11 Door Casing Styles to Add Detail to Your Home
Opt for the best-case scenario for your casing style
Sorting through the countless door casing styles is just one step to getting to know the parts of a door and how it's installed. In short, door casings are the external panels that bridge the gap between your door frame and the wall. Types of door casing include everything from simple modern wood panels to ornate carvings that mimic a 19th-century style. Here are 11 door casing styles to bump to the top of your list.
1. Butted
Let's start simple and talk about one of the two main types of door casing styles. Butted door casing features a header and two side jambs that butt up against one another at the corner. The corners may overlap as shown here or match up evenly at the edges. You'll find many door casing styles within this category, from Craftsman to Colonial.
2. Mitered
On the other side of things, mitered door casing styles are the second most common variety. Instead of the framing panels butting up against one another, installers angle—or miter—the edges so they create one smooth right angle. Mitering wood is one of the most important skills when learning how to trim a doorway, so break out the miter saw when the time comes.
3. Pilaster
Lean into the drama of a Victorian-inspired home by opting for a pilaster door casing style. A pilaster is a marriage between a column and wall trim. When it comes to types of door trim, pilasters surround either side of the door frame, widening the overall door casing size significantly. Dramatically designed door casing styles typically include other ornate elements such as archways, scalloped carvings, and floral accents.
4. Modern Minimalist
Go in the opposite direction and keep your door trim as simple as possible. Minimalist door casing styles typically feature an individual set of boards and a header around the frame, often without backbands or beveling. The look blends perfectly with a modern home style. In this case, you're also more likely to find a wider range of door casing materials, such as metal.
5. Colonial
One of the most common door casing styles you'll see is inspired by Colonial architecture. In this look, several layers of trim surround the primary frame, typically in different widths and heights. The style offers frames within a frame and a range from simple to elaborate depending on the style of the home. Many homeowners choose to paint trim—typically in a classic style—a different color than the rest of the room.
6. Transom
Transom is an excellent architectural term to keep in your back pocket. When it comes to types of door casing, a transom is a window that sits just above the door's header and extends the width of the door. There may be sidelights—or side windows—on either side of the transom or door as well.
7. Ornamental Backband
An ornate backband is just another general term that falls into many of the styles on this list. A backband in the layer of trim that falls on the outside of a frame. Think of it this way—a modern door will typically have a single flat panel around the door while the backband adds that extra curved strip beyond it for extra ornamentation. Playing with your backband varieties is the best way to consider all your unique interior door options.
8. Beveled
Beveled door casing styles is another highly-specific term when it comes to the etching of backbands. While some layers sit flat on the wall, others are carved at an angle, creating more depth and a delicate blend away from the doorframe. In some cases, however, the beveling on the door casing faces the opposite direction, creating a concave frame around the door.
9. Dentiled
Have you ever spotted this tooth-like detail on crown molding, doors, and windows? Dentil door casing—quite literally derived from the word tooth—adds a classic accent to all styles of door frames. On a basic level, the style includes evenly spaced blocks of wood that construct an even trim.
10. Lambs Tongue
While you'll find endless ornate carving styles in door casing trims, lambs tongue is a fun and common one to keep in mind. As the name implies, the design features a delicate shape that loosely resembles a tongue—symmetrical and with a smaller tip at the end of each flourish. You'll, unsurprisingly, spend a bit more money and time on complex designs such as these, so be sure to hire a local handyperson with trim installation experience, instead of trying to handle this tricky design on your own.
11. Trim Block
Mitered and butted door casing styles aside, there's another popular option to consider. Trim blocks or molding blocks, offer square accents at the corners of a door frame. In some cases, these blocks include additional designs and shapes set within them, such as circles, flowers, or even dentils. You'll spot trim blocks in Craftsman, Colonial, or Victorian homes.
What Is Door Casing vs. Trim?
Door casing connects the door frame to the rest of the wall, filling in any gaps between the two surfaces. Trim covers the frame around doors, windows, floors, or ceilings for a more aesthetically pleasing effect.
Cost to Install Door Casing
Door casing costs $0.60 to $1.20 per linear foot but varies significantly depending on whether it’s located on the interior or exterior of the home, how ornate it is, and if you decide to have it professionally installed. Hiring a local door repair person costs $30 to $120 for labor.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Installing door casing is a task homeowners could choose to DIY if they like. However, not only does it take more time to do it yourself, but you’ll also need the proper tools, which require an added expense and expertise. Hiring a professional for the job is often worth the cost.
Ginny Bartolone contributed to this article.