INTERNAL DOORS
From picking materials and styles through to what to budget, Annabel Dixon’s guide to specifying internal doors has you covered
Looking for internal doors but not sure where to start? The styles you plump for can have a major impact on the look and feel of your home. But there’s a lot to consider, from the way they’re constructed and hung, to the finish and ironmongery. Urban Front co-founder and designer, Elizabeth Assaf, advises having internal doors only where you need them. “It’s so easy to have unnecessary doors in a new home,” she says. “Concentrate on designing your spaces so that the entrances you want to be visible make a statement. All other doors should dissolve into the background.” With so many options available, it’s important to do your homework. Here’s a rundown on what to look out for when choosing internal doors for your home.
Materials & style
The construction of internal doors has a major bearing on performance and price. At the high end are solid wood doors, which, as the name suggests, are made of natural timber throughout. Solid core or semi-solid core doors are the middle ground and typically have a dense, engineered centre to provide good stability. At the other end of the spectrum are hollow core products, which tend to have a lightweight material inside and don’t feel as solid to use. Simon Johnson, sales director at JB Kind, explains: “Like all products in the home, the materials used within a door’s construction determine the price. A solid core door will cost more than a standard (hollow) core door, as more material is required.”