What is your garage door style? Modern? Contemporary? Rustic country? Believe it or not, the style (and condition) of your garage door has a huge impact on your home.
Not convinced? Let’s take a little trip.
Go outside and walk down your driveway. Stop at the road and turn around. Looking back at your house, what’s the first thing that stands out to you? It’s the garage door.
That makes a lot of sense, though. After all, it is the single largest part of your home’s exterior, other than the siding itself.
Now, still looking at your garage door, ask yourself a couple of questions:
- Does my garage door look good?
- Does my garage door tie into the rest of the home’s design?
- Do I like my garage door?
- Am I proud of my garage door?
If you answered “NO” to any of those questions, it’s time to do something about it!
A little TLC or a complete garage door replacement can do wonders for your home’s appearance.
And more important, it can also affect the curb appeal and even how much you get for it when it’s time to sell.
Not convinced of that?
Let’s dig into the topic a little bit.
Your Garage Door Could Be Leaving Money on the Table
When most of us think about money in relation to the garage door, it’s expense related.
For instance, you might be thinking about the cost of repainting it or having a new garage door opener installed.
However, what you should really be thinking about is the return on investment offered (ROI).
For example, the National Association of Realtors points out that an attractive, well-maintained garage door has the same impact on curb appeal and home value as a well-maintained interior.
In fact, having your garage door in good shape can reduce the amount of time your home sits on the market, and it can kick the price up?
In point of fact, realtors say that with a stunning garage door, you can expect offers from buyers up to 4% higher than if you left the garage door as it is.
Can you really afford to throw thousands of dollars away? No, you can’t.
Want further proof? Here you go:
Back in 2018, Remodeling Magazine published a detailed Cost vs. Value report.
Guess what took top place?
The garage door.
Not only that, but it delivered a 98% return on investment, far outstripping any of the other 21 projects the list included. How’s that for “bang for your buck”?
So, now that you really understand the importance of your garage door, let’s tackle something else.
Below, we’ll ask 3 simple questions. Your answers will help guide you to the right garage door for you and your home.
Question #1: What style of home do you have?
Our first question is perhaps the most important of the 2 we’ll cover in this post.
The reason for this is that your garage door must match the rest of the home in terms of architectural style.
If it doesn’t, you’ll create a jarring difference that most would-be buyers simply cannot get over.
Thankfully, you don’t need to be an architect to answer this question.
Most homes in the country today fall into one of just 3 primary styles.
These are traditional, contemporary/modern, and country.
We’ll run through each of them to give you an idea of what they’re about and what your options are when it comes to garage doors.
You might think that traditional homes are old and outdated, but that’s far from the truth.
This architectural style is marked by a combination of different themes and trends that, when combined, create a timeless, classic look that never goes out of style.
What are those themes and styles, though? Some of the following can be found in all of these homes:
- Carved kitchen cabinets
- Multi-paned windows
- Stained glass elements
- Well-made components that last for years
Sound like you? If so, then traditional is your preferred style.
How do you like this look? You’ll find 9x7 Garage Doors in the Classic MIX Pattern, featuring Desert Sand as the color.
Traditional homes can be single-story affairs, two-stories, split levels, and more. Whatever the case, they’re harmoniously designed and fit the pace of modern life quite well.
Do you prefer this style? You’ll find 9x8 Garage Doors in the Prestige XL Pattern, featuring Moka Brown coloring and Cachet Windows.
You might think that “modern” design went out of style in the 1950s and 60s, but that’s not the case.
Featuring lots of clean lines, earthy hues, and a unique combination of light and dark colors, modern style is here to stay!
You’ll also find that it’s increasingly popular today, not just in architecture, but in furniture design, accessory design, and so much more.
Does this one pique your interest? You’ll find 9x7 Garage Doors in the VOG Pattern, in elegant black, featuring Right Side Harmony Windows.
You’ll find some surprising design elements within the world of modern/contemporary design. For instance, large, unusually shaped windows help expand indoor space into the outdoors, while also adding a significant amount of character to the home.
What do you think of this option? It features a 6x7.5 and a 16x8.5 CALIFORNIA Garage Door with a black aluminum frame, with inset Satin Glass Windows.
Simple, clean, and elegant, contemporary homes stand out from the crowd while managing to blend into nature.
Image: Interior Design Magazine
The final style on our list is country/rustic.
You’ll find that in the US, this combines a lot of different elements.
