Elevate Your Home's Design with Purposeful Interior Doors - Explore 11 Innovative Ideas That Make a Difference
In the realm of home design, several aspects are often overlooked, like internal doors. These unassuming elements can significantly impact a space's appearance and functionality, but they often get swept under the rug during renovations or redecorating projects. Interior design guru Sabrina Phillips emphasizes this point, stating, "Interior doors are underrated and often not a priority, but they can make a difference in how a space looks and functions."
To help you make the most of your interior design endeavors, we've compiled an inspiring collection that showcases various ways to select and implement interior doors. From building storage walls around them to using fluted glass, there's a multitude of ideas to ignite your imagination!
Sabrina Phillips, a distinguished interior designer and general contractor, carries over three decades of experience. She established Designing Women in 1991, which transformed into Designing Women of Orange County in 2012. Her career began with designing doctor's offices before shifting to residential design, focusing on kitchen and bath remodels and full-home remodels, among other areas. Sabrina's portfolio includes a diverse range of projects, from modest kitchens to multimillion-dollar estates.
1. Construct a Storage Wall Around Them
Searching for a chic storage solution? Look no further than building a whole wall of shelving around an internal door! This innovative approach makes great use of space while transforming your door into a feature. While a comprehensive wall may not be necessary, constructing a simple arch of shelving around a door can be incredibly effective for space-saving storage ideas.
Take the example of this house designed by Studio Bark, where the whole structure, including the shelving and door, was comprised of a unique system of flat-pack wooden panels made from spruce plywood. The outcome is a fresh, minimalist appearance.
2. Achieve Opulence with Rich Timbers
The materials you choose for your internal doors significantly impact a room's ambiance. As your front door sets the tone for the rest of your home, so too does the design of your internal doors hint at what lies beyond. "The material and style you choose should match the home's overall look," begins Sabrina Phillips. "Traditional homes look great with paneled wooden doors, while sleek, flush doors work better in modern spaces. MDF is a good budget-friendly option, but solid wood doors offer a more substantial and timeless feel."
Consider the glorious timber used for the barn doors within this opulent space, designed by Tineke Triggs. The herringbone pattern pairs beautifully with the deep blues used elsewhere in the scheme while paying homage to the soaring ceilings.
3. Make Them the Focal Point
Interior doors don't have to play second fiddle to the rest of your design ideas – they can be the star of the show if you so desire. "Don't be afraid to treat doors as part of the overall design," advises Sabrina Phillips. "Double doors can make a space feel more grand, and unique colors, arches, or custom details can add personality."
This bold home movie theater space, designed by Amber Guyton, is bursting with quirky, playful touches. The phone box doorway that leads into the room hints at the fun that awaits inside.
4. Embrace Light with Glazed Doors
Using internal glass doors provides several advantages, such as bringing more light to rooms like home offices, hallways, or pantries. "Glass-paneled doors are great when you want to bring in more light," explains Sabrina Phillips.
Light flows seamlessly through this Victorian property, thanks to Delve Architects' design, which includes a series of glazed arches and glazed double doors leading to the formal dining space beyond.
5. Set Doors Within Deep Shelves
There's no need to limit internal doors to a flush placement with the walls. Setting them back can add a touch of intrigue as to where they may lead. Using shelving ideas, such as deep open cabinetry built out from the wall, in a material that matches that used for the doors not only makes sense from a practical standpoint but also from a design one.
Throughout the renovated apartment by Michael K Chen Architecture, doors have been designed to pivot and slide away to allow for the layout's easy reconfiguration. The design of the doors leading into the den and dining room involves paneling that swings closed as a pair of integrated doors with wooden handles.
6. Use Doors to Introduce a Splash of Color
Matched paint colors for internal doors can create a sleek, modern finish, perfect if color drenching is your thing. However, there are other approaches to consider. "Doors can either blend in or stand out," states Sabrina Phillips. "If you want a seamless, modern look, painting them the same color as the walls works really well. If you want to make a statement, however, darker, moodier tones or even a bold color will impress your guests."
Bright, vibrant color was essential to the owners of this project by Delve Architects, and windows and doors were employed as a means of bringing in strong shades, from the apple green window and door frames used externally to the burnt orange sliding doors internally.
7. Save Space with Sliding Pocket Doors
Pocket doors are an excellent solution for creating separation or adding privacy without sacrificing space, much like hidden doors. "Sliding doors are extremely efficient when used for small rooms," explains experienced interior designer Alecia Taylor, "where the swing of a standard door takes up too much space. Pocket doors vanish into the wall, taking up minimal space without the grief of swinging doors."
London-based interior design studio Indie and Co were able to accommodate an ensuite for this bedroom by utilizing an elegant pocket door.
Alecia Taylor is an experienced interior designer who, alongside four talented designers at CabinetNow.com, works closely with clients on kitchen, bathroom, closet, and other home improvement projects.
