When remodeling a home, interior doors are an often debated topic. Should you look at replacing the doors and trims, you might wonder if they should be uniform and match one another. We studied home decor trends from multiple professionals, so you'll know if this is suggested.
The interior doors in a house do not need to match. Whether they match or not is a matter of personal taste. There are several reasons why you might or might not want them to match.
Now that we know that your interior home doors don't need to match, we'll take a look at some reasons why you should and shouldn't match them. You might also be curious if doors should be the same color on both sides or if all exterior doors need to be the same style. For the answers to these questions and more, read ahead in this post to see what our research has uncovered.
Should Door Match Throughout your house
As we pointed out earlier in this post, whether or not you have doors that are uniform throughout your home is a matter of personal taste. There are pros and cons to doing so, which you might want to consider carefully before making a final decision.
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Reasons for having matching doors inside of your home
A uniform look is desired by many. If all the doors inside your home match, many experts say that the overall flow of the home is improved.
But it can also be a matter of convenience to make them match. When ordering doors for your remodeling, getting a lot of the same doors can be less time-consuming than selecting a different one for each room.
Reasons for not having matching doors inside of your home
Though we have outlined some significant reasons for having matching doors, here are some reasons to consider straying from this practice. For example, the budget to replace every door might be more than you want to bite off. Replacing the doors used [and seen] the most with expensive ones that match might be more in order, while you leave seldom seen ones replaced with less expensive models.
Sometimes too much uniformity can be stifling and bland. Many want their home's appearance to reflect their personalities and will opt for standards that are much less rigid. Maybe you want the door to a specific room to stand out. Or perhaps you will want to pick a door and trim that matches the unique decor of a particular room you will be decorating.
At the end of the day, you will need to make a decision based on your wants and needs and your budget. If your budget is a little tight, there is also nothing wrong with replacing one or two doors at a time.
Should doors be the same color on both sides?
Whether you should paint the door the same color on both sides will also depend on your aesthetics. The colors of the rooms on either side of the doorway will also be something to consider. In the end, it will be up to you to decide.
The rooms in your home are probably not painted the same colors. And if they are all different, your door has no reason to be the same color on each side. Imagine two rooms separated by one door; one room is painted a deep blue, the other a soothing cream color. The door from the darker-colored room would probably be best accented with a lighter color, while the opposite is true for the other room.
But if you have painted the rooms in your home in all neutral colors, it will lend to a sense of uniformity if the doors are all painted the same colors on both sides.
Do all exterior doors need to be the same style?
Your home will have two exterior doors at a minimum. Larger homes might have a good deal more. Whether or not these doors are the same style will depend on how they are used and the frequency of their usage.
It might be easier for homes with only two exterior doors if they are in the same style. But this will also set some limitations that you should be aware of. Maybe the back or side door opens onto a patio or a deck. You may want to consider a different style of door for this entry/exit.
Sliding glass doors have become a popular option for alternative exterior entryways. These are commonly found as a secondary means of entry and are not street-facing.
Having different styles of exterior doors will also lend a bit of character to your house.
Should the color of the door be the same as the walls?
Having the doors painted the same colors as the walls add a sense of redundancy to the room's look. Painting the door a different color gives a nice contrast to the color scheme of the room. There are times when you might consider painting the two the same color, however.
Small doors, doors in a corner, or doors that are awkwardly placed along a wall might be better off being a bit concealed. Painting them the same color as the wall will help hide the room's imperfections. If you paint a door a contrasting color, it can make a small room feel even smaller.
A door can be a solid focal point in any room if it is made to be. Doors placed well and of a standard size or larger should be highlighted. But those that would otherwise give the room a less appealing look should perhaps be concealed, so they blend in.
Should the color of the door be lighter than the color of the walls?
You might consider painting your door a lighter color than your walls if your walls are dark. The colors will complement each other well. This will help give your room a bit of life.
If your walls are already light in color, consider a darker color for the door to achieve the same effect.
If you maintain a neutral color for all of your doors, you will find it easier to find wall paint that fits the room as a whole if you ever decide to repaint it.
Should I paint the trim or the wall first?
Whether the walls or the trim should be painted first is subject to debate among painting experts. But the consensus seems to be that, for inexperienced painters, painting the largest areas first is advisable.
When the walls are being painted, you won't worry about any paint spattering on the trim. After all, the trim hasn't been painted yet, and will soon be covered with a fresh coat of the paint you desire.
For more experienced painters, it's easier overall to do the opposite. Painting the trim first will make painting the rest of the room easier, as cutting in on flat and wide walls is less daunting than cutting in on the small and narrower trim. Choose your method based on your ability and confidence.
Final thoughts
Whether you have matching interior doors or not in your home should be a matter of personal taste and budget. These doors do not have to be the same style or color to make your home look alive and comfortable. Exterior doors can be uniform, but sometimes having different exterior door styles is more practical for your budget and how they are used.
We hope this post on residential doors answered all of your questions. For additional helpful information, we recommend reading the following home decor posts:
What Color To Paint Front Door Threshold? [5 Perfect Options]
How Can I Light My Porch Without Electricity? [A Complete Guide]
15 Rustic Entryway Tables That Will Give Your Hallway That Country Look