The Importance Of Interior Doors For Interior Designers

As an interior designer, I cannot express enough how important the right doors are for a room. Doors are a gateway, and mark a passage of progression. What you take to be a barrier between two rooms is in actual fact a passage or portal from one space to another and is steeped in spiritual and historic significance. Brides are carried over the threshold, a vampire cannot cross the threshold unless invited and the cellar door instils fear innately. In Feng Shui doors are of great importance; their direction and type determines the auspiciousness of their presence and their placement is taken very seriously.

Some of the theories in Feng Shui are based on practicality, for example, it is considered inauspicious for a door to not open fully, as it interferes with the flow of Qi, or energy, creating bad luck. It could be said that having a way in to a room that is slightly blocked may well cause frustration due to impracticality, and is more likely to make a person lose their temper, thus creating a bad atmosphere and 'luck'. Other considerations in Feng Shui are to never block a doorway, as this stops the Qi, or energy flow.

Basically, a door should open into a room, and should be hung so that the hinged side is flush to the wall. The opening should be unobstructed and the door itself should open and close smoothly. It is considered inauspicious to have three doors in a row, the remedy for which is to paint the furthest door red, to deflect the accumulation of Qi. The entrance to the home must not be too grand for the building, as once again this is considered inauspicious and may attract negative Qi as opposed to positive Qi.

From an aesthetic point of view, the interior entrances to a room must suit the style of decor and be practical for the purpose. A kitchen door should be one that is easy to open with hands full, such as saloon style slatted ones that swing both ways. If space is of a premium then a sliding version can be an ideal solution. These come in glass, timber and vinyl and either on rollers where the panel slides behind a partition wall or as a concertina ensemble. If you own a period home, it is better to have the original doors replaced or restored as this will add value to your home and contribute to an authentic atmosphere.

There are also certain rules and regulations that need to be adhered to regarding the installation of glass doors. Any glass panels need to be made using extra tough security glazing to prevent injury caused by slamming for example. The glass also has to be frosted if it is part of an exterior panel or going through into a bathroom or toilet area. This doesn't mean that you have to compromise on style. If you like something a little more elaborate than etched glass, why not go for a stained glass panel, this can be customised to add a touch of personality to a room. Create something quirky for a kitchen or pantry door panel to add colour or to coordinate a colour scheme.

Customising room entrances can be a great way to add a touch of personality to a home. From beaded curtains to Japanese style paper and wood partitions, there is a huge selection of doors available to buy or to have made to suit a theme. My advice is to mark your gateways with sense and style for both practicality and pleasure. Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the interior decorating industry. Find out more about interior doors and the types available to suit your interior decor at Door Depot.
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the interior decorating industry. Find out more about interior doors and the types available to suit your interior decor at Door Depot.

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Submitted on: 2008-09-09