Consumers want interior doors that are bigger, bolder, and better for the environment, manufacturers say. Following the trend of higher ceilings, interior doors are growing to match the greater space. Trends in cabinetry and furniture are inspiring updated looks in interior doors, such as mixing multiple species in one product and design offerings with a modern aesthetic. Also, the green trend has made its way into the interior-door sector, resulting in environmentally friendly options.

SOLID: The Jeld-Wen Juniper door gives homes a rustic touch with swirling grain patterns and provides a hint of green because it is made from a waste wood. TruStile reflects trends in cabinetry with an interior door that mixes multiple species in one product. "Twenty years ago, there were only a couple species you'd see doors made of," says Brad Loveless, marketing manager for Simpson Door. "Now, the homeowner wants everything under the sun."

Interior doors are increasing from the typical six-foot, eight-inch size to eight-foot sizes to meet taller ceiling heights, say many manufacturers. Some houses do eight-foot-tall doors on multiple floors, while others choose to keep standard door sizes on upper floors. Even homes that do not have the higher ceilings can get a bigger look with interior doors, says Jason Mounts, TruStile's marketing director.

"Builders want to have the look of a big eight-foot door, but they do not have the ceiling height," he says. "So they put in seven-foot, six-inch doors."

Along with the change in height, manufacturers see a shift to modern aesthetics with flat-panel doors. "One of the main drivers for this change is the cabinets that are being used within the home," says Lance Premeau, Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Co.'s product manager. "The Shaker style has grown in use, and a flat-panel door complements the cabinet very well."

One of CMI's newest products, the Crossmore, fits this trend. The flat-panel, molded interior door features two flat, vertical panels positioned beneath a flat, square header.

For an even more individual look, homeowners can mix-and-match species within a door. Again, manufacturers say this trend ties in with cabinetry and furniture styles.

"I think people are noticing that the door can be more than just a functional necessity, and that it should tie in to other components," says Elizabeth Souders, door marketing manager for Jeld-Wen.

TruStile's Vogue collection of doors can include multiple species within one door. Lynden Doors recently launched its Rediscovery collection. The doors include models with multiple exotic veneers, such as sapele and jatoba.

Lynden Door also offers its customers green options. For example, doors can include cores made from rapidly renewable agricultural fibers, and the company is certified by both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, says Mitchell Toews, business development director.

Companies are highlighting the recycled content in their MDF products as well as offering other green options. Jeld-Wen's Juniper door is made from a wood that is considered an invasive species, so it is burned or cleared from land.

Though interior doors are usually a small percentage of a project's budget, they can have a big design impact, Toews says, and a variety of new trends–from ceiling height to kitchen cabinetry–reflect their style.

–Victoria Markovitz