Whether you live in a rural area or want to bring a touch of the country to your city home, garage doors that look like barn doors can add a beautiful look to any home.
Learn about barn door styles, the different types that fit under this umbrella and how to choose the right barn-style garage door.
Barn door-style garage doors have been among the hottest design trends in garage and home aesthetics for years. They are attractive, welcoming and echo a warm sense of Americana. Combined with the right aesthetic qualities in a house, a barn-style garage door can boost the curb appeal of your home and, ultimately, its value.
Barn-style garage doors offer the charm of traditional barns with modern-day convenience. Unlike the heavy, high-maintenance wood doors of the past, today’s steel options deliver the same rustic look with built-in insulation and added security. While wood can rot or wear down in harsh weather, steel stands up to the elements. And while barns can be drafty, your garage shouldn’t be—these doors combine style, durability, and comfort for everyday living.
Your garage deserves more than a drafty, outdated design. A door that keeps out air, moisture, and pests creates a more comfortable and protected space. With steel barn-style garage doors, you get that cozy, sealed environment—without giving up the rustic charm of real wood.
Whether you use your garage as a workspace or simply want secure, climate-controlled storage, a barn-style garage door delivers on both function and style.
Garage door trends sometimes vary based on region or styles of new home builds. Barn-inspired garage doors have remained a popular choice over the years. Of course, there are plenty of variations—they’re not all built the same. So, what’s trending now?
A carriage house garage door combines two of the most popular qualities of garage door design: pastoral appeal and the convenience of a modern overhead garage door. Old carriage houses stored horse-drawn carriages, so what could be more whimsical than that?
A carriage house door looks great on different kinds of houses, too, so it can be the ideal replacement for an existing door or it can fit in with a newly constructed home. Carriage house style is practical, convenient and can add a real boost to your home’s curb appeal.
A carriage house door is both rustic and stately.
As discussed above, you don’t need a natural wood door to evoke barn style. With a faux wood finish, any garage door can look like it’s right out of the country, without costing too much or being impractical. Steel doors are light enough that they can easily open up overhead and not pose any long-term problems.
For garages that aren’t suited to overhead doors—or for homeowners who prefer something different—sliding barn-style doors are a great option. They capture the authentic look of traditional barn doors and can add a unique touch to your home’s exterior.
A barn-style garage door can have features such as:
Decorative handles, crossbeams and windows can be part of your design.
Horses and livestock don’t care how their barn doors look—but when it comes to your home, appearance and quality matter. The good news is, barn-style garage doors are built for everyday use and don’t need any special maintenance—just the same care you’d give any other garage door.
Here are some garage door maintenance best practices:
Most garage doors don’t open on two or three hinges, like the front door of your house. Whether your door is an overhead or a sliding model, your garage door has several moving parts. This is especially true if you have an automatic garage door opener.
Taking the time, even if it’s just once a year, to check the moving parts of your garage door can reap long-term benefits. If these parts, such as the chain, feel dry, lubricate them to ensure your door opens and closes smoothly.
Although you can visually inspect to see if screws are loose or hinges are rattling, you should have a trained technician come and inspect your barn doors periodically. That way if they see a loose spring or needed maintenance, you can rest assured it will be fixed correctly.
It’s important to periodically have a professional check parts to ensure proper operation.
Debris that gets stuck between the rollers and tracks can impede their movement. Clean it out to ensure smooth performance and maintain the health of your door and its parts.
While you’re at it, clean the door panels, too. This not only makes your barn-style door look fresh and inviting, it also moves away dirt, damp and substances that can eat away at your door, shortening its lifespan.
Your garage door opener is just as important as the door itself. Check that the remote has fresh batteries and test all buttons regularly to ensure smooth operation. Listen for unusual sounds from the motor, and make sure the opener is properly synced with the door. A quick inspection every few months can help you catch small issues before they become bigger, keeping your barn-style garage door running reliably.
Now that you know the benefits and options, the next step is choosing the perfect barn-style garage door to match your home’s look and needs. Amarr offers a wide range of doors with that rustic charm—especially in our Classica and Carriage Court collections.
Want to see how it’ll look on your home? Try our interactive Design Your Door tool and bring your vision to life. Your standout garage starts here.