The color of your garage door has a major impact on your home’s curb appeal. As one of the most prominent features of your home’s facade, your garage door can significantly enhance or detract from your home’s aesthetic. That’s why it’s so important to choose a garage door color that elevates your property design and helps create a welcoming and cohesive look.
But how do you know a color is the right one? In this blog, we’ll give tips to help you choose the best garage door color for your home.
Why Garage Door Colors Matter
Garage doors — especially those that are forward-facing — make up a big part of your home’s exterior design. Given their size and visibility, garage door colors can have a huge impact on your house’s curb appeal and even affect the resale value of your property. Well-selected garage door colors can harmonize with the home’s exterior, creating a polished and attractive look.
On the flip side, a mismatched color choice can clash with the overarching design of your house, and take away from your property’s appeal. Here’s an example: a dark garage door can provide a striking contrast against a light-colored home, adding depth and interest. On the other hand, a clashing color — like a black door on a brown house – can make your home’s facade look disjointed.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Garage Door Colors
When exploring different garage door color options, here are the things that we recommend keeping in mind to help you make the right choice:
Your Home’s Existing Color Palette
Your garage door color should complement the existing colors of your home. This includes the colors of your home’s siding, trim, roof, and front door. Making sure that your garage door color coordinates with every color used on your home’s exterior design — not just the color used for the siding — ensures you’ll end up with a cohesive and unified appearance that enhances your home’s aesthetic.
Choosing a new garage door color also gives you an opportunity to add contrast to your home’s exterior design. If you have a light-colored home, you may want to pick a dark color for your garage door, which can help add depth and dimension to the appearance of your home. The same idea applies to dark-colored homes. If your home is a dark color — like a deep brown or navy — then you may want to think about light garage door colors — like a lighter brown or white — to provide that depth and dimension.
Architectural Style
When deciding between garage door colors, it’s helpful to take your home’s architectural style into consideration as well. This is because some garage door colors may be better suited to some architectural styles than others. Let’s break it down by the three most common styles of home: traditional, modern, and rustic/farmhouse.
- Traditional: If you have a traditional style home, a classic neutral — like white, beige, or gray — could be the right garage door color choice for you. Classic neutrals naturally complement traditional architecture, helping to provide a timeless and elegant look.
- Modern: Have a modern home? Don’t be afraid to consider bold colors. Blacks, dark grays, cool metallic tones — a bold color choice will enhance the sleek and contemporary lines of your home’s modern exterior.
- Rustic or Farmhouse: If your home has a rustic or farmhouse look to it, we recommend going with warm wood tones or natural finishes for your garage door. These options will help bring a touch of charm and authenticity to your home’s country feel.
Neighborhood Aesthetic and HOA Rules
Before finalizing your garage door color choice, don’t forget to check your neighborhood’s homeowners association regulations. Your HOA (if you have one) might have rules that dictate acceptable colors for garage doors. Making sure from the get-go that your garage door color complies with these guidelines can save you the headache of future disputes and ensure a smooth approval process.
Even if you don’t have an HOA, it’s a good — and neighborly! — idea to keep in mind the overall aesthetic of your neighborhood when picking your garage door color. If most homes in your neighborhood use a lot of classic neutrals, your house could stick out like a sore thumb with a bold-colored garage door.
The Impact of Sunlight and Climate
Just like house paint, the color of your garage door is subject to fading over time due to exposure to sunlight and other natural elements. When it comes to sun exposure, different colors fade at different rates. Dark colors tend to fade faster because they absorb more heat. When you opt to use a UV-resistant coating on your garage door, you can protect it against fading, so it stays looking fresh and vibrant longer.
Popular Garage Door Colors
Neutrals
It goes without saying: neutral colors like white, beige, and taupe are timeless and versatile. They blend seamlessly with various exterior color schemes and architectural styles, making them a popular choice for many homeowners.
Wood Finishes
Stained or faux wood finishes provide an inviting and warm appearance to your garage. These finishes can mimic the look of natural wood, adding character and charm to your home’s exterior.
Statement Colors
Bold, statement garage door colors make a dramatic impact on the right home. Deep blues, greens, and even reds — these colors can add personality and flair to your home’s exterior. But bold colors aren’t for everyone, let alone every home. If you’re thinking about a bold color, it’s important to feel sure it’ll complement your home’s overall design and not overwhelm the facade.
Custom Colors
Have a specific color in mind? Custom powder coatings give you the flexibility to find a perfect match. If you want to precisely match your garage door color to another element of your home’s exterior for a seamless, tailored look, a custom powder coating is the way to go.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Garage Door Colors
We’ve talked about the dos, now let’s talk about the don’ts. Here are common mistakes to avoid when deciding on your garage door color:
- Don’t select a color that clashes with the rest of your home, or the other homes in your neighborhood. This can make your home appear jarring and unappealing. Strive for harmony and balance.
- Don’t get lost in trends. While trendy colors might be appealing now, they may not age well. Play it safe — and maximize your investment — with timeless hues that will remain stylish for years to come.
- Don’t forget about maintenance. Some colors require more upkeep than others. For example, white doors show dirt easily, while black doors are prone to fading. So if you live in a super sunny location, a black garage door is probably not the most practical long-term choice.
- Don’t ignore the overall design cohesion of your home. If you have a traditional home, a garage door in a non-traditional color — like red — is likely to seem at odds with the rest of the house. Opt for a garage door color that complements your home’s style, rather than one that works against it.
See the Possibilities: Explore Our Work
Now that you’ve read about garage door colors, it’s time to see some examples. Check out Central Oregon Garage Door’s projects on our website to see what’s possible when it comes to color and design, especially with custom wood doors.
Need Help Choosing? Let’s Talk!
At Central Oregon Garage Door, we understand that picking the right color for your garage door can be surprisingly overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be! Our team of experts is here to assist you in making the best choice for your unique home. Schedule a call with us for personalized recommendations.
Do you think a wood garage door could be right for you? We specialize in crafting custom wood garage doors. We’re here to help you design and install a custom wood door that is a tailored reflection of your style and property. Contact us to learn more.
