- Learn about the various garage ideas exterior designers love
- Find out which styles of garage doors match your home
- Explore garage door ideas that accent the door itself
For some, the garage door is purely utilitarian—its function matters far more than how it looks. But there are garage door ideas you can incorporate into your home's exterior design to enhance your curb appeal. Through different garage door styles and exterior design techniques you can make your garage a highlight of your home's style.
Garage door styles range from the traditional raised panel style to more modern, eclectic styles. There are also different materials and colors that can change the look and feel of a particular style. We'll cover some of the new garage door styles as well as the techniques you can use to enhance a more traditional look.
Most Homes Have a Traditional Garage Door Style
When homebuilders construct attached or even detached garages, they often select a traditional garage door style. Why? They select this style because it's unoffensive and likely to go unnoticed. It's also a sturdy, economical choice that helps keep the home in the price range they're looking for.
This style consists of raised, horizontal panels and can be customized with different window configurations to match the overall appearance of the house. While they often come in white, you can order them in other colors to match or blend in with your exterior paint color. Another great advantage of the traditional style is that it matches with various house styles. Colonial, Ranch, and Craftsman styles all support a traditional garage door style.
Another great benefit of the traditional garage door style is its durability. Usually the door is made with metals like steel or aluminum, or composites like fiberglass. These materials are long-lasting in various climates and sturdy in the face of external threats like an errant basketball.
Carriage Style Doors Convey Classic Sensibilities
While the traditional garage door style might have you thinking it's the oldest style of garage door, the carriage style is actually the older of the two. The carriage style traces its roots back to the predecessor of the garage, the carriage house. This was typically a detached unit located behind the house where horses and carriages were stored.
Given their pre-industrial origin, these were typically simple doors that opened on hinges. In their original form, these doors were wooden and manually operated. This would mean getting out of your car every time you need to open the door. It would also mean frequent replacement in North Georgia's climate.
Nowadays, homeowners can benefit from the style and sophistication of carriage doors but with the modern convenience of an automatic sectional garage door. Steel, paneled doors from brands like Amarr open at the push of a button and slide up and into your garage, saving time, space, and money. Consider installing carriage style doors on your colonial or victorian style home to compliment the exterior design you already have.
Modern & Contemporary Styles
Some of the new garage door styles homeowners love are known as modern or contemporary garage doors. These garage doors feature stunning designs, unique window placements, darker colors, and different materials and finishes to achieve a sleek, unique, modern aesthetic.
Modern and contemporary garage doors make use of a darker palette like black, gray, or dark brown to create a stunning contrast to a lighter colored home. These are a stark departure from the traditional white seen on most garage doors. Many also incorporate lines to give the door a sense of movement and liveliness that match the door's functionality.
Some cutting edge modern garage doors, like Clopay's Avante Collection, use mostly glass or fiberglass to create a clean, uncluttered look. If that seems a little too revealing, fret not. These glasses can be treated to provide more privacy. Modern garage doors also utilize modern materials such as steel, aluminum and wood-metal fusions. If you have a mid-century modern home or another contemporary style, consider a modern garage door style to match.
Garage Door Ideas to Spruce Up Your Exterior
There are other ways to enhance the appearance of your garage door beyond the door itself. Some garage door ideas look at the space around the door as a space to create curb appeal.
- Use Accent Colors: Once you have a satisfactory garage door, you can paint the area around the door a complimentary color to your home's exterior color. This creates an interesting contrast between your garage door and the rest of your home.
- Lighting Can Enhance the Garage's Look: You can use lightning features above or beside your garage door to enhance the overall appearance of your home. These also add extra security to your garage door.
- Switch Up the Materials Around the Garage Door: Using different exterior materials is another way to frame your garage door to enhance its overall appearance. Using stone to compliment a brick exterior is one example.
New Garage Door Styles Installed by Balanced Garage Doors
There have never been more styles of garage doors available to homeowners today. All that choice can paralyze some, but knowing your home's architectural style can help you make the right call. But if you need help deciding which styles of garage doors are best for your home, turn to our expert team at Balanced Garage Doors. Or if you've already decided on a style, contact us today for a free quote to get started.
