine, oak, maple, and other types of wood.

Bifold Doors

Bifold doors are generally used on closets, pantries, laundry areas, and as folding doors between rooms. They are usually installed in pairs, with two doors folding to one side, or for larger openings, two sets of doors folding to the outside edges. They can be made of wood, metal, a composite, or vinyl. They pivot on pins inserted at the top and bottom edges, which allow a greater opening space than a sliding door. A similar option is folding or accordion-folding doors, which take up a little space when opened.