Interior doors might not be the first thing you notice in a home, but they’re one of the hardest-working design elements in any space. The right door influences how a room looks, sounds and functions day to day.
Whether you’re building new, remodeling or just replacing a door that’s seen better days, choosing the right interior door can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re breaking it down into five key factors to help guide your decision.
At 1st Choice Door & Millwork, we’ve spent over a decade helping homeowners, contractors and remodelers throughout Central Florida find doors that fit their style, their space and their budget — and we’re here to help you do the same.
Find The Perfect Fit For Your Space
1. Choosing the Best Type of Interior Door
Interior doors may look similar from the outside, but what’s inside makes a big difference. Core construction impacts everything from weight and durability to sound control and price, which means choosing the right build is just as important as choosing the right style.
Core Type
Hollow Core
Lightweight and budget-friendly, hollow core doors are made with a rigid outer layer and a honeycomb-like interior. They’re easy to install and ideal for spaces like closets or pantries where sound control and daily wear aren’t major concerns.
Solid Core
Solid core doors have a dense fiberboard or engineered wood core that makes them heavier and better at blocking noise. They’re a smart pick for bedrooms, offices and anywhere privacy or quiet is a priority. They also feel more substantial than hollow core doors without the premium price tag of solid wood.
Materials
Once you’ve selected a core type, the outer material determines both aesthetics and performance. Consider your design goals, finishing plans and the conditions of the space.
Solid Wood
Solid wood doors offer a natural, premium feel and bring warmth and character to a room. They can be crafted from a range of species, from knotty pines to hardwoods, allowing for a wide spectrum of aesthetic and performance options. Solid wood doors tend to be heavier, more expensive and require sealing or finishing, but they’re a strong choice for design-forward spaces where quality and aesthetics matter.
Engineered & MDF Options
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and other engineered materials are popular for their smooth surface and resistance to warping. They’re also easy to paint, making them a go-to for custom looks and color-matching existing trim.
Hardboard / Masonite
A type of engineered wood that’s denser than MDF, hardboard (often branded as Masonite) is commonly used in molded panel doors. It has a smooth, paint-ready surface and offers a clean, affordable option for basic interior applications. While it’s budget-friendly and widely available, it can be more prone to dents or surface damage than MDF in high-traffic areas.
PVC / Vinyl
PVC or vinyl-faced doors are water-resistant, easy to clean and often used in utility rooms, laundry areas or rental properties where durability and low maintenance matter more than design. While they’re functional and moisture-tolerant, these doors typically lack the visual appeal of wood or painted MDF, making them less ideal for style-driven spaces.
At 1st Choice Door & Millwork, all doors are built to order, which means you’re not stuck with one-size-fits-all options. You get more flexibility to match the right materials, styles and specs to your exact needs without the compromises of off-the-shelf retail.
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2. Consider the Door’s Location & Function
Not all interior doors serve the same purpose, and where you plan to install the door should be the first thing you consider. A bedroom, bathroom, hallway or closet will all call for different features, and choosing the wrong type can lead to frustration down the line.
For high-traffic areas or shared walls, sound control and durability matter more. In those cases, a solid-core or panel door can offer better noise reduction and a sturdier feel. For low-use or utility areas, a flush or hollow-core door might be all you need.
Bathrooms call for doors that can handle moisture and humidity without warping. And closets or pantries, where privacy and noise aren’t priorities, are perfect spots to save with more lightweight options.
Space-Saving Door Types
How a door operates can impact everything from layout and flow to how usable a room feels day to day. Whether you’re dealing with tight corners, narrow hallways or open floor plans, it’s worth considering what type of door best fits the space.
- Swing (Standard Hinge): The most common and traditional option. Works in almost any room, but requires clearance to open fully.
- Pro tip: Make sure your door swing doesn’t block walkways, crowd furniture or open into high-traffic areas like hallways.
- Pocket: Slides into the wall to save space. Perfect for bathrooms, laundry rooms or other tight areas where a swing door would be in the way.
- Barn: Slides across the wall on a rail. Ideal for wide openings or rooms where you want the door to become a design feature.
- Bifold: Folds in half to open. Great for closets and utility areas where you need access without taking up floor space.
- French: A pair of doors that swing open, often with glass panes. They’re ideal for letting in light while maintaining separation between rooms.
STC Rated Doors
If you’ve ever tried to focus in a home office while someone’s cooking or watching TV nearby, you already understand the value of sound control. Interior doors are given a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating, which tells you how well a door reduces sound from one room to the next. Most standard interior doors fall between STC 25-35, and the higher the rating, the better the sound-blocking performance.
Several factors affect a door’s STC rating, including the core construction, material density and sealing at the frame. Solid core doors typically perform better than hollow core, thanks to their denser makeup, while solid wood and engineered materials (like MDF) also help dampen sound. Gaps around the door can drastically reduce effectiveness, so a good fit matters too.
Use sound-rated doors where they’ll make the biggest difference, like between a bedroom and a living room, in nurseries, shared-wall home offices or any area where privacy and quiet are important. In contrast, closets, pantries and low-traffic storage rooms rarely need sound insulation, which makes them ideal candidates for more affordable, lightweight doors.
