Your garage door is more than just a functional aspect of your home — it’s a significant element of your exterior design that can enhance your curb appeal. There are tons of garage door styles to explore, and there are plenty of options that go hand-in-hand with your design stye. Choosing the right style can transform your house, adding a vintage vibe, classic look, or rustic flair.
What is the most popular garage door style?
Some of the most popular garage door styles include carriage house, traditional raised-panel, contemporary, and chevron wood. Each of these styles are defined by unique features, including different material, hardware, layout, and patterns. Keep reading to see examples of each style so you can get an idea of which type best fits your design preferences.
From smaller updates like changing the style of your garage door to entire exterior makeovers, our designers are here to help regardless of the scale of your project. We will work with you to understand your design goals and style preferences to deliver a rendering completely customized to your tastes. Learn more about what we do.
#1 // Carriage house
Carriage house is without a doubt one of the most popular garage door styles. With a charming, timeless elegance, these doors mimic the swing-out appearance of doors on old-world carriage houses, but with modern functionality. Basically, even though they look like doors that swing open, they operate as convenient overhead doors.
In this design, we complemented the dormer windows by rendering the carriage house garage doors in the same off-white shade. We continued the cohesion with the wood trim above the three-car garage. This trim ties in with the beams and columns on the portico and the awnings. The wood trim, along with the mounted lanterns on each side of all three garage doors, enhances the vintage vibe of the garage.
#2 // Chevron wood
There are plenty of wood garage door styles, and chevron is a striking choice if you’re looking for a more modern spin. These doors feature a distinctive V-shaped pattern created by arranging the wood planks in an inverted zigzag design. Here, the garage doors infuse the modern mountain design with a bold flare. The chevron pattern draws the eye and adds another layer of contrast to the mixed material exterior. Further accentuating the garage doors, we incorporated an awning above them, complete with recessed lighting.
#3 // Contemporary glass panels
Glass panels are one of our favorite garage door styles if a contemporary aesthetic is the goal. From the glass front door with the transom window above it to the large window panels throughout the design, this exterior emphasizes glass. As such, we chose a garage door with glass panels. We opted for panels with a horizontal pattern to contrast among the vertical windows on the rest of the home.
We made the garage door stand out even more by capping it with a row of narrow horizontal windows. The recessed lighting beneath the balcony further draws the eye to the garage. We also accentuated with mounted lights and planters for added ambiance.
#4 // Plank style
We incorporated wood elements throughout this design to enhance the warmth of the off-white exterior. This design features wood on the fence, front door, and gates to the backyard. It made perfect sense to embrace wood for the garage door. We opted for plank style to achieve a smooth surface with a modern vibe. All of the wood elements in this design featured a horizontal appearance, so we did the same for the garage door to keep the aesthetic cohesive.
Enhancing that horizontal layout, we chose a garage door with horizontal windows on the right side. These windows break up the monotony of the wood, which draws the eye to the garage. The windows also echo the slots in the front gate, adding intentionality to the design.
#5 // Traditional raised panel
Traditional raised panel garage doors are a timeless choice that exude classic charm and versatility. Characterized by their symmetrical, raised rectangular panels, these doors provide a clean, structured look. These garage doors translate across any design style and are particularly compelling on this traditional exterior. For this design, raised panel garage doors were the ideal choice to keep the brick and stucco exterior rooted in a classic aesthetic.
Keeping the palette nice and neat, we used the same dark greige accent color throughout, from the front door and trim to the garage doors. We used simple mounted lights and planters to accentuate the garage, providing contrast so the space stands out.
#6 // Overlay style
If you’re interested in garage door styles that can add dimension to your exterior, an overlay option is right up your alley. These doors combine layers of material to create a three-dimensional appearance with added depth and texture. We achieved an elegant-yet-rustic vibe with these wood overlay garage doors, which also feature paneled windows.
Our designers crowned each of the garage doors with mounted lights, and we covered the entire space with a garage pergola. The pergola adds another interesting, dynamic layer to the garage, which makes the space stand out among the rest of the exterior.
#7 // Old-world
Inspired by the classic designs of European estates and rustic countryside cottages, old-world garage doors bring a touch of historical elegance and timeless charm. These doors often feature intricate details such as wrought iron hardware, decorative hinges, and arched tops. For this elegant manor, we opted for old-world garage doors made from rich-colored, natural wood that exudes a sense of handcrafted artistry, which enhances the aesthetic.
The weathered finish and textured surface of the garage doors adds character, making them a perfect fit for this design style, marked by beautiful stone and stucco and impressive architecture. These garage doors also blend beautifully with Mediterranean exteriors.
#8 // Bold & colorful
If a bright, fun front door speaks to your design goals, you might consider going full throttle and translating that motive to the garage doors too. Paint can be used on doors made from a variety of materials, including steel, aluminum, wood, and fiberglass. The customization options are just about limitless. Bright, colorful garage doors can add personality to your home. For this design, the homeowner wanted to add vibrance to the neutral exterior, so we painted the front door and garage doors a vivacious pink color.
The front double doors showcase an intricate window pattern while the garage doors feature simpler paneled windows. We tied them together with the pink paint color. Because all of the doors featured some raised panels, the paint doesn’t get lost and adds dimension.
It’s time to get after your garage goals!
Choosing the right garage door style is an important factor of your overall design style and goal. Whether you prefer the classic charm of a carriage house door, the sleek lines of a contemporary design, or the unique pattern of a chevron wood door, there’s an option for every taste and architectural style. Don’t allow these elements to begin and end with function. Partner with us, and we’ll make sure your garage doors are a design element that makes a statement!
