When it comes to purchasing interior doors, homeowners and designers are often faced with a key decision: should you buy doors online or shop in-store? With the rapid growth of e-commerce and the convenience it brings, many people are turning to online retailers to furnish their homes. However, traditional brick-and-mortar stores still offer certain advantages that can’t be overlooked. In this guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of buying interior doors online vs in-store, helping you make the best decision for your home or project.
The Rise of Online Door Shopping
The digital age has changed the way we buy everything — including home improvement products like modern interior doors, frameless doors, and hardware. Buying doors online is no longer limited to a few options; now you can explore entire collections like the Modern Interior Doors, Classic Collection, or Frameless Invisible Doors from trusted brands like Indigo Doors, right from your phone or laptop.
Pros of Buying Doors Online
1. Convenience and Time-Saving
One of the biggest benefits of buying doors online is convenience. You can browse through dozens or even hundreds of door models — including pocket doors, barn doors, double swing doors, or French doors — without leaving your home. Online retailers like Indigo Doors offer clear categorization, size guides, and filtering options to help you find the right door quickly.
2. Wider Selection
Physical stores are limited by floor space. Online stores, on the other hand, can showcase an entire warehouse of options. Looking for black interior doors, solid wood interior doors, or interior glass doors? You’ll find more design styles, finishes, colors (white, gray, beige, blue), and hardware configurations online.
3. Easy Comparison
Shopping online makes it easier to compare prices, styles, and features across different brands. You can instantly see the differences in cost between solid core vs hollow core doors, or compare modern vs classic designs. Plus, you can read customer reviews and see how doors look in real homes.
4. Online-Only Discounts & Promotions
Many door retailers offer exclusive online deals. At Indigo Doors, customers often get early access to new models or discount front doors through seasonal promotions, bundle offers (doors + handles), or clearance sales.
5. No Sales Pressure
Unlike in-store experiences where salespeople might influence your decision, shopping online allows you to make decisions at your own pace, doing all the necessary research without pressure.
Cons of Buying Doors Online
1. Can’t See or Touch the Door
A major drawback is not being able to see the door in person. While detailed product photos and videos help, some customers prefer to feel the texture or test the quality of materials like MDF, solid wood, or glass before purchasing.
2. Potential for Delivery Issues
Large products like interior doors must be carefully packed and transported. Though reputable companies like Indigo Doors use professional freight services, there is always a slight risk of shipping delays or damage in transit — especially with custom or oversized doors.
3. Sizing Errors
While most websites provide clear sizing charts (e.g., standard interior door sizes or custom dimensions), there is still a chance of ordering the wrong size if measurements are not taken correctly. This is especially true for specialty installations like pocket or bypass doors.
4. Return Complications
Returning an incorrectly ordered or damaged door can be more complicated online due to freight logistics. It’s important to check the return policy before buying — trusted retailers like Indigo Doors provide clear return instructions to make the process smoother.
The In-Store Experience: Benefits and Limitations
Shopping for interior doors at a local store or warehouse can still be a good option — especially for homeowners who prefer seeing products in person before buying.
Pros of Buying In-Store
1. Physical Inspection
Being able to touch, test, and see a door under natural lighting helps in judging its quality and style. You can assess how the door swings, the weight of the frame, or how glass inserts look in real life.
2. Instant Gratification
If the store has the door in stock, you can take it home immediately — ideal for last-minute renovations or urgent replacements.
3. Personalized Advice
In-store staff can give you tailored advice based on your needs. For example, they may suggest suitable bathroom doors, closet doors, or office doors depending on the moisture, foot traffic, and design preferences.
Cons of Buying In-Store
1. Limited Selection
Even the biggest home improvement stores can’t compete with the inventory available online. In-store options may be limited to a few styles, colors, or sizes, which may not suit your specific needs or interior design vision.
2. Time-Consuming
Visiting multiple stores to find the right door takes time — not only in commuting, but also in waiting for assistance, exploring inventory, and arranging transportation. This can be especially frustrating if you're trying to match a specific color or style already used in your home.
3. Higher Prices
Brick-and-mortar stores often have higher overhead costs, which can translate into higher prices for customers. Additionally, promotional deals and bulk discounts are more common online, which can save you money when purchasing multiple doors or complete sets with hardware.
4. Limited Customization Options
In-store options are often standardized. If you're looking for unique features — such as frameless invisible doors, custom glass inserts, or non-standard dimensions — you’re more likely to find these online from specialized manufacturers like Indigo Doors.
When Buying Doors Online Is the Better Choice
Buying doors online is often ideal if you:
- Want a wide selection of modern interior doors in different finishes and colors (white, black, gray, blue, beige).
- Need to shop on a tight schedule or from a remote location.
- Are looking for unique or premium doors like frameless doors, solid wood doors, interior glass doors, or custom double doors.
- Prefer transparent pricing and the ability to compare different models and styles.
- Plan to buy multiple doors for a full home renovation project and want access to volume discounts.
Online retailers like Indigo Doors provide full specifications, measurement guides, lifestyle images, and expert support via chat or email — making the online buying experience both easy and reliable.
When In-Store Shopping Might Be Best
Buying in-store might work better if you:
- Prefer to physically examine products before purchasing.
- Have immediate renovation needs and want to take a product home the same day.
- Need local support for advice or recommendations specific to your region.
- Are not comfortable measuring or choosing doors on your own without visual confirmation.
That said, many of these advantages are now covered by enhanced online services — especially from brands that offer detailed product previews, swatches, and virtual assistance.
Tips for a Successful Interior Door Purchase
Whether you choose to buy online or in-store, here are some tips to make sure your door purchase goes smoothly:
- Measure Carefully: Always double-check door frame dimensions before ordering. Refer to standard interior door size charts or consult your contractor for custom needs.
- Know Your Style: Decide in advance whether you prefer swing doors, pocket doors, barn doors, pivot doors, or bypass doors. Consider how much space is available for the door to operate.
- Consider Functionality: Match door features to the room — for example, privacy glass for bathroom doors, sound-insulating solid doors for bedrooms, or glass panel doors for home offices.
- Don’t Forget Hardware: Pair your doors with high-quality interior door handles, locks, hinges, and door systems. Indigo Doors offers stylish, durable hardware to match every collection.
Final Recommendation: Buy Where It Makes the Most Sense
Both options — buying online and shopping in-store — have their own merits. But with today’s technology, buying doors online is becoming the go-to choice for more and more homeowners and designers. It offers a broader selection, better pricing, customization, and the comfort of shopping from anywhere.
At Indigo Doors, we offer an extensive range of premium European-style interior doors across the USA — including Florida, California, Texas, and more. Our online catalog features collections like:
- Modern Interior Doors – sleek, minimalist designs
- Frameless Doors (Invisible Doors) – hidden frames for a clean aesthetic
- Royal Collection – luxury finishes and intricate details
- Classic Collection – timeless looks with traditional charm
With fast shipping, exceptional customer service, and high-quality materials, we make online door shopping not only possible — but preferable.