For instance, you’ll find French country influences, as well as log cabin elements. On top of that, some homes combine Colonial-style architecture in the mix, too.
One of the most iconic representations of this design method is the carriage-house style.
You’ll find a ton of traditional architectural elements here, including dormers, large porches, cornices, and the like.
It’s all about creating a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere that also allows you and your family to enjoy the outdoor space.
You’ll find other recognizable elements here, too, such as projecting roofs, and elegant, gridded multi-paned windows.
Like this home? You’ll find PRINCETON P‑21 Garage Doors with X-shaped overlays in Chocolate Walnut and 8 Lite Panoramic Windows.
Many garage doors have been designed to suit country/rustic homes.
Most of them hey offer a tribute to swinging doors of the past.
You’ll find 4 different overlay options, including A, V, X, and square-shaped choices that help you create a stunning, elegant home.
Prefer the look of this home? This is a single CAMBRIDGE CS Garage Door in Ice White with overlays and 4 Lite Panoramic Windows.
Carriage-house doors are unmistakable.
A single look is all you need to know if this is the right choice for you.
Love this one? These are Vantage SHAKER‑CS LONG Garage Doors in Dark Walnut with overlays, windows featuring the Stockton Insert, and unique decorative hardware.
As you can see, there’s a garage door style to suit any architectural design or motif you might have. There’s no need for drab, boring, or bland doors, either.
At Middlesex Door Systems, we can actually offer 38 different door choices in your preference of 12 colors. Want windows? We have over 100 choices.
With the design considerations out of the way, we need to talk about color.
Question #2: What’s your favorite color and which one suits your home?
Color is an important choice.
The right one will accent your home, but the wrong one will clash, or become an eyesore over time.
Too many homeowners fall into the trap of going with a garish, bright garage door color because it’s trendy right now, only to find that in just a couple of years, their door is outdated and ugly.
Thankfully, modern trends for the last 7 years or so have been toward darker, earthier colors.
They’re subdued but still bold, and manage to look amazing even years down the road.
What colors are those? Think charcoal or sand. Moka Brown is another very popular choice.
The driving force behind many of these trends is the desire to reconnect with the natural world.
The problem with that is that wood suffers from a lot of deterioration when left in the open.
There’s good news, though. Some of today’s more popular colors give you the look and feel of real wood without all the sanding, staining, and repainting.
If you love natural wood, consider any of these 5 colors:
Of course, there’s one color we haven’t mentioned – Black.
It’s the trendiest and most elegant of your options today, but there are things you need to know before going that route.
Love this elegant look? This is an EASTMAN E‑11 Garage Door in black, with overlays, and 4 Lite Panoramic Windows.
Black is elegant and sophisticated, and it’s also very trendy.
You’ll find it used in a wide range of design styles, from carriage-house to contemporary, and everything in between.
It can work very well with natural, earth tones, as well as with grays, whites, and neutral tones.
Black is also slimming and can help you reduce the appearance of a double garage door.
However, black absorbs more heat. That means the surface of the door can get very hot – hot enough to burn skin – so you’ll need to be careful with children.
It can also mean that your garage will get hotter.
Prefer something cooler?
Go with a neutral option like Beige or Sand.
White is also a timeless, classic choice for garage doors.
Question #3: You Windows are An Option? Think again! They are a must.
The last item on our list is to consider the style and number of windows you want for your garage door.
Adding windows offers 2 primary benefits – more light and more personality for your home.
The good news is that there are hundreds of different styles out there.
So, what do you consider when choosing a window?
Here are the 3 most important factors:
1. Layouts: What layout do you want? Above the door? To the side? On the right? The left? There are so many different choices here.
2. Inserts: Inserts allow you to transform what would be a plain pane of glass into something much more elegant and eye-catching. They install on the outside and overlay the glass, adding style and panache.
3. Glass Type: Plain glass is not your only choice. In fact, you have dozens of choices that allow you to create the environment you want, whether that’s super-private or bright and open.
Overwhelmed? Don’t Be!
Yes, there are a lot of choices out there.
However, when you contact a leading garage door dealer like Middlesex Door Systems, you get access to the experts.
You have questions and want answers now?
Give us a call!
Toll free: 1-800-696-1926
Burlington: 781-270-5066
We have years of experience here and can provide you with the guidance and help you need to make an informed choice.
Come down to our showroom, or we’d be happy to send you a quotation by email.
You can also try out our mobile-friendly Design Centre, or you can find inspiration from our residential garage door options.
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