Chic or Kitsch: Should You Mix and Match Interior Door Styles
If you’re designing your new home or giving your home a new look, you may have wondered if you can mix your interior door styles. There are so many to choose from, and you do not have to feel limited to just one.
Your interior doors can be more than just functional; use your interior door style to create a creative focal point or show-stopping artwork that your guests will admire. But there is a right and wrong way to incorporate multiple door styles— you just have to ensure they all match your aesthetic and make a cohesive vibe. So, what types of doors can you choose from? Which styles work with each other?
Let’s take a look.
Photo by Beazy
Traditional
Traditional doors are classic. They’re great if you have a craftsman or colonial-style home and are incredibly stunning when paired with homes that have a lot of woodgrain trimmings and decor. In addition, these doors often have a soft, understated look that won’t draw away from your decorations. So when you want your doors to blend in seamlessly, traditional doors are the best bet for you.
Traditional doors are often considered early-American style, European, or plantation-style. Traditional doors, like six-panel doors, are pretty standard and look great with other types like rustic and even artistic and glazed.
Modern
Sleek modern doors add a feeling of sophistication and luxury to any home. The mix of glass and metal is great for pocket doors or sliding doors to give the interior of your home an open feel while still having the option for privacy.
When you opt for modern styled doors, like thermally broken steel doors, you also reduce your home’s energy costs. In addition, modern steel and glass windows like these have glazings and other eco-friendly options to help minimize heat and cold air loss.
Modern doors can match many interior door styles, but artistic, glazed, and elegant types of doors pair exceptionally well
Rustic
Rustic doors often are made from wood and stained clear and are typically used to show the natural wood grain. Natural wood grain is a trendy choice for those who want more nature-inspired homes. However, if your goal is to be more environmentally friendly, opt for using reclaimed wood for your door.
But just because some people opt for leaving the wood grain as-is, that doesn’t mean you can't paint them. If you do want to paint your natural door, just make sure it doesn’t take away from the other natural elements of the home. You can even incorporate a natural wood grain in steel doors to add an industrial feel if that's something you’re looking to include or if it matches your interior decor.
Rustic doors can work well with traditional, painted, and panelled doors.
Elegant
Tall doors often evoke visions of grand halls and palaces, so it’s only natural that they’re thought of as elegant. But it doesn’t just stop there— glass and French-style doors are also exquisite options. They’re sleek, modern, and are a smart way to add doors but still have an open feeling. Interior door styles like these can be a great addition to a contemporary style home or even a rustic style when incorporated correctly.
Artistic
If you’re looking to add a bold touch of whimsy and fun to your home, include your interior door style in your design plans. Mosaics, stained glass, intricate designs, and more are great artistic options if it matches the aesthetic you’re looking for.
If you’re in need of some inspiration for artistic interior door styles, there are tons on the internet. Head over to Instagram or Pinterest for some great inspiration for not just the doors but color schemes, decor, and more. That way, the mix of different styles creates a cohesive vibe for the entire house, doors included.
Artistic doors match well with panelled, glazed, and painted doors to create a fun, unique look in the home.
Glazed
Glazed doors come in many styles and varieties, so these are a very safe option. When you want privacy, opt for opaque panels. Alternatively, select a more transparent panel to really grab attention. You can even have complex designs that have a mix of both.
Natural light is all the rage right now, and glazed doors are perfect for letting in some sunlight. Natural light has many benefits, including helping to relieve stress and anxiety and improving moods and productivity. In addition, by customizing the opaqueness levels of your glazed door, you have the option to let in as much or as little light as you want.
When styled correctly and with the right color palette, glazed doors match well with paneled, artistic, modern, and traditional doors.
Paneled
If you have a cottage-style home or lake house or want an earthy, country vibe, this old-world style door is perfect and blends well into traditional styles.
A panel door is a door consisting of rails, panels, stiles, and more instead of just one piece of wood alone. They're usually constructed using these individual pieces to form the finished door in a familiar shape.
This door style goes great with rustic, traditional, and painted doors.
Painted
Another way to upgrade your interior door style and add a dash of personality to your home is to include a pop of color or play it up with some neutrals. As previously mentioned, most doors can be painted; it's just up to the homeowner's personal choice.
Pick a paint color for your interior doors that go well with the aesthetic of your home. Whether you mix and match or keep it all the same, just make sure the color meshes well.
Some options for door colors include:
White - pure, clean, crisp
Black - trendy, minimalistic, modern, and goes well with most homes
Red - hospitality, warm, inviting
Orange - energetic, fun, fresh, and bold
Yellow - cherry, bright, and sunny
Green - natural, earthy, and can be used as a neutral
Blue - calm, moody (if dark), and great for beach houses
This style door goes great with modern and glazed doors.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Creative
So when it comes to interior door styles and designs, don't be afraid to get creative. Just make sure the types look good together so that the house doesn't look too loud.
And when you find yourself asking if you should or should not mix your interior door styles, just remember, it's up to you! It's your home, and the best thing to do is design it the way that makes you feel comfortable.
Author: Misrraim Cardenas is a Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner at Portella Custom Steel Doors & Windows. We are a family-owned, Texas-based business, manufacturing individually engineered, high-quality steel doors and windows since 1999.