3. Match the Style to the Space
Interior doors help define the look and feel of your home. Choosing a style that complements your space makes a difference in how finished, functional and cohesive everything feels.
When choosing a style, consider both the architecture of your home and the personality of each space. A bold, ornate door might make a statement in a formal entry or dining room, but could feel overwhelming in a smaller hallway or minimalist layout. You don’t have to match every door exactly, but keeping some visual consistency creates a stronger sense of flow.
Here are a few of the most popular interior door styles:
- Flush: Sleek and simple with a smooth, flat surface. Works well in modern, minimalist or utility spaces where subtlety and clean lines are key.
- Shaker: Known for its square-edged, recessed panels. A go-to choice for transitional and modern homes thanks to its versatility and timeless appeal.
- Craftsman: Features bold, square paneling with defined trim. Often found in historic or craftsman-style homes, this look adds structure and depth to a room.
- Raised Panel: Adds detail and dimension through contoured panel faces. A strong fit for traditional or more formal interiors.
Door types like the barn or French door can also contribute to the overall aesthetic of a room. A bold barn door adds rustic or modern-industrial character, while French doors with glass panes introduce elegance and light. Even pocket and bifold doors can shape the visual flow, especially when paired with clean, minimal trim or distinctive paneling.
4. Think About Long-Term Durability
Interior doors take a lot of everyday wear, from slams and scuffs to shifting frames and humidity changes. The interior doors you choose for your home should match the level of daily wear they’ll face.
The core and material you choose play a big role in how well a door resists damage. Solid core and solid wood options tend to hold up better over time, especially in busy households or rooms with frequent use. Engineered materials like MDF offer good resistance to warping, while hollow core doors are more prone to damage in high-traffic areas.
Once you’ve chosen the right build, finishes and hardware play a major role in how well your door performs and stays looking great over the long run.
Interior Door Finishes
A door’s finish affects both appearance and performance. The right finish helps resist wear, hides scuffs and keeps the door looking fresh even in high-traffic areas.
Prefinished Options
Some doors come with a factory-applied finish, which helps streamline installation and improve consistency. These are especially common in MDF, hardboard and engineered wood doors.
- Painted finishes are easy to touch up and ideal for matching trim or modern color schemes, but they may show more marks in busy spaces.
- Stained or sealed wood brings warmth and texture but may require more maintenance depending on the environment.
Some doors are also available prefinished in artisan stain or color treatments, which can help streamline installation and offer a more consistent, durable finish right out of the box. For a more rustic or decorative look, options that highlight unique surface features like simulated “pecky” grain or hand-applied textures can add depth and natural character without sacrificing performance.
Performance Finishes
In addition to standard paint and stain, some engineered and factory-finished doors feature specialty coatings for added durability.
- Laminate finishes use a synthetic overlay to mimic woodgrain or color. They’re tough, low-maintenance and often used in rental-grade or commercial interiors.
- Wood veneer finishes offer the look of real wood at a lower cost by layering a thin wood slice over an engineered core. Great for visual appeal, though slightly more dent-prone.
- UV-cured or acrylic finishes provide premium scratch resistance and longer life in high-traffic spaces. These are common in higher-end prefinished doors and are great for homes with pets or kids.
Interior Door Hinges and Hardware
A well-built door is only as strong as its hardware. Heavier options like solid wood or solid core doors need the right support to stay aligned and operate smoothly long-term.
Use reinforced hinges and quality hardware to avoid sagging or loose joints, especially on frequently used or oversized doors. Frames and jambs should be properly fitted and secured, particularly in homes with shifting foundations, slamming doors or uneven floors.
Choosing the right hardware at the start makes sure your door looks and performs as expected for years to come.
5. Establish a Budget For Your Interior Door Installation Cost
With so many styles, materials and configurations to choose from, interior doors can vary widely in price. The good news? You don’t have to overspend to get a door that performs well — you just need to know where it’s worth investing and where you can simplify.
Start by identifying where you need higher performance: rooms that require sound control, added privacy or greater visual impact are often worth the upgrade to solid-core or design-forward styles. Meanwhile, you can simplify in spots like closets or pantries with hollow-core or flush doors that meet basic functional needs. This kind of trade-off keeps your budget in check while still prioritizing long-term comfort and quality where it matters most.
Beyond materials and style, the format of your door can also impact cost and installation.
Pre-hung doors come mounted in a frame with hinges and are a great fit for new construction or major renovations. They install faster and more consistently, but can cost a bit more upfront.
Slab doors are just the door itself, which makes them ideal for replacing a door in an existing frame. They’re typically more affordable, but may require more time and labor to fit and hang correctly.
Choosing the right format early helps avoid surprises and extra labor costs later in the project.
Find the Perfect Interior Door for Your Home With 1st Choice
The right interior door is about how well it works for your space, your lifestyle and your budget. Whether you’re upgrading one room or outfitting a whole home, making the right choice starts with knowing your options.
At 1st Choice Door & Millwork, we help you navigate all of it, from construction and materials to installation formats and finishing touches. Reach out to our team to find the right interior door for your next project.
