The threshold inside your household serve up a practical purpose , but they are also an opportunity to embrace different design styles .
John Bessler
Interior doors serve well a hardheaded function , but internal door styles can adddesign elementsto a infinite — we’ll show you how to find the right ones for your living space .

Credit:John Bessler
What to Consider
" Selecting interior doorway requires a bit of thought of your home as a whole , " says interior designer Julie Kantrowitz . Here are a few factors to consider when choosing an interior doorway trend :
Answering these questions will aid you narrow down the styles of doors that are well suit for your home .
When to Change Interior Doors
You might be able-bodied to make a quick fix , if you see scratches , peeling , or bear spots in a woods door , for instance . you may try painting or sanding it first . But if you notice cracking , warping , or other serious price , and the door is voiceless to open or close , it ’s time to supervene upon it .
When you replace an national room access , do n’t forget the fun stuff . you may update the trimness and study door pommel that match your esthetical . Whether you prefer vintage or modernistic , you ’ve got plenty of choices , from ballock - shaped or octagon pommel to ceramic floral knobs .
Dutch Door
Add fooling elegance with a Dutch door , a authoritative single door rive into two halves horizontally . " Dutch doors have a sorcerous aesthetic and are often associated with farmhouse - style architecture , " says Austin - ground interior designer Kristin Marino .
This style of door dates back to 17th - one C Holland , and today , this interior room access style unify onetime - human beings countrified charm with virtual purpose , as its unequalled design allows you to start the top portion to let air broadcast while keep the bottom half closed as a refuge precaution .
Marino recommends aDutch doorfor a kitchen or mudroom , adding , " They also come in ready to hand with little children or pet so that you may love the fresh air with repose of mind that your little 1 are safe . "

Credit: Dave Greer
The doorway ’s timeless appearance makes a stunning statement , but if budget is a concern , keep in nous that it tends to be one of the more expensive room access options on the market .
Pocket Door
Michael Partenio
rather of swinging undefendable and command headway to do so , a pocket door slides into a build - in compartment inside the paries . It often have glass pane , create optical persistence between rooms and allowing light to filter through . Single and treble pocket doors are used , and this internal threshold style work just as well for a modern blank as it does for a traditional home .
In addition to providing a space - saving root for a larder , laundry room , or water closet , Kantrowitz says thatpocket doorsare an unexpected way to showcase a beautiful room access in an entertaining place such as a dining room .

Credit:Michael Partenio
" The larger the opening , the more sizeable the scoop door , " she order and suggest installing a set of French doors . " Not only are they a more impactful set of doors , but they do n’t have to impede on an expansive wide — even arc — encased possibility . "
Barn Door
Jay Wilde
Asliding barn dooris a wizardly alternative to traditional interior threshold styles . Similar to a sac threshold , it ’s a good pickaxe for asmall spacesince it does n’t need elbow room to swing open . It does , however , require the length of the wall next to it to be adequate to or farseeing than the room access ’s width , as that ’s where you slide the threshold to give it . Unlike a classic room access with flexible joint and a handle , it does n’t allow a tight seal , which is something to keep in brain since it cut the amount of privacy provide .
Because abarn dooris mounted directly on the bulwark and slides on metal rollers , you must ensure enough studs are in the wall to hold its considerable weight . set up thisdoor style in a kitchen or your primary suite to separate the bedroom and bathroom . Or , think little and use a pair of mini barn threshold to hide a TV or replace a readiness of kitchen cabinet doors for an unexpected look .

Credit:Jay Wilde
Louvered Door
Install a louvered door in any space that needs air ventilation , as the door is compose of a serial of horizontal slats that earmark air to filter through . This interior door flair is most commonly usedin a closet , pantry , utility program room , or any other expanse where moisture and mustiness are a fear .
Sometimes louvered doors amount in the form of a duo of bifold doors , other times it ’s a Greco-Roman door with two ventilate control board . Cleaning the doorscan be somewhat metre - consume , as each spell of slat Grant Wood be given to amass detritus and demand to be wiped down individually .
French Door
Greg Scheidemann
A French threshold mime a window and has a series of glass gore that typically extend from the top to the bottom of the door . Unlike a solid wood door , it lets natural luminosity filter in and creates breakup between rooms while keep an airy and open feel .
Gallic doorsfrequently come in pairs and are used to lead to an exterior space such as a patio or balcony , but they ’re also a pop option for ahome officeor to connect a life and dining way , offering detachment and visual fluidness at the same time . They are a timeless choice that adds elegance and instantly dresses up a place .

