Image above: design guide by Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest
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Why Interior Door Styles Matter More Than You Think
Walk through any house and count the doors: bedrooms, baths, closets, the pantry, the laundry. In most homes that adds up to a lot of surface, and when every one of them is a plain builder-grade slab, the whole house reads a little flat. When the doors match the style of the home, everything from the trim to the hardware starts to feel connected.
Closets are where I see this most. My post on closet door styles is still one of the most-read pages on my blog, because so many people stand in front of a wall of plain closet doors and wonder what else is possible. The same thinking works for every door in the house.
Start With the Architecture of Your Home
Before you fall for a door on Pinterest, look at the house you have. A good door style echoes the bones of the home rather than fighting them.
- Traditional and Colonial homes: raised or recessed panel doors in a crisp painted finish.
- Craftsman and farmhouse: simple Shaker-style or two-panel doors, often with a stained or warm painted finish.
- Modern and contemporary: flush (flat) doors, slim profiles and minimal hardware.
- Spanish, Mediterranean and older character homes: arched tops, heavier wood and handsome vintage-style knobs.
If your home is a mix, choose one door style and repeat it throughout the main living areas. Consistency is what makes a house feel designed.
The Most Popular Interior Door Styles
Panel doors. The classic. Bob Vila's guide to door types explains that panel doors are also called stile-and-rail doors and typically come in 4-, 6- or 8-panel configurations. A two-panel or single recessed panel (Shaker) door works in almost any style of home.
Flush doors. Completely flat, with no decoration. They're the cleanest look for modern homes, and they can be painted, stained or even wallpapered, which makes them surprisingly versatile.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest (originally from Nadine Stay). View the pin
French doors. Glass panels in a frame, usually in pairs. They're beautiful for closing off a home office or a formal living or dining room while keeping the light moving through the house.
Pocket doors. These slide into the wall, so there's no swing to plan around. I love them for small bathrooms, laundry rooms and tight hallways where a swinging door would block the room.
Barn and sliding doors. A sliding door on exposed hardware adds character, but it doesn't seal tightly, so it's best where privacy isn't a big concern, such as a pantry, office or den. A slatted or grid sliding door is a lighter, more architectural take on the idea.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest (originally from Pamper Haus). View the pin
Closet Door Styles That Feel Custom
Closets are the place to have a little fun. A few of my favorite ways to make closet doors feel custom:
- Cane or rattan inserts. Woven panels let a closet breathe and add warm texture. I rounded up a few ideas in my post on caned closet doors.
- Arched tops. An arch softens a wall of storage and makes built-ins look like fine furniture.
- Mirrored panels. A mirror on the front, or on the inside of the door, gives you a full-length mirror without using wall space.
- Louvered doors. Slatted panels let air move, which is why they're a smart choice for closets and laundry rooms.
- Bifolds, upgraded. Bifolds need less clearance than a swinging door, so they still make sense for wide, shallow closets. Swap the hollow slabs for paneled or cane-front versions and they look far more expensive.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest (originally from Pamper Haus). View the pin
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest (originally from Livingetc). View the pin
Hidden doors are having a moment too. House Beautiful reports that designers are seeing more requests for doors disguised as shelving or cabinetry, which can be a clever way to tuck away a pantry or a small office. For more closet inspiration, Architectural Digest's closet door ideas are worth a scroll, and you'll find more of my thoughts on knobs, pulls and trim in closet door details.
Image via Jill Seidner Interior Design on Pinterest (originally from Lolly Jane). View the pin
Size, Swing and Clearance
Style is only half the decision. Before ordering, check:
- Width. If you're planning for accessibility now or later, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design call for door openings with a clear width of 32 inches minimum, measured with the door open 90 degrees. Plan the door size around that clear opening, not just the slab.
- Swing. Make sure an open door doesn't hit a vanity, a bed or another door. If it does, that's a pocket door or sliding door opportunity.
- Height. Taller doors make a room feel grander. If you have higher ceilings and you're remodeling, ask your contractor whether a taller door is an option.
Finishes and Hardware That Pull It Together
Paint sheen matters on doors because they get touched constantly. Benjamin Moore's guide to paint finishes recommends satin to highlight trim and interior doors and notes that semi-gloss creates dimension on millwork, trim and doors. I usually match the door sheen to the trim so they read as one.
Then choose one hardware finish for the main living areas and carry it through. For a modern home, a matte black lever such as these matte black interior door handles keeps things crisp. In a traditional or Spanish-style home, an antique brass privacy door knob feels right, and for an older house with character, vintage-style glass door knobs add a little jewelry to plain doors.
My Quick Checklist for Choosing Interior Doors
- Match the door style to the architecture of the home.
- Repeat one style throughout the main living areas.
- Use closets as the place to add texture: cane, arches, mirrors or louvers.
- Check the clear width and the swing before you order.
- Match the paint sheen to the trim and keep hardware in one finish.
Interior Door Styles FAQ
What is the most popular interior door style?
Panel doors, especially simple Shaker or two-panel designs, work with the widest range of homes. Flush doors are the go-to for modern spaces.
Should all interior doors in a house match?
The main living areas look best with one consistent style and hardware finish. Closets, pantries and laundry rooms are where you can break the rule with cane, louvers, glass or a sliding door.
What can I use instead of a standard closet door?
Pocket doors, sliding doors, upgraded bifolds, louvered or cane-front doors and mirrored panels are all great options. My closet door styles post has more ideas.