8. Experiment with Fluted Glass
Fluted, or ribbed, glass remains a strong design trend. In addition to bringing a vintage vibe and adding privacy, it also works well for pantry doors, ensuites, and inner hallway doors.
Within this renovated apartment, architects Bradley Van Der Straeten found a need for a level of separation between spaces due to factors such as acoustics. Colored glass is another fantastic tool for this purpose.
9. Paint Them to Match Details Within the Room Scheme
For a classic, timeless, and elegant look, painting baseboards and architrave in a shade that matches your doors is the way to go. Planning this early on is essential to achieve a seamless, cohesive effect, as Sabrina Phillips emphasizes. "Interior doors shouldn't be an afterthought - they add to the flow and feel of a home just as much as walls, flooring, kitchen, or even furniture."
In the whimsical design scheme orchestrated by Brittney Ferguson Interiors, the classic paneled doors received a new lease on life with a coat of the palest pink paint, a color that has also been used for the door trim and baseboards.
10. Use Partially Glazed Doors for Separation
Doors don't have to be fully glazed to allow light through or provide a lighter approach to separation – sometimes smaller sections of glass can have the same effect. "Seamless transitions between spaces are key to a well-designed home, and there are many ways to achieve this," advises Katerina Tchevytchalova, director and interior designer at K'Arte Design. "Crittall-style doors allow natural light to move freely while subtly defining separate areas, making them ideal for connecting kitchens and entrance halls."
The clever design of this home by Fiona Duke Interiors includes a utility room, which has been separated from the kitchen with a semi-glazed wall and door, providing just a glimpse of the space within.
In summary, choosing the right interior door involves considering both style and functionality, keeping materials, sizes, and the latest design trends that incorporate technology and sustainability in mind. Remember, your front door ideas are equally important, as they impact curb appeal and enhance your experience upon returning home. Happy renovating!
FAQs
What Are the Latest Trends for Internal Doors?
In terms of current trends in internal door design, color and an element of glazing that encourages free movement are very much in vogue. "Whether through glass, wood, or clever spatial planning, enhancing flow between rooms creates a more open, cohesive feel while maintaining a sense of privacy in each area," says Katerina Tchevytchalova.
"I think, in terms of interior doors, people are considering them far more in their designs as part of the full concept now," says Fiona Duke, founder and director of Fiona Duke Interiors. "They're not 'just doors' but part of the room design where you can decide to make something of them. 'Accent them in a strong color, color drench them to the interior decoration, or completely change the material and juxtapose it to its surroundings as a complete contrast and statement feature.'"
Fiona Duke Interiors is an award-winning interior design studio that creates beautiful interiors in the UK and beyond. With over a decade of experience working on commercial and high-end residential projects, they pride themselves on their ability to provide a tailored and unique proposal to each client.
- Construct a Storage Wall Around Them: A unique system of flat-pack wooden panels can be used to create a whole wall of shelving around an internal door, maximizing space and transforming the door into a design feature.
- Achieve Opulence with Rich Timbers: The material and style of internal doors can significantly impact a room's ambiance. Using rich timbers, like herringbone patterned wooden doors, can add a touch of opulence and elegance to a space.
- Make Them the Focal Point: Interior doors don't have to play second fiddle to other design elements. Double doors or unique colors, arches, or custom details can make a space feel more grand and add personality.
- Embrace Light with Glazed Doors: Using glass-paneled doors provides several advantages, such as bringing more light to rooms and creating a seamless transition between spaces.
- Set Doors Within Deep Shelves: Setting internal doors back in deep open cabinetry built out from the wall not only makes sense from a practical standpoint but also adds a touch of intrigue to the design.
- Use Doors to Introduce a Splash of Color: Painting internal doors a bold color can create a striking design element, setting them apart from the rest of the space while still maintaining harmony with the overall decor.
- Save Space with Sliding Pocket Doors: Sliding pocket doors are an excellent solution for creating separation or adding privacy without sacrificing space.
- Experiment with Fluted Glass: Fluted, or ribbed, glass adds a vintage vibe and privacy while also working well for pantry doors, ensuites, and inner hallway doors.
- Paint Them to Match Details Within the Room Scheme: Painting baseboards, architrave, and internal doors in a shade that matches each other can create a classic, timeless, and elegant look.
- Use Partially Glazed Doors for Separation: Crittall-style doors with partially glazed sections allow natural light to move freely while subtly defining separate areas, making them ideal for connecting kitchens and entrance halls.
In the realm of home design, trends for internal doors currently favor color and an element of glazing that encourages free movement, enhancing the flow between rooms while maintaining privacy in each area. Interior doors are becoming an important part of the full design concept, with many homeowners choosing to make a statement with color, materials, or unique styles.
