Garage doors are often perceived as unimportant elements in architectural design. They are frequently overlooked or viewed merely as functional components, despite their potential to play a key role in a home’s overall aesthetics and functionality. In reality, garage doors are typically the most prominent feature of a home’s façade which contributes to the overall design flow and visual balance of the property.

Whether you intend to create a grand entrance with a bold statement, create a modern look, or maintain a cohesive architectural theme, you can significantly enhance your home’s curb appeal by selecting and installing the right garage door. So, where do you begin in your search for garage doors that can positively impact the architectural and visual aspects of your home?

Define Your Home’s Architectural Style

Begin by identifying the architectural style of your home, as this will guide your garage door choices. Residential architectural styles encompass a wide range of design approaches and aesthetics that have evolved over time, influenced by historical, cultural, and regional factors. They define the visual characteristics, layout, and overall appearance of homes. Some of the most common residential architectural styles include:

Colonial Style

Inspired by the architecture of early American settlers, Colonial style is characterized by symmetry and simple, rectangular shapes. Common features include gabled roofs, brick or wood siding, central entryways, and multi-pane windows. Subtypes include New England Colonial and Dutch Colonial. Colonial homes typically complement conservative garage door styles, such as classic raised panel or carriage house designs.

Victorian Style

The Victorian era brought forth a diverse range of architectural styles, including the ornate and highly decorative Victorian style. These homes are known for their intricate detailing, steeply pitched roofs, asymmetry, ornamental trim, and vibrant color schemes. Common subtypes include Queen Anne, Second Empire, and Gothic Revival.

Victorian homes typically have their garage located in the back; however, remodeled Victorian homes or modern Victorian-style residences may place their garage in the front. While this choice is often subjective, Victorian homes generally pair well with carriage house garage doors that feature straight planks, as opposed to herringbone or chevron patterns.

Tudor Revival

Tudor-style homes are known for their half-timbered exteriors, steeply pitched roofs, and decorative leaded glass windows, which create a charming, cottage-like ambiance. Carriage house wood garage doors with a rustic look and chevron pattern or steel garage doors with fiberglass overlay complement these homes perfectly.

Craftsman

Craftsman-style homes emphasize handcrafted details, natural materials, and a strong connection to nature. They feature overhanging eaves with exposed rafters, tapered columns, and extensive use of wood, especially in the interior. These homes complement a variety of garage door styles, but carriage house garage doors with either straight planks or patterns can significantly improve their curb appeal.

Mediterranean Revival

Inspired by Southern European coastal architecture, Mediterranean-style homes are characterized by stucco exteriors, red tile roofs, arched doorways, and wrought iron details, with subtypes like Spanish Revival and Italianate. These homes are best complemented by custom wood garage doors with a classic, stained-grade appearance to maintain their elegant aesthetics.

Mid-Century Modern

Emerging in the mid-20th century, Mid-Century Modern homes are known for their clean lines, open spaces, large windows, and a strong emphasis on indoor-outdoor living. They prioritize functional design and minimal ornamentation. These homes pair well with steel contemporary planks or flush garage doors. In some cases, however, choosing aluminum full-view garage doors is the perfect way to truly make these homes stand out.

Ranch

Ranch-style houses are single-story, low-slung homes featuring open floor plans and a horizontal layout. They are commonly found in suburban areas and promote a relaxed, informal lifestyle. These homes complement contemporary planks garage doors, carriage house designs, and even classic raised panels.

Contemporary

Contemporary architecture is characterized by its fluidity and innovative design. It incorporates large windows, open floor plans, and a strong focus on sustainability, allowing for a wide range of stylistic expressions. As the name suggests, these homes pair seamlessly with modern full-view garage doors, contemporary planks, or flush designs.

Bungalow

Bungalow-style homes are typically single-story or one-and-a-half-story structures with low-pitched roofs, wide eaves, and a focus on simple, functional design. They offer a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Bungalow homes typically complement classic raised panel and carriage house garage doors.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod houses are simple, one or one-and-a-half-story homes with steep gable roofs, shingle siding, and symmetrical facades. They exude a timeless and cozy feel, often found in New England. The best choices for Cape Cod houses include classic raised panels or recessed shaker-flat designs, but it’s the carriage house garage doors that truly make these houses stand out.

Georgian Revival

Inspired by 18th-century neoclassical designs from England, Georgian-style homes feature symmetry, brick exteriors, and formal, balanced facades. They often feature grand entrances with fanlights and pediments. These houses typically complement most door styles, including classic raised panel, shaker-flat, and carriage house garage doors. In most cases, you may want to avoid installing modern garage doors such as aluminum full view.

Art Deco

Art Deco homes, influenced by the 1920s and 1930s Art Deco movement, showcase geometric patterns, sleek lines, and decorative elements using materials like terracotta, glass, and metal. These amazing homes pair beautifully with carriage house or modern garage doors. If you own an Art Deco home, you may want to avoid reducing its curb appeal by choosing a classic raised panel garage door.

Note that different architectural styles can encompass modern, traditional, contemporary, or rustic elements. For example, some Bungalow houses can incorporate modern features, giving them a contemporary look, while others may have a retro or historic appearance. The key is to choose a garage door that preserves the original charm of the house and harmonizes well with its core elements.

Define Vision and Goals

Before making a final decision, imagine the kind of home you would want to live in if money wasn’t a consideration. The initial stage of the process isn’t about selecting materials or dealing with zoning regulations, but rather about the appearance of your home. Chances are, you already have some ideas in mind that simply need refinement.

Determine Which Materials Align With Your Home’s Architectural Style

Ask yourself which material aligns with your goals and complements your home’s design. The three primary materials commonly used for modern garage doors are steel, wood, and aluminum. Here’s a brief overview of these materials.

• Steel: Durable and secure, steel garage doors are low-maintenance and can be insulated as well. They are suitable for old fashioned, contemporary, or modern designs and offer excellent value.
• Aluminum: Aluminum full view garage doors are durable, and resistant to corrosion. They are often used for modern and contemporary design styles. Aluminum garage doors cost more but are low-maintenance and can be an excellent choice for areas with exposure to the elements.
• Wood: Classic and versatile, wood garage doors provide a warm, traditional look and can be highly customized. They can be stained or painted to match your home’s design. Ideal for a timeless, elegant and luxurious appearance.

Many garage door manufacturers also offer steel garage doors with steel, wood or fiberglass overlay, creating four-layer doors. These overlay components are used to create distinctive styles, such as carriage house garage doors.

Another factor you’ll want to consider is the energy efficiency of the garage door. Insulated garage doors offer improved resistance to heat, cold, and noise. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. Some garage doors come with insulation that is exposed from the back, while others have an additional layer that seals the insulation.

The Ideal Garage Door Color

Modern garage doors can be painted in a variety of colors. It works best to choose a color that you like and have the garage door panels painted for you in the manufacturing process. Painting a garage door that already installed and assembled will likely results in imperfections in the paint job and other problems.

Modern garage doors can be painted in a variety of colors. It works best to choose a color that you like and have the garage door panels painted during the manufacturing process. Painting a garage door that is already installed and assembled will likely result in imperfections in the paint job and other problems.

When selecting a color for your garage door, examine the existing exterior colors of your home. Choose a garage door color that complements or contrasts nicely with the main house color, front door and windows. A color wheel can help you find good combinations.

If you live in an HOA community, they may require a specific color that aligns with their guidelines. If your HOA mandates a custom color for garage doors, you’ll want to get a white door, which can be used as an excellent base coat.

Additionally, keep in mind that some garage doors cannot be repainted. For example, wood-like (or faux wood) garage doors cannot be repainted since the wood patterns are created by digital imaging technology in the manufacturing process. Stainless steel garage doors cannot be painted as well.

Choosing Between Windows or a Solid Garage Door

You have the option to choose between windows or a solid garage door. If you decide to add windows to your garage door, it’s a good idea to select a window design that matches your home’s existing windows. The goal when choosing windows is to maintain a consistent window style and design throughout your home’s exterior, creating a unified and balanced appearance.

There are various window shapes available, including arched, round, or geometric designs. If your garage opening has an arched top, you’ll need to ensure that the windows and the top section of the garage door are made to match the arch’s measurements.

For enhanced privacy, you can select windows with tinted, frosted, obscured, white, or black laminate glass. Another excellent way to customize the appearance of your garage door windows and add a decorative touch is by incorporating designer glass, such as beveled or stained. Designer glass not only provides privacy but also offers stunning patterns and decorative designs.

Exploring Garage Door Styles

Take a drive through neighborhoods in your area and closely observe the garage doors in each location. Don’t worry about budget constraints at this stage; your goal is to gather fresh ideas that can serve as inspiration when it’s time to select your own garage door.

Make notes on the aspects you appreciate in each garage door, as well as those that don’t appeal to you. Knowing what features you don’t want is just as important as identifying what you do want. Also, be on the lookout for properties that are currently for sale. Attending an open house can provide an excellent opportunity to examine a garage both inside and out.

Contact a Licensed Garage Door Supplier

Since garage door builders and manufacturers work exclusively with certified garage door companies, a licensed garage door repair contractor has access to a variety of garage doors made from different materials and available in various styles. They also ensure that the selected garage door complies with local building codes, safety standards, energy efficiency requirements, and can acquire permits if necessary.

Ask your garage door contractor for any brochures, about available garage door materials, types, styles, and finishes. Ask them about custom options to tailor the door to your specific needs, such as size, design, security features and pricing. This is the phase where you also get a better idea a door that aligns with your budget while meeting quality and design standards.

Ask your garage door contractor for brochures, available materials, styles, and finishes. Inquire about custom options to tailor the door to your specific needs, including size, design, security features, and pricing. This is the phase where you can gain a better understanding of a door that aligns with your budget while meeting quality and design standards.

A Decision Beyond Price

The process of selecting a garage door can be overwhelming due to the wide array of available materials, styles, and features. Additionally, when in search of a new garage door, it’s crucial not to make your decision solely based on price. A new garage door is a significant investment expected to last up to 20 years or more. Performing thorough research and considering all the details to understand your options will help you make an informed decision, achieve your goals and improve your home.