While doors mainly serve accessibility and security purposes, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have aesthetic and stylish door styles for both your exterior and interior. However, there are countless types of doors to consider for your space, which can make the decision overwhelming.
If you’re struggling to determine what different kinds of doors you want for your space, Minnesota Exteriors can help. Our guide is here to help you figure out all the door styles, types, and materials that will work best for your home.
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Different Types of Door Materials
Before determining the style of door for your home, it’s important to consider what material may be best for your space. Depending on any maintenance or durability concerns you have, along with what the climate is like where you live, certain door options will be better than others.
Some of the most common kinds of door types and materials include:
- Wood Doors: People primarily use wood doors for the exterior, but they are also becoming an increasingly popular choice for interior door types. Wood doors are highly durable and easy to personalize, but they do require some regular maintenance.
- Steel Doors: Steel doors require minimum maintenance and last for years, ensuring their durability. These different door styles are a great way to enhance an industrial style for any home.
- Fiberglass Doors: Fiberglass doors provide great protection from the elements, along with high energy efficiency. People often use these door types for exterior purposes, but they also serve as interior doors. They are also highly customizable.
- Aluminum Doors: These kinds of doors are durable, long-lasting, and can withstand many types of temperature changes. However, they are also generally somewhat expensive and aren’t always water-resistant, making them better for interior door styles.
- Glass Doors: Glass doors are panes of glass that are set into frames made of wood, aluminum, or steel. As long as they latch properly, they are great ways to showcase the great outdoors around your home.
- Vinyl Doors: While vinyl doors offer minimal upkeep and maintenance, they are often not as aesthetically pleasing as other materials.
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14 Types and Styles of Doors
Now that you know more about materials that may work best for your home, it’s time to consider different types of doors and their styles. It’s important to factor in aesthetics, durability, functionality, and design when thinking about what doors you may want, especially when looking into different styles of interior doors.
Panel Door
Panel doors, mainly crafted from panels of wood, are one of the most common types of doors to choose from. People often use these for exterior doors because of their versatility and clean lines, but they may also use them as interior house doors.
French Doors
French doors are an elegant addition to any home. These are double doors that swing independently of each other. They are also often crafted with glass panes to create plenty of light and the appearance of space. Many people use French doors as patio doors or entrances into an outdoor space.
Sliding Doors
These exterior doors often open onto a patio, deck, or backyard, letting in lots of light. Crafters can use many types of materials to create them, allowing them to customize their aesthetics to almost any space. These types of door openings may also serve as interior closets, typically made from mirrored material or wood.
Bifold Doors
These interior door sizes are mainly used for:
- Closets
- Utility rooms
- Kitchens
- Laundry rooms
- Pantries
- Storage rooms
- Basements
They’re often lightweight and open both outwards and inwards simultaneously.
Barn Doors
People often use barn doors for exterior purposes, but they are becoming increasingly common for statement interiors, especially in farmhouse-style homes. The track above the door frame holds and slides open barn doors.
Pocket Doors
These are another type of sliding door that disappears into the wall when they’re opened. They’re great for interior use in kitchens, closets, and bathrooms. While these doors aren’t used as commonly as they used to be, they can still be updated to create an aesthetic appeal in modern homes.
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Storm Doors
These doors are used as an extra layer of protection on your exterior door for inclement weather. They offer added security, climate protection, and energy efficiency. Storm doors can be made from:
- Aluminum
- Steel
- Wood
- Vinyl
Dutch Doors
Dutch doors are another statement piece. They are split into two halves so that the top and bottom open independently of each other. People commonly use these as entryway doors, although some homes also use them for kitchens or patios.
Pivot Doors
Pivot doors are sleek and elegant, and are often installed in boardrooms, modern homes, and other spaces. True to their name, they pivot open, meaning the design is usually cohesive and part of the wall itself. These can be made from many different materials to help create the perfect aesthetic for your home’s needs.
Accordion Doors
These are similar to bifold doors, except they function in a much simpler way. They are very functional and easily allow air to circulate, meaning they’re often used for interior purposes, such as closets or room dividers.
Saloon Doors
Saloon doors are great for allowing air to move freely between rooms without completely covering the space up. They don’t have door handles but instead swing open from either side, making them easy to operate. These are great for adding movement to any space, and they can be customized or decorated to fit the home’s style.
Roller Doors
These doors roll up to the ceiling when they are opened. People use these almost exclusively for garages and storage units, and they often open into spaces that don’t always need climate control, so people can make them from almost any material to fit any aesthetic.
Bypass Doors
Bypass doors typically consist of two or three panels or doors, enabling individuals to use any of the doors to pass through the side or middle easily. They’re great for closet doors or openings onto an enclosed patio.
Windowed Doors
Lastly, manufacturers primarily use panes of glass to make windowed doors that bring in lots of natural light. Even though they are mainly used for exterior doors, many homeowners incorporate drapes or curtains onto them to include some type of privacy.
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How to Choose Your Type of Door
When choosing your type of door, some additional factors to keep in mind include:
- Aesthetic and Design: Depending on the design of your home, some doors will work better for your space.
- Privacy Concerns: If you live in a populous or busy area, ensure you get a door that has the right amount of privacy for your needs.
- Security and Noise Reduction: Getting the right material and type of door can help increase security while reducing any extraneous noise pollution.
- Maintenance and Durability: Ensure you look into the durability and maintenance needs of your door so it stands the test of time no matter the weather.
- Climate and Energy Efficiency: The right door can also increase energy efficiency, reducing your HVAC bills and leading to a more environmentally friendly home.
Additionally, when choosing your type of door, it’s important to consider the standard door width, standard door height, and average door size you’ll need to work with.
Trust Minnesota Exteriors For Your Door Installation
Still unsure about what types of doors will work best for your home? Our expert team at Minnesota Exteriors is here to guide you through the process so that your space is all that you want it to be. Our industry professionals are dedicated to the utmost service and excellence, ensuring that your home is beautiful and durable for years to come.