Which interior doors should you choose? Types of doors in houses and apartments

Not sure which interior doors to choose? Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information you have to wade through? We invite you to check out our guide. We’ll help you make this important decision step by step.

Find out what to look for when choosing interior doors. How do interior doors differ depending on the room? Which models will suit different interior designs? You’ll find the answers to these questions by reading our article.

What’s your budget?

The price range for interior doors is vast—from a few hundred to even several thousand zlotys. The key question is: do you plan to buy mid-range doors, or are you looking for premium products? The construction of the former is based primarily on wood-based panels (most often MDF), while doors in the premium segment are made of wood.

The Lowest Price Range

Barański does not offer doors from the lowest price range—so-called “supermarket doors”—and advises against choosing such products. Unfortunately, a low price goes hand in hand with poor durability (a “honeycomb” cardboard core), very poor sound insulation, and, in many cases, questionable aesthetics.

Mid-range and premium products

In Barański’s lineup, the mid-range category includes the Barański Optimo collection—these are interior doors whose construction is based on MDF but feature a wooden stinger, ensuring optimal stability. Wooden doors, on the other hand, can be found in the Barański Premium collection.

Finish

The next step is to choose the finish—the pattern and color of the outer layer.

Barański Premium

For Barański Premium interior doors, the options include oak or ash veneer, or a smooth RAL finish. Oak veneer is characterized by a hard, tactile texture and straight grain. Ash veneer has a less pronounced texture, and the grain often takes on unique shapes. The smooth RAL finish, on the other hand, consists of MDF and HDF panels that lack any visible wood grain or texture.

Ash or oak veneer can be coated with a wood stain—a protective and decorative treatment that is transparent, meaning it does not obscure the wood grain, but can add color:

Barański Optimo

The situation is slightly different for MDF-constructed doors (Barański Optimo). In this case, you choose synthetic laminates that can mimic the texture and colors of natural wood or have a smooth surface and a uniform color. When comparing doors with synthetic laminates from other manufacturers, be sure to pay attention to the thickness of the veneer—generally, the thicker it is, the greater its resistance to mechanical damage. Some manufacturers offer paper laminates—they’re cheap but of very poor quality. We do not use this type of finish in our production.

Door Colors

Ash or oak veneer can be coated with a wood stain—a protective and decorative finish that is transparent, meaning it does not obscure the wood grain but can add color. An alternative is opaque colors from the RAL palette, which make the wood grain less visible. These allow you to achieve a unique door color: ranging from yellows, through greens, to grays. The classic RAL color chart includes as many as 194 colors.

Door Glazing

The final consideration regarding the door’s appearance is the glazing. You can, of course, choose between solid door panels or those with glazing. If you opt for the latter, you’ll need to select the level of transparency and the type of glass element. Available options include clear (transparent) glass, frosted (Lacomat—opaque) glass, Decormat (partially translucent) glass, as well as black or graphite-colored glass. If you already know which door panel model you want to choose, what type and color of finish, and what type of glazing, then we can move on to the next important issue: choosing the door frame.

Which door frame should you choose for interior doors?

A door frame, commonly referred to as a “frame,” is a fixed structure installed along the inner edge of a wall opening, into which the door panel is set. When selecting this component, several factors should be considered:

• Should the door be a hinged door (standard opening) or a sliding door? For sliding doors, you can choose between wall-mounted or wall-recessed models;
• Should the door be a rebated door (with visible hinges, recommended primarily for classic and retro-style doors) or a non-rebated door (with concealed hinges, recommended for modern doors)?
• How wide should the door frame be? To determine this, measure the width of the wall;
• Should the door frame include additional decorative elements, such as crown moldings, decorative trim, or top panels? If so, select the appropriate type of trim or extension from our catalog.

Selecting Hardware for Interior Doors

The final decisions concern the hardware. First, choose the design and color of the door handle. It’s a good idea to match the design to the style of the door panel and, of course, to the overall style of your apartment or house. Our selection includes both classic and modern door handles with escutcheons in various shapes. When it comes to the color of the hardware, it’s a good idea to match it to other metal elements in the interior (window handles, furniture handles, curtain rods, etc.).

Which lock should you choose?

Another consideration is the choice of lock: standard or magnetic? The latter allows for quiet closing without pressing the handle—simply push or pull the door. In addition, it looks more aesthetically pleasing because the latch is invisible when the door is open, and it also has a longer service life.

Extras

Finally, there are decisions regarding accessories, such as choosing ventilation options (ventilation sleeves or a cutout—important especially for bathroom doors) or selecting hinge caps if you want them to match the color of the door handle.

What Kind of Interior Doors? A Checklist of Parameters to Consider

We’ve prepared a list of parameters to consider when choosing interior doors. You can think about certain issues even before visiting one of our showrooms, though this isn’t necessary—our specialists will guide you through the process of selecting the right model, providing explanations and recommending optimal solutions as needed. Factors to consider before purchasing interior doors:

• door panel model;
• door panel finish (pattern and color);
• door panel dimensions (standard sizes are 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 cm);
• glazing;
• type of door frame (hinged or sliding);
• rebate (rebated or non-rebated door);
• frame width (wall width);
• additional decorative elements (e.g., crown molding);
• handle design and color;
• lock type (standard or magnetic);
• add-ons (e.g., ventilation cutout, hinge caps, porthole, etc.).

Which interior doors should you choose from the Barański lineup?

If you already know which price range of doors interests you, the next step is to choose a model. You can view all interior door models on our website; by using the available filters, you’ll quickly find the product you’re looking for. Of course, if you’d prefer to browse the entire selection in catalog form, feel free to check out: Barański Optimo Interior Doors or Barański Premium Interior Doors.

Match the door model to the interior design style of your house or apartment. Our selection includes both classic doors, suitable for traditional, manor-house, and palace styles, as well as doors in modern, Scandinavian, retro, and even boho styles.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. And if you’re also considering purchasing exterior doors, you’ll find advice in the article: Which exterior doors should you choose for your home?