Focus on... internal doors

I was recently asked by Top Doors Direct if I had any tips on selecting the perfect doors for an interior. Here are my thoughts!

Can you tell me a little about your business?

Hi! I’m Caroline and I work as an interior designer and advisor supporting homeowners in large renovation projects. This involves everything from working through the layout of a home to best accommodate my clients’ lifestyles, right the way through to the selection of materials, fittings and furnishings.

How long have you been practising as an Interior Designer?

I’ve worked in the design world for over fifteen years, initially in commercial design projects in client service and operational capacity, before specialising in the interior design of private homes for the last six years. My time in the commercial world has been invaluable for my perspective when designing and means I care as much about ergonomics and traffic flow as I do the finishing touches.

How can the right door style enhance a space’s overall design?

The right door can greatly enhance it. If you think about the core functional elements of a house, internal doors are quite a significant architectural feature - and a great opportunity to set a design style or aesthetic for a home.

What role does door material/colour/finish play in creating a cohesive interior design?

It plays a huge role, and the options are endless. For example, if you have tiled floors and carpet throughout a house, it may add warmth and character to consider doors in a natural wood finish. Or if you have chosen to paint your woodwork a contrasting colour in a room, an unfinished paintable option means you can achieve a seamless continuation of that finish across the doors.

Other design options available such as whether a door is glazed, can also have a big impact on how light flows between rooms, something well worth considering for darker rooms in a house which may benefit from an additional source of natural light.

What advice would you give to homeowners looking to upgrade their doors to refresh the look of their homes?

Before starting any design project I always encourage my clients to really look at the architectural style of their home, and of course also the design ‘look’ they want to end up with. A cottage door, for example, may feel at odds in a highly contemporary new build. I think maintaining some consistency through the selections you make will lead to the most successful interiors.

Lastly, remember to take time to select your door hardware. This will have a bigger bearing on the overall aesthetic than you think and is something you touch regularly, so you need to like the feel and shape of them. These should be a matching or complementary metal finish to the other hardware in a room, for example your light switches, fittings and sockets.

What mistakes should people avoid when selecting new doors for their homes?

Measure all openings carefully as there are often different sizes of openings throughout a house, especially in older properties. Also, if you are planning a new doorway, it’s critical to think about which way the door swings as that may have an impact on how easy it is to move about in a smaller room and how you set out out your furniture. If you are really tight for space you could even consider a pocket door which uses a sliding mechanism into the wall, avoiding a door swing altogether.

Finally, do remember to consider the technical aspects of a door such as whether a fire-rated door is required, or even the level of sound insulation a door offers for privacy.