If you are building or buying a new home or renovating your current home, before you begin your search for interior doors, try to get an idea ahead of time about what you want. Interior doors come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, modalities, colors, materials, and designs, so going blindly into the field to find one could quickly become overwhelming.
You will, of course, want to get an idea of what is available by browsing catalogues or going online, but one of your first tasks is to imaginatively consider the space where your interior doors are going to be. What would best fit into the structure and décor of your home? Big, heavy wooden doors? Metallic slats? French doors that allow light to continue throughout the house? Sliding glass doors? Hinged doors that open into your living space? Bright colors or muted tones? Getting a good idea of what you want at least in terms of materials (wood, metal, glass, wire, etc.) is a good place to start even before you begin your official search.
When you begin your search, you will need to keep in mind that some doors that appear to be somewhat attractive may be made of cheap materials, so don’t just keep aesthetics in mind. Think about quality and function, as well. Consider the companies from whom you are planning to purchase interior doors before you buy. Poor quality materials can begin to degrade very quickly, which can be frustrating and fill you with buyer’s regret in short order. Also, consider how you want the doors to function between the rooms that they divide. Do you want the door to block off vision and sound and lend privacy to a room? Then consider a heavy sliding barn door. Or, do you want the door to be inviting and light, serving more as a portal than an obstacle?
Think also about space issues. Sliding interior doors are likely to be less invasive in your living space than hinged doors, which, unless they are always closed, require more space to swing open into a room.
It may take some time to pick just the right door that reflects both your taste and your functional intent, so be patient. There are multiple options out there, which should be exciting rather than overwhelming. Take your time and select the best interior doors for your purposes, and avoid choosing the cheapest or the first one that you think will be okay.
