Open to possibilities

You think there are too many options when shopping for wallpaper? Try shopping for a new interior door. Either way, choices are nearly endless.



With interior doors, customers first need to evaluate the type of door they want. Next they will need to decide if they want a flush, solid core, hollow core, molded, MDF or stile and rail interior door.



Then there is the challenge of selecting the actual door design. Masonite offers 255 different interior door designs. TruStile has over 400 designs. Jeld-Wen carved interior doors features more than 100 standard designs and extensive custom potential. Simpson Door Co. has a 200-page interior door catalog.



The classic, six-panel Colonial door is the most common interior door, said Jeff Lowinski, VP technical services for the Window and Door Manufacturers Association. But three-panel and five-panel doors are also popular. The most popular design styles, according to a survey of 300-plus architects by TruStile: Contemporary, Craftsman, Modern and Traditional.



Door designs tend to follow regional architectural styles. The style of door usually matches the design style of the home, Lowinski said. But, for the most part, door design is a matter of personal preference. If there is a trend at all in new construction, he adds, it is to fewer interior doors and more open space.



As design elements, interior doors can have a major impact on the look of the home. They can add excitement to the decor, provide an unexpected flair to the design and emphasize the function of living spaces.



“Traditional doors are still very popular,” said Brad Loveless, marketing and product development manager for Simpson. “However, currently, we are seeing a trend to ... more contemporary style doors.”



The modern twist on traditional-style doors is also to simplify with fewer panels. “The six-panel door is still very popular, but now the trend is to a four-panel door or to a door with three or four horizontal panels that go the full width of the door,” he said. “These doors still have the same raised panels or molding details, but there are fewer components.”



The trend, according to Elizabeth Souders, director of product management for Jeld-Wen, is to unexpected design details. Consumers, she said, want a signature piece or options that add visual interest.



Another trend is to larger, taller or wider doors in higher-end homes. Most doors are 6 ft. 8 in. high. It’s becoming more common to see 7-ft. and 8-ft. interior doors in these homes, especially on the first floor. With the aging of the population and the advent of universal design concepts, wider, handicap-accessible doors with lever door handles are increasingly in demand.



There are different schools of thought on whether to match or mix door styles. “Some think all interiors doors in a home should match,” Lowinski explained. “Others think that each room should be its own living space.”



What can be exciting is placing unique-style doors in places you would not expect. For example, selecting an obscure or resin-panel door for the master bedroom can be an unexpected element.



Download the “Residential Building Products and Technology” app for your iPad. Or visit ResBuildMag.com.