How to choose interior doors – expert advice

Interior doors are an essential attribute of any home. They fit organically into the interior of the room and help to correctly delimit the area of ​​your home, separating one room from another. Currently, a large number of various door models are on sale, differing in appearance, functionality and the presence of all kinds of additional elements – both decorative and utilitarian. We will talk about how to choose the right interior doors in this article.

The best manufacturers – which company to choose

Classic interior doors are currently produced not only by large industrial enterprises, for which this type of product is only one of the parts of the portfolio. There are many small firms, the production of products from natural wood and doors, in particular, for which is the main activity. The following manufacturers are currently the most popular:

1. 'Volkhovets';

2. 'Alvero';

3. 'Onyx';

4. 'Dariano';

Before giving preference to a particular model, you should familiarize yourself not only with the manufacturers' catalogs, but also with user reviews and take into account both positive and negative points.

Types of interior doors

Classic doors for a private house or apartment

They are distinguished by stylish design and a predominance of warm, pastel shades. They are selected for the design of a particular interior and harmoniously fit into it. The appearance can be quite different: such doors can be made both from a solid door array and have all kinds of glass inserts. For the most part, all models of such doors have standard sizes, which makes it easy to choose a specific model without worrying about whether it fits in size or not.

Advantages

• Standard sizes for easy selection and installation;

• Possibility of installing decorative glass or synthetic materials;

• A wide variety of colors, decor and style options;

• A wide variety of colors, colors and patterns;

disadvantages

• Not suitable for individual doorway sizes;

• High cost of exclusive models;

Office doors

In many respects, they are similar in functionality to their counterparts intended for installation in residential premises, differ only in functional purpose. Their main task is to delimit the workspace, and therefore design is given secondary importance. To be aesthetic, discreet and fully emphasize the general style and concept of a particular office space – these are the requirements of most buyers.

Advantages

• Strict design;

• The use of natural solid wood as the main material;

• Good sound insulation;

• High quality workmanship;

• Simple and unpretentious materials in operation;

disadvantages

• High price;

Options for choosing interior doors

Door type

A time-tested, classic option is swing doors. Depending on the installation location and the opening method, there are both left-hand and right-hand doors.

1. Swing doors are the most common type. They can have both right-hand and left-hand opening. One-, one-and-a-half- and two-leaf options are on sale. They are suitable for almost any type of room and provide acceptable sound and heat insulation. The disadvantages include the need to carefully measure the doorway before installation, as well as the high cost;

2. Sliding doors have gained immense popularity nowadays. As such, there are no hinges in this design, and opening and closing occurs with the help of special slide rails, like a sliding wardrobe. As a result of such a design, there is a significant savings in space – such doors can be installed even in a confined space. Among the shortcomings, one can single out the presence of cracks and low noise insulation as a result, as well as the noise of the mechanism during operation;

3. Folding doors are a cross between the two types described above. During operation, they fold up like an accordion and can significantly save space. This solution provides ease of use, but does not contribute to maximum sound insulation. Another disadvantage is the price – doors of such a design are quite expensive;

Type of materials used

Here the buyer will find the most real variety that will satisfy the most original desires.

1. The most popular are wooden doors made both from solid wood and from the products of its processing (fiberboard, chipboard, MDF).

2. Plastic doors are also in high demand, as well as glass models – the latter are a kind of status item and are most often installed in offices, as well as in various commercial and industrial premises.

3. There is also a demand for doors made of metal – they are usually installed at the entrance to those premises that need to be protected from unauthorized access.

Coating materials

Of great importance, first of all, for aesthetic perception, is also the material that is used as cladding for interior doors.

1. Veneer is currently the most common. These are thin sheets of natural solid wood used for cladding. Veneered doors are virtually indistinguishable from natural wood doors. Among the shortcomings, one can single out whimsical care and fear of wet rooms and significant temperature changes;

2. PVC film is an artificial option, inexpensive and popular nowadays. Thanks to the manufacturing technology, this material can have absolutely any structure and appearance. It is not afraid of direct sunlight, moisture and temperature extremes; it can be applied to any surface. The disadvantages include low environmental friendliness, as well as the fear of mechanical stress and open fire;

3. Laminate is a material that is most often used in the manufacture of budget class interior doors. It is based on paper laminated with special resins. It can also have different colors and shades, but the texture is exclusively matte. Of the shortcomings, it should be noted whimsical care and fear of mechanical influences;

Door construction

1. All-glass doors are an aesthetic and stylish option, widely used in the design of shops and office premises. They are made of high-strength tempered glass and can have absolutely any color and shade. Of the shortcomings, it should be noted whimsical care and high fragility – the slightest blow with a hard object can lead to irreversible consequences;

2. Paneled doors are a frame made of wooden or plastic slats filled with special inserts – panels. They can have a very different appearance, texture and color, which makes it possible to produce extremely diverse door models. The disadvantages of such models include high cost and rather heavy weight;

3. Panel doors are a frame made of wooden blocks, sheathed on the outside with sheets of MDF, fiberboard, veneer or plastic. They can have a different texture and appearance, and due to the simplicity of the design, they do not have a high price. The disadvantage of such doors is low noise insulation and sensitivity to mechanical stress.

Fittings

Currently, almost all interior doors are equipped with one of the three above types of fittings:

1. Classic handle designed to open or close the door, as well as fix it in the closed position. The most versatile option for a kitchen, living room or hall;

2. Fittings equipped with a latch on the inside and a lock cylinder on the opposite side. Allows you to lock yourself in the room from the outside if necessary, installed in the bathroom, toilet or bedroom. If necessary, the locked door can always be opened with a key – a kind of insurance against unforeseen situations;

3. Standard mortise lock that allows the door to be locked from the outside and from the inside. It is widely used in office models and where it is necessary to restrict the access of unauthorized people to the premises;

Equipment

Interior doors are not just a door frame and a sash. Depending on the specific model, the delivery set may include platbands designed to decorate the junction of the door frame and the mounting opening, a threshold designed to mask the gap from the bottom and create a single stylistic picture, addons and many other functional elements. Many of them are sold separately, and therefore the buyer always has the opportunity to choose the most suitable, from his point of view, components.

Interior door dimensions

As a rule, the typical installation size for most residential and public buildings is 900×2000 with a small expansion gap in height and width. In addition, you can find non-standard models that require custom-made doors. When installing doors of one size or another, the functional use of a particular room should be taken into account. For example, in the case of office space and standard-sized doors – installing furniture, a desk and other interior elements can cause a lot of hassle – they simply won't go through a narrow doorway.

Which interior doors are best to choose?

1. For installation in the hall, living room and kitchen, the best option is standard interior doors made of wood or plastic and equipped with a conventional handle for opening. Models are suitable, both from solid wood, and from woodworking products, as well as models equipped with glass;

2. Doors to the bedroom, bathroom or bathroom must be equipped with a threshold, as well as a locking device from the inside and a lock cylinder outside;

3. When choosing a door to the nursery, attention should be paid not only to design, but also to sound insulation. The locking element must allow the door to be locked both from the outside and from the inside;

4. When choosing interior doors to an office space, you need to take care of maximum safety. Solid wood doors or metal options equipped with a mortise lock are the best choice for this situation;

How much do interior doors cost?

1. The most affordable are the doors for the kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Their cost varies at around one and a half thousand rubles;

2. More functional doors for a living room, hall or children's room can cost from 2,500 to 7,500 rubles;

3. The price tag for durable office doors starts from 6000-6500 rubles and can reach 15-20 thousand rubles;

In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose the right front door and the secrets of choosing a door closer.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.