Choosing your Interior Door Style

Published: September 29, 2021

By the Estate Millwork Design Team | Craftsmen since 1997

It can be no small task when it comes to choosing what style of interior doors you want to install in your home. Some things you need to consider are wood species, painted or stained, door type and lastly door style.

Choosing a Door Type

Choosing a door type is probably the most important decision when it comes to buying new interior doors. This where you need to decide is this a standard door, French doors, a sliding door or a bi-fold door and which style type you want. If you are in the market for bi-fold doors you are likely looking for a louvered door, paneled door or a combination of the two. A larger opening that would require two doors can be filled with French doors, sliding doors or sliding barn doors. The door style here all depends on the location, personal taste, overall room size and available space in the room, is it a closet or an opening between rooms?

Door Style

Picking a distinct style is where you get into the design details of the door you chose, whether it is louvered, paneled, barn or something in between Estate Millwork offers numerous variations of each style. Examples of choices here are number of panels, panel arrangement and number of rails and stiles. Here is where you can truly customize your doors to fit your style and be unique to you.

Customizing

The customization possibilities are endless when it comes to doors from Estate Millwork. You can choose from over 10 different beautiful hardwood species, specific dimensions and the doors finish whether it is painted a custom color or finished in a protective clear coat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What wood species work best for interior doors?

Poplar is the most popular choice for painted interior doors due to its smooth grain and affordability. For stained doors, Red Oak, Maple, Cherry, and Walnut each offer distinctive grain patterns and color tones. The best species depends on whether you plan to paint or stain.

How are custom wood doors different from big-box store doors?

Custom wood doors are built to your exact dimensions using solid hardwood and traditional joinery methods like mortise and tenon. Big-box store doors are typically hollow-core or use engineered materials. Custom doors offer superior sound insulation, durability, and a solid feel that mass-produced doors cannot match.

Can I order a custom door in a non-standard size?

Yes. Estate Millwork builds every door to your specified width and height. Whether you need a narrow pantry door, an oversized entry door, or a door to fit a historic opening with non-standard dimensions, we can accommodate your requirements.

What door styles does Estate Millwork offer?

We offer louvered, raised panel, flat panel, French, barn, arched, and mission style doors. Each style is available in multiple wood species and can be ordered painted or unfinished. Our online designer lets you configure every detail and see an instant price quote.

Design Considerations for Custom Wood Doors

Measure the rough opening, not the existing door, when ordering a replacement. Include the width, height, and wall thickness so the door and jamb fit correctly.
For high-traffic areas like kitchens and hallways, choose a harder wood species like White Oak or Maple that resists dents and wear better than softer species.
Louvered doors are an excellent choice for closets, laundry rooms, and utility spaces because the slats promote air circulation, reducing moisture buildup and musty odors.
When matching new doors to existing trim, bring a sample of your current wood or finish to compare. Estate Millwork offers the same species and can match stain colors for a cohesive look.