Credit:Greg Scheidemann
Classic Panel Door
Carson Downing
The most commonly used interior door style , a classic panel door is readily usable for purchase in multiple sizes , with various gore designs , and for indoor andoutdoor purposes . A six - panel door is a timeless and traditional selection , while a Shaker - panache four - panel door puts a New spin on the classic . You ’ll also find a two - panel adaptation , arced panel , and innumerous other configurations .
Bifold Doors
Robert Brinson
Bifold doors consist of two erect panels that fold and stack when you pull up the door open . They are most commonly used in pairs , whetherin a closet , a washing room , or to hide a water heater or washing machine and dryer in a utility way .
They ’re a space - conscious option since they do n’t need quite as much clearance as a regular room access , and they sometimes amount in the form of louvered doors that allow for air circulation . This is particularly utilitarian if you utilize the bifold doors in a modest closet or basement quad that tends to get humid .

Credit:Carson Downing
Arched Door
Nathan Schroder Photography
An arciform door is a beautiful architectural feature of speech that immediately raise a room and gives it a sophisticated , custom - design feeling . you could put in a single or twofold arch - top door and select between a swing - weapon or air hole opening night style , depending on the size of it and style of your room .
As for its construction , an arch door is available in various material , such as an graceful French - style doorway featuring windowpane panel , a rustic - attend woods paneled version , or an industrial intention - inspire door featuring a shameful iron grid . Curved molding underscore the door ’s elegant shape , and you ’ll often chance this national door fashion in a noble-minded lobby , a conventional living ordining elbow room , or a sizeable primary cortege .

Credit:Robert Brinson
Pantry Door
Ryan Bent Photography
When it comes to pantry doorway , Kantrowitz notes that " they are often overlook by the comfortably - intentioned homeowners from a design stand " because hoi polloi run to focus more on service program than intent .
Apantry doorprovides the consummate chance to get creative and add personality to your kitchen . " We have intercourse to customise this style door in many ways — custom slim two-fold doors equipped with glass panels to allow a peek into an organized pantry showing or a classic paneled door with metier hardware , " she sound out .

Credit:Nathan Schroder Photography
" If you choose a childlike stylus , a great way to get up the look is to paint the door a unlike color than the rest of your clipping and even have fun withpaint lustre , " Kantrowitz says . For a bold and beautiful look , she propose a high - gloss finish .
Hidden Door
Ahidden doormay make you reckon of fairytales or closed book novels , but you could easily instal this interior threshold elan in your own home to create a secret passageway from one space to another .
Sometimes , it ’s mask as a bookcase that conduce from one room to another , and other time , it has a full - distance wall mirror front that opens up to a concealed closet . Kantrowitz suggestsusing this trickfor a buttery door in your kitchen .
Frosted Glass Door
Allow luminousness to filter in while maintaining privateness with a frosted glass room access . It add a unequaled look , and you will often notice frosted spyglass used on French door , sliding doorswith meth panels , orfront doorsthat feature meth detail .
you may also take the DIY path and create your own frosted glass doors using a frosting spray or applying frosted self - adhesive newspaper . It ’s a quick and inexpensive way to give your door an inst makeover and add together a privacy feature of speech without alone supersede the door .
Pivot Door
Jodie Johnson / Getty Images
A pivot threshold is a New alternative that combines sleek purpose and effortless social function . Instead of traditional hinges on the side of the door , a pivot door ’s hinges are place at the top and bottom , changing the way it swing open .
It addscontemporary flairand a mellow - terminal look whether install as an exterior or interior room access . It come in various designs and materials , from ultra - modern frosted glass and steel to more rustic Natalie Wood edition . A pivot door falls in a higher price range and is typically considered a customs , luxury option .

Credit:Ryan Bent Photography
The Most Durable Door Materials
These are the most commonly used door ware for homes :

Credit:Emily Followill

Credit:Jay Wilde

Credit:Jodie Johnson / Getty Images