As a homeowner, you have dozens of options when it comes to completing home improvement projects that increase the value of your property. From staining kitchen cabinets to modern internal glazed doors to hanging stylish drapes in the master bedroom, it does take a lot of time and money to improve the visual appeal of the interior of your home.
However, you can improve the visual appeal of the interior of your home while at the same time improving its functionality of it. Installing new interior doors represents one of the highest rates of return of any other type of home improvement project. You can enhance the ambiance of the living room and trap heat in a bedroom during the colder months of the year.
How should you shop for the doors to install inside your home? The door experts at ETO Doors present the 11 factors to consider when choosing interior doors.
Style
The style of the interior doors you install should complement the rooms where you plan to install them. If the living room exudes a softer, more colorful ambiance, you want to choose an interior door that presents the same stylish theme. For a more sophisticated look in the living room, a set of French doors allow you to make the right design transition from one room into the living room.
Material
You have several options when it comes to the material used to manufacture interior doors. ETO Doors offers interior doors constructed with materials such as wood, steel, vinyl, fiberglass, and aluminum. The type of interior doors you choose depends on several factors, including durability, visual appeal, and energy efficiency.
Panel Size
The size of door panels depends on the configuration of a door, as well as the type of view you want. The larger the door panels, the most expansive the view. Having a clear view of other rooms creates the illusion of a larger space in the room where you install interior doors with multiple panels.
Energy Efficiency
Although not as important of a factor as it is for exterior doors, you still want the interior doors you install to trap heat in winter and cool air during summer. This is especially important for the interior doors you install in each bedroom. Door manufacturers come with Energy Star ratings that describe the energy efficiency of interior doors.
Security
Once again, security is not as important of a factor for interior doors as it is for exterior doors. Nonetheless, you want the interior doors installed in the bedrooms to deliver the same level of security as your exterior doors. This also applies to the door you install that leads to the basement.
Configuration
Interior doors come in a wide variety of configurations. Before you shop for interior doors, take accurate measurements of each interior door currently installed in your house to ensure the right configurations for the new set of interior doors.
Easy to Open and Close
Interior doors should not take a considerable physical effort to open, nor should they include complicated maneuvers to help you gain access to a room. Although you want interior doors that include security features, you do not want to install interior doors that overpower guests and family members.
Durability
Interior doors do not absorb the same level of pounding as experienced by exterior doors, but they still take a pounding. If you have a highly active household, you should consider interior doors constructed with either steel or fiberglass.
Low Maintenance
You should not have to spend much, if any, time maintaining interior doors while cleaning your home. Regular dusting and an occasional application of stain or paint are all you should have to do to keep your interior doors looking attractive for years to come.
Glazing
Glazed glass not only enhances the visual appeal of an interior door, but it also keeps a room cool during the warmest months of the year. Single glazed interior doors do a better job of filtering heat than double glazed interior doors.
Home Improvement Budget
Installing new interior doors is not the costliest home improvement project, but it can take a significant amount out of a home improvement budget if you plan to install several interior doors at the same time. Because of the benefits of installing high-quality interior doors, try to make the home improvement budget the least important factor when considering doors for one or more rooms in your home.
The Bottom Line
Working with 11 factors to consider when choosing interior doors requires you to prioritize each factor. For example, if appearance matters more than durability, you should consider installing French doors. The best approach to installing interior doors is to mix and match door types for different rooms. An interior door that presents softer tones works well in the living room, while you can install a more rugged door that connects the kitchen with the dining room.