Interior doors are an important, but often forgotten, design element in your home. Whether you’re building new or sprucing up an older home, there are a lot of design choices to make—from paint colors to light fixtures, hardware, and more. Choosing the right types of interior doors can have a significant impact on the final functionality and style of your home. Before you make a decision, it can be helpful to understand the different interior doors options available. Let’s take a look at the main types of interior doors, plus seven of the most popular styles that might inspire your vision.

Stile and Rail vs. Solid Core: Comparing Your Options

As two of the most popular types of interior doors, stile and rail and solid core each offer their own unique benefits. Let’s walk through what they are and how to choose between them.

What Are Solid Core Molded Interior Doors?

Solid core molded doors are made by pressing layers of wood and wood byproducts into a form. These forms can be made into a variety of popular interior door styles. Solid core molded doors are, as their name suggests, solid throughout. This creates a heavier door that is ideal for sound control and privacy throughout your home. Masonite offers an impressive array of solid core molded interior doors, offering 70% greater sound dampening than hollow core alternatives. Zeeland Lumber & Supply carries both their flat flush and molded styles for your home.

What Are Stile and Rail Interior Doors?

Stile and rail doors are constructed rather than molded. Each piece of the door—the stiles, rails, and panels—is created individually, and then assembled with dowel pins to create secure joints and a durable, well-crafted interior door. While stile and rail interior doors can be made from any material, they are most commonly designed as solid wood doors and are typically engineered with a solid core to ensure privacy throughout your home. The Karona™ line by Jeld-Wen, available at Zeeland Lumber & Supply, are fully customizable stile and rail doors—including various options for panel design, wood species, glass, finish options, and more. Plus, they’re engineered to offer long-lasting performance that resists cracking, expansion, or contraction.

What Are Hollow Core Molded Doors?

The types of interior doors don’t stop there. Aside from solid core and stile and rail, there are also hollow core molded interior doors. These doors are made similarly to a solid core molded door—with one big difference. A hollow-core molded interior door features a honeycombed cardboard or plastic core that is much lighter than a solid core. This makes the door much less expensive. Hollow core molded interior doors are most often used where noise control is not a concern, such as for closet doors. They’re also easier to hang and swing open or closed.

How to Choose Between Types of Interior Doors

Choosing the right types of interior doors for your home depends on your priorities, such as style, durability, sound control, and budget. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide whether stile and rail, solid core, or hollow core doors are the best fit for different areas of your home.

When to Choose Stile and Rail Doors

• Style Preference: If you’re seeking a timeless, elegant look with intricate designs or natural wood finishes, stile and rail doors are an excellent choice. Their craftsmanship and customizable designs make them a popular option for formal areas.
• Durability: Of the types of interior doors, these are the best option for high-traffic areas due to their sturdy construction and durable materials.
• Privacy: The solid core of stile and rail doors provides excellent sound insulation, making them ideal for bedrooms, offices, or bathrooms where privacy is a priority.
• Budget Consideration: Stile and rail doors tend to be on the higher end of the price spectrum due to their craftsmanship. They are a great investment if aesthetics and durability are important to you.

When to Choose Solid Core Molded Doors

• Sound Control: For areas where noise reduction matters—such as between a living room and bedroom—solid core molded doors are a practical choice. Their dense construction helps block sound.
• Versatility: Solid core molded doors come in various styles and finishes, making them one of the most versatile types of interior doors for your home’s spaces.
• Affordability: These doors strike a balance between cost and quality. While not as expensive as stile and rail doors, they provide better sound control and durability than hollow core doors.

When to Choose Hollow Core Molded Doors

• Ease of Use: These lightweight doors are easier to handle, install, and operate, making them a great choice for areas where frequent use and noise control are less critical, such as closets or pantries.
• Budget Friendly: If you’re renovating on a tight budget or need to install a large number of doors, hollow core doors are the most economical types of interior doors.
• Style Options: Hollow core doors offer fewer design options compared to stile and rail or solid core doors, but they still provide a clean, functional look at a fraction of the cost.

Interior Door Styles: 7 Popular Options to Consider

While there are only a few types of interior doors, they are available in a wide range of styles and finishes to suit any home’s design. Whether you’re building, remodeling, or just taking a look at your options, it’s good to know some of the most common interior door styles on the market.

 

01. Prehung Interior Doors

Prehung are the most commonly used interior door styles in residential homes. They are made of a simple slab of wood or MDF that is decorated with a few rectangular panels. These doors are hinged on one side and easily swing open or closed. This is a homeowner favorite for a few reasons:

• Customizable: Prehung interior doors can be used in many arrangements, can be hinged on either side, and are available in a wide variety of panel and design styles.
• Ready to Install: Pre-hung interior doors come with a frame-mounted door as well as the door hinges. This means they are quickly and easily installed directly into a prepared doorway.

02. Barn Interior Doors

Barn-style interior doors continue to grow in popularity, and they are especially favored for farmhouse-style homes. These doors are attached on a rail at the top of the doorway and slide across the door opening. They are available in single and double-hung styles and are a great option for homes looking to save a little space (since there’s no swinging required).

 

03. French Interior Doors

French doors are one of the most beautiful interior door styles for any home. This interior door makes use of two doors that are usually built with a number of glass panels to let in plenty of natural light. They’re a great option if you’re looking to create a bit of separation between rooms—like your dining and living rooms—but still want to create an open feel in your home.

 

04. Pocket Interior Doors

French doors are a beautiful design choice for any home. This interior door style makes use of two doors that are usually built with a number of glass panels to let in plenty of natural light. They’re a great option if you’re looking to create a bit of separation between rooms — like the dining room and living room — but still want to create a light, open feel in your home.

 

05. Sliding Interior Doors

Sliding interior doors are often used for closets and storage rooms. These doors have two or more slabs that are installed on parallel tracks, so you can slide them to either side of the door opening. When used for closets, these doors are often mirrored, giving you the door you need, plus a full-length mirror to go with it!​

 

06. Bi-Fold Interior Doors

Bi-fold interior doors are often used for closets, pantries, storage rooms, and other small spaces. These doors fold in on themselves, and you have a choice of a single bi-fold door that folds into one side or a double door that folds back to both sides of the doorway.

 

07. Saloon or Cafe Interior Doors

The final interior door style on our list is a saloon or cafe style interior door. These doors add a little character wherever they’re installed. They are a great way to define your space without totally closing off the area. Cafe doors are installed side-by-side and don’t latch, making them easy to walk through, especially in high-traffic areas.

Which Types of Interior Doors Are Right for Your Home?

There are plenty of styles and types of interior doors to choose from. The experts at Zeeland Lumber & Supply are here to help you make a confident selection. Whether you’re looking for your current or new home, we have an extensive array of options from top-tier brands. Contact our team for more information or to request a quote.