Upgrade Your Home's Interior with Wooden Doors

Wood interior doors are the perfect upgrade to any home's interior. But how do you choose a wood interior door that's appropriate for your use? The trick is in choosing the proper wood species to handle the look you want, while being able to withstand the elements in your environment. Following is a rundown on the wood available in interior doors to help you make an informed buying decision:

• Alder: Alder wood has become a popular alternative to pine for rustic and primitive wood interior doors. It has natural variations such as knots that make the surface imperfections look charming in casual styles.
• Cherry: Cherry is typically considered a more formal hardwood, particularly for doors. It tends to be expensive and is often used in fine furniture and cabinetry due to its color and graining. Its smooth texture and working properties make it a favorite wood among furniture and cabinet makers, and it makes a high end, high value interior wood door as well.
• Mahogany: Mahogany is a tropical hardwood, and as such, it can withstand heat and moisture. It has a close, fine grain and excellent cutting properties, which has made it popular for furnishings, cabinets and luxury hardwood interior doors.
• Oak: Oak is known for its pronounced graining. The pattern of the graining can vary through the different species of Oak, as can the color. It stains well and offers a handsome look for wood doors, but may not be the best choice for hot, moist environments.
• Pine: Pine is a softer wood and is not always the best choice for very hot and moist locations. If it is used, a good finish or paint should be used as well, to protect the wood. Pine is a good economical alternative in wood interior doors and it's often used for casual styles.