Interior Door Options Explained -What to Know When Choosing Doors for Your Home

When you’re planning a renovation or building a new home, interior doors can have a huge impact on the style and feel of the space. At Quality Homes & Renovations, our customers typically choose MDF doors, in either a hollow core or solid core format. Both options come in a wide range of styles and finishes, and we help guide homeowners through selecting the right type for each room in the house. Let’s walk through what makes these doors different and where each one works best.

Hollow Core Doors: Attractive and Cost-Effective

Hollow core doors are commonly found in many homes. They’re built with a lightweight wood frame and a rigid core, then wrapped in a molded MDF skin. They’re a budget-friendly option, easy to install, and take paint beautifully. For closets, pantries, or guest rooms, hollow core doors get the job done efficiently while still contributing to a finished, polished look.

At Quality Homes & Renovations, hollow core doors are a standard choice for many of our customers. One of the benefits is that you don’t have to compromise on appearance—the same stylish profiles are available in both hollow and solid core formats. For example, a more detailed molded door pairs well with colonial trim, while a simple two- or three-panel shaker door matches perfectly with the modern square eased edge casing that’s become increasingly popular.

Solid Core Doors: Sound Reduction

Solid core doors are constructed with a dense wood fibre or particleboard core, making them heavier and better at reducing sound transmission between rooms. From the outside, they look nearly identical to hollow core doors, but they feel more substantial when opening and closing.

We recommend solid core doors for bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, or any space where privacy matters. While they don’t eliminate all sound, they do make a noticeable difference—especially when combined with sound-insulated walls. That extra weight also gives them a more premium feel that many homeowners appreciate throughout their home.

MDF Door Styles: Matching the Look of Your Home

Whether you choose hollow or solid core, the style of the door slab is where you can really tie the home’s interior look together. At Quality Homes & Renovations, we typically install Jeld-Wen molded MDF doors, which are available in a wide range of styles. From clean, flat panels to classic 2-panel arch tops, there’s something to suit any home aesthetic.

For a traditional home, a door with raised panels or decorative moulding may be the right fit. In contrast, modern builds tend to favour square shaker designs with minimal detailing. What’s most important is that the door style aligns with your trim profile and the overall feel of the home. For example, a craftsman-style door looks best with wider trim and flat stock casing, while arched panels suit homes with more classic architectural elements.

Because all Jeld-Wen MDF door styles are available in both hollow and solid core formats, homeowners can choose based on function and location without sacrificing visual consistency. That means your hall closet and bedroom door can match exactly, even if one is lightweight and the other built for sound reduction.

Choosing the Right Door for Each Room

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for interior doors. In most homes, a mix of door types makes the most sense. Here’s how we typically guide our clients:

• Hollow Core – Ideal to use throughout the home.
• Solid Core – Ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, or any room where privacy, noise control, and a solid feel are desired.

Interior doors aren’t just about filling an opening—they contribute to the style, sound, and comfort of every room. Whether you're renovating a single floor or building a custom home, the right door selections bring your design together and make each space feel finished.

At Quality Homes & Renovations, we help our clients make smart, practical choices based on the function of each space and the goals of the project. Whether you need a hollow core door for a closet or a solid core MDF panel door for a quiet bedroom retreat, the right choice makes a difference you’ll notice every day.