Does your garage door fit the rule of “the clothes make the man”? Should it?
In many cases, it does.
When you look at your home from the street, what’s the first thing that catches your eye? For most people, it’s a garage door.
Two- and three-car garage doors are even more eye-catching, which means they have to make the right impression.
You still not think a garage door makes that big of a difference for your own home? Put yourself in a new situation. Imagine you’re house shopping in a new town and you pull up to a home that you’re considering purchasing. When you pull in the drive, right in front of you, there it is—the garage door.
If you’ve ever found yourself asking things like:
Does my