10 tips before choosing a door
The size and location of the door openings are already decided at the design stage of the house. But the decision as to the choice of a particular style and type of door is made by the future door user himself, possibly with the help of an interior designer.
Anyone who has ever had to build a house or renovate a residence will quickly realise that choosing the right door is not easy, because it’s not just about choosing the material or the colour of the leaf. Many other important decisions have to be made beforehand. So it’s worth taking our tips on choosing doors.
1. Door opening direction
First of all, you need to decide which way the door leaves that close each room should open. Inwards or outwards to the interior? This is largely decided by building law and the architect; but it is certainly worth knowing that in small rooms the doors should open outwards; they must also not be located too close to each other as they will collide when opening at the same time, while bathroom and boiler room doors must open outwards.
2. Right or left-hand door?
It is also important to decide on which side of the door you want the hinges to be, so whether the door will be left or right (in order to distinguish them correctly, stand in front of the door so that the leaf opens towards you and look on which side the hinges are: if they are on the left, the leaf is left, if they are on the right, it is right); it is worth remembering that the leaf, when opened, should not obstruct light switches or any other important elements of the interior. In a nutshell: it is best if the door opens onto a blank wall.
3. Choice of frame
The choice of the frame (commonly referred to as the doorframe) is very important. There are two main types of frame: fixed (9 cm wide) and adjustable, which allow them to be adapted to the thickness of the wall (ranges from 8 cm to as much as 42 cm!). More modern and much quicker to install, but also more expensive, are adjustable frames. Remember that it is very important to measure the door and the door opening properly – a fitted door frame and door cannot be returned or exchanged. In the case of an adjustable door frame, we also choose the finishing method, i.e. the way the bands are joined (at a fixed or 45-degree angle) and their thickness (6 or 8 cm), which affects the final appearance.
4. Rebated vs. non-rebated doors
You also have to decide whether the hinges should be plain or rebate-free. In rebated doors, the leaf edge is flush with the frame (hinges are invisible), which gives the interior a very modern, stylish character and the door appears to be built into the wall. Doors with rebate are a proven classic – they look great in all spaces, but it is most difficult to imagine interiors with a traditional character without them. At ERKADO all door models are available in rebated and non-rebated variants.
5. Door dimensions
The dimensions of internal doors can vary. The standard width of a single leaf door is 60-100 cm and the height is 203 cm. Wider doors will provide comfortable communication not only for able-bodied people, but also for those using a wheelchair. When measuring the door opening, the flooring material and the surface finish of the opening must be taken into account. To avoid measuring errors, it is best to leave this activity to the contractor who will be installing the door.
6. Harmony of door models
In order to make the interior look coherent and harmonious, all the doors in the flat should come from the same collection and have the same finish (veneer, handles). Door leaves and door frame finishes should match the colour and structure of the furniture and floor. Remember, however, that such uniformity is not obligatory! A lot depends on the interior concept and the specific design idea. When it comes to form and design, everything is possible! The important thing is that the choice of doors is well thought-out and consistent.
7. Glass or solid?
The decision on whether a door should be solid or glazed should be made after taking into account the room’s access to daylight, the family’s lifestyle and the size of the room. This is an extensive topic that should be developed in a separate piece of advice, but here we will only indicate that in the bedroom, solid models are usually the best choice as they guarantee privacy and a feeling of intimacy, and thanks to better acoustic insulation, are conducive to relaxation and sleep; in dark interiors with limited access to natural light, glazed doors are convenient, as they help to illuminate the room and create the impression of spaciousness.
8. How about sliding doors?
If you don’t want doors to dominate a small living space, opt for compact sliding door systems. They work very well, among other things, for closing off ancillary rooms: pantries or wardrobes. This is because sliding systems do not take up valuable space, which is required when installing hinged doors.
9. Door price
Remember that the final price of a door is made up of many elements (including the material it is made of, the frame, the lock, the masking band). We choose doors for years and therefore they should be a valuable and valuable decorative and functional element of the house. In view of this perspective, it is not worth saving too much on them, as their quality and appearance will largely determine how our interior will be perceived and assessed.
10. Planning is fundamental
Finally, a note that relates to the initial period of interior creation – the design stage. Analyse all decisions made at this stage, as it is at this stage that many decisions about doors are made. It’s worth thinking carefully about the location, width and type of planned openings, so that they provide comfortable communication and zoning of our interior. Bear in mind that elements such as, for example, a corner post (and especially the lack thereof) may complicate or completely prevent the installation of your dream door. Before making any final decisions, it’s worth sketching out the outlines of the planned furniture on the house plan (keeping an eye on the appropriate scale!) and marking the places that will be occupied by doors when they are closed and opened. This will help you to “test” your ideas and eliminate any mistakes you notice.