Two of the most popular designs for home interior doors are Shaker and Mission doors. These two designs are very closely related and are both American in origin, but they are slightly different.

Nick’s Building Supply offers both styles of interior doors, and they continue to be some of the most in-demand doors we have in stock. They are simplistic yet elegant, and with the beautiful wood and clean lines, these doors are timeless and classic, never going out of style.

Shaker Doors

The Shaker door style actually came from the woodworking practices of a religious group known as the Shakers. They settled in the United States around the area that is now New York, during the middle-to-end part of the 1700s. These people, who were a relatively small religious sect, believed in minimal style and ornamentation to avoid offending God.

The early Shakers used local woods, but today more exotic and imported species are used, with oak and mahogany being the most commonly selected. In traditional Shaker style, paint would not be used, but today is common to paint them.

The design typically includes a solid frame with several panels or combinations of panels and lites within the door. The hardware is functional instead of ornate, thus enhancing the clear lines and shapes.

Mission Doors

The Mission style of doors was developed in the United States as part of the Craftsman movement. Unlike the more ornate style of a Craftsman door, the Mission design did not feature the dentil shelf or the longer panels. Rather, they are more squared in their panel and have a more simplistic design.

Mission style was developed by one designer, Gustav Stickley, in the early part of the 20th Century. His inspiration for the simple, linear shapes and lines of this design was reported to have come from his admiration of the woodworking abilities of the Franciscan monks and their missions in California.

While simple design, both Mission doors and Shaker doors are anything but ordinary or boring. With different combinations of panel shapes, lites, stain colors, and options, these doors can be very elegant and formal, or more casual and rustic.

With their straight lines and simple elements, these doors are a natural match for any type of decor. They look amazing with any interior design style and can easily work with a modern or minimalist look, as well as a more European or classic design.