Choosing the Right Internal Door

Choosing new internal doors can make a real difference to the appearance and feel of your home. Whether you're looking for traditional oak doors, contemporary black designs or practical white laminate finishes, our guide will help you understand the options and make an informed decision.

Explore the different door styles, materials, finishes and construction types below to find the right doors for your home.

Different styles of internal doors

1. Choosing Your Door Style

Your internal doors should complement the overall character of your home. There are many designs available, from traditional panelled doors to minimalist contemporary styles.

  • Panelled doors: Classic designs featuring raised or recessed panels, suitable for traditional and modern homes.
  • Shaker doors: Simple, clean lines and recessed panels that suit a wide range of interiors.
  • Grooved doors: Contemporary designs featuring decorative vertical or horizontal grooves.
  • Industrial-style doors: Often finished in black, with narrow stiles and bold glazed designs.
  • Flush doors: Smooth, understated surfaces ideal for minimalist interiors.
Our advice: Consider using a consistent door style throughout your home, with matching solid and glazed versions where available.
Oak veneer and laminate internal door finishes

2. Oak or Laminate Doors?

The material and surface finish you choose will affect the appearance, maintenance requirements and overall character of your doors.

Oak Veneer Doors

Oak veneer doors offer the natural appearance of real wood, with distinctive grain patterns and colour variations. They're popular in both traditional and contemporary homes.

Laminate Doors

Laminate doors have a manufactured decorative surface, often available in white, grey, black or wood-effect finishes. They offer a consistent appearance and are generally straightforward to maintain.

Worth knowing: Natural oak veneer varies in colour and grain from door to door. This variation is part of the character of real timber.
Prefinished and unfinished timber internal doors

3. Prefinished or Unfinished?

One of the most important decisions is whether to purchase doors that are already finished or doors that require finishing before installation.

Prefinished Doors

These arrive with a factory-applied finish, reducing the amount of preparation and finishing work required. They're ideal when you want a convenient, ready-finished appearance.

Unfinished Doors

These allow you to apply your chosen compatible paint, stain or protective finish. They provide greater flexibility when matching existing woodwork or creating a particular look.

White Primed Doors

White primed doors have an undercoat or primer applied but generally still require preparation and final coats of paint.

Important: Always follow the manufacturer's finishing instructions, including any requirements to seal the top, bottom and edges of the door.
Comparison of solid and clear glazed internal doors

4. Solid or Glazed Doors?

Choosing between solid and glazed doors depends on how much light, visibility and privacy you want between rooms.

Solid Doors

Solid designs provide greater visual privacy and are a popular choice for bedrooms, bathrooms and other private spaces.

Clear Glazed Doors

Clear glazing allows natural light to pass between rooms and can help smaller or darker areas feel brighter and more open.

Frosted or Obscure Glazing

These glazing options allow some light through while reducing visibility, making them useful where privacy is important.

Our advice: Look for matching solid and glazed doors within the same range to maintain a consistent style throughout your home.
Illustration showing internal door core construction

5. Understanding Door Construction

Internal doors can be manufactured using different construction methods. Understanding these helps you choose a suitable product for your requirements.

Engineered Construction

Many modern internal doors use engineered timber components, which are designed to provide stability and consistent manufacturing quality.

Solid Core Construction

Solid core doors contain a substantial internal core and generally feel heavier and more substantial than lightweight alternatives.

Hollow or Lightweight Core

These doors use a lighter internal structure and can be a practical option for certain applications, depending on the product specification.

Important: A solid core door is not automatically a certified fire door. Always check for the appropriate fire rating and supporting certification when fire resistance is required.
Illustration showing internal door width height and thickness

6. Choosing the Correct Door Size

Before ordering, it's essential to check the width, height and thickness of each door you intend to replace.

  • Measure each existing door individually.
  • Check the height and width in several places.
  • Confirm the door thickness required by your frame.
  • Check the manufacturer's permitted trimming allowances.
  • Allow for flooring and appropriate installation clearances.

Common UK internal door thicknesses include 35mm and 40mm, while many FD30 fire doors are 44mm thick. Always check the individual product specification.

Need help measuring? Read our How to Measure Your Doors guide for illustrated step-by-step instructions.

Other Things to Consider Before Ordering

Door Handles and Hinges

Think about the handles, hinges, latches and other ironmongery you'll need. Make sure they're compatible with the door and its intended use.

Fire Door Requirements

If your property requires fire-rated doors, check the relevant specification before ordering. FD30 and FD60 doors have particular installation and hardware requirements, and the complete assembly must comply with the applicable certification and instructions.

Door Frames and Linings

Check that your existing frames and linings are suitable for your chosen doors, particularly if you're changing the thickness or installing fire-rated products.

Consider Your Budget

Remember to include the cost of handles, hinges, frames, finishing materials and professional installation when planning your project.

Need Help Choosing Your Internal Doors?

Our experienced team is here to help you compare styles, finishes, sizes and specifications so you can choose with confidence.

Contact Our Team