Garage Door Design Ideas to Inspire (and Improve Curb Appeal)
Dec 20, 2023
Around the House Tips
7 minute read
Modern garage doors come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, but upgrading your garage door doesn’t have to be an overwhelming decision.
Here, we list 10 garage door design ideas that cover everything from aesthetics down to material, discussing some popular options for new garage doors, which design elements work well for particular house styles and more.
The Importance of A Good-Looking Garage Door
A good-looking garage door means much more than making a simple statement. Having a new garage door that matches the rest of your house can give your property a boost in appearance, making it look refreshed and updated. As a byproduct, the curb appeal of your home can increase dramatically with the right garage door — an important factor if you’re looking to sell.
Installing a new garage door can increase the value of your property. It’s one of the few remodeling projects that accrues more than the initial job cost upon resale of the home (102.7% ROI), according to Remodeling’s 2023 Cost vs. Value Report.
10 Garage Door Design Ideas
If you’re in the market for a new garage door but in need of inspiration, consider these 10 garage door ideas for a truly unique design that works for your home.
1. Modern/Contemporary
Modern home design is all about clean lines, sleek appearances and minimalistic details. Think 90-degree angles, monochrome color schemes (mostly grays, whites and blacks) and flat roofs.
When it comes to a contemporary garage door, consider options that reflect the overall simplicity of modern style. Clean designs, such as flush panels or smooth surfaces, are great options for a modern garage door. Even garage doors with glass elements can add a touch of elegance that also allows natural light to filter into the garage space.
Rustic homes embrace a nature-forward, rugged aesthetic and are often inspired by rural and mountainous settings. Homes in this design category often feature materials such as natural wood, stone and metal to create a warm and earthy atmosphere.
When choosing a garage door for a rustic-style home, it should complement the natural and rugged character indicative of rustic design. Options such as faux wood garage doors, especially those that are designed to look distressed or reclaimed, can add a touch of authenticity to the rustic look.
3. Cottage
Known for their cozy and charming characteristics, cottage-style homes are often inspired by rural or seaside cottages.
Garage doors designed to suit a cottage-core style should enhance the quaint and welcoming atmosphere that these homes create. Decorative details, such as arched panels, crossbuck designs or even some carriage house-style doors should suit this design well. These elements help to add a touch of rustic charm that’s common with cottage-style homes.
4. Mediterranean
Drawing inspiration from architectural traditions of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, a Mediterranean design style features elements such as stucco exteriors, red tile roofs, wrought-iron details and arched doorways.
When choosing a garage door for your Mediterranean home, consider designs that incorporate arched elements, wrought-iron hardware and decorative details. Intricate patterns or textured surfaces also lend a hand to this design aesthetic, making it feel more authentic.
Garage doors for Colonial-style homes complement the symmetry and classic elements of the overall home design. Design elements such as raised panels or carriage house styles are common for Colonial-style garage doors, and it’s not abnormal to see doors that mimic the design of the main entrance to maintain a cohesive and harmonious look.
6. Craftsman
Craftsman-style homes are characterized by their emphasis on craftsmanship, natural materials and simple yet elegant design.
Craftsman garage doors are designed with horizontal lines and minimalistic detailing. Raised panels or small windows with geometric patterns can add an extra touch of craftsmanship to the garage and the home. In terms of colors, earthy tones like browns, greens or muted reds are well-suited for this design style.
Victorian homes often feature intricate detailing, asymmetrical facades, steep roofs and various decorative elements such as turrets, gables and bay windows.
For garage doors in Victorian-style homes, you’ll want to choose options that complement the ornate and eclectic nature of Victorian architecture. You can’t go wrong with raised panels, intricate moldings and decorative hardware on a Victorian-style garage door.
Cape Cod-style homes are elegantly simple in terms of design, so the garage door should be reflective of that simplicity.
Garage door design options for Cape Cod-style homes are typically understated and feature traditional details such as crossbuck panels or simple horizontal lines. The idea is to maintain the classic and uncluttered aesthetic indicative of Cape Cod architecture.
Carriage house-style homes often feature a charming and rustic appearance with details such as exposed beams that offer a quaint, cottage-like feel.
One of the more popular designs, carriage-style garage doors are meant to mimic the look of their historical counterparts — where they used to store actual horses and buggies! Typically, that means they’ll feature either a swing-out or overhead operation — or an overhead door that looks like a traditional swing-out door. Decorative hardware such as handles and hinges can add authenticity to the carriage house style.
10. Mid-Century Modern
When you think about a mid-century modern (MCM) home, you probably picture a sleek, uncluttered appearance that makes use of elements from nature (especially natural wood) and simple architecture that allows for lots of natural sunlight.
Designing a garage door for this particular aesthetic leaves room for a couple of options depending on your taste. However, consider garage doors with clean, horizontal lines, flat panel designs or doors with minimalistic details. Glass elements, such as large garage door windows or even full glass panels, can contribute to this design’s inclination to be connected with nature by allowing plenty of natural light into the garage space.
Garage Door Design FAQ
What Is the Most Popular Garage Door Style?
Garage door styles can vary significantly from one region to another. However, steel garage doors are a popular choice for their strength and durability.
How Can I Make My Garage Door Look Better?
There are many different ways to improve the look of your garage door, starting with replacing it altogether. A custom garage door designed specifically for your home can increase curb appeal and bring cohesiveness to your home’s overall design.
That said, there are other, more cost-effective ways to improve the appearance of your garage door, including applying a fresh coat of paint, buying and installing new hardware and even giving it a good clean.
Should Garage Doors Be Painted the Same Color As Your House?
Not necessarily. While some people may choose to paint their garage door the same color as their house, it’s not a requirement. In general, however, the garage door should match or complement the color scheme of your home.
Design Your Perfect Garage Door
Getting a new garage door, whether out of necessity or to increase the curb appeal of your home, is an exciting investment. If you have a vision for your garage door, use our Garage Door Designer Tool to see how it could look on your home.
There are four easy steps:
Determine how many doors you need and what size they are.
Select a pre-configured image of a house or upload a photo of your own home.
Design your door by choosing styles, colors, windows, decorative hardware and more.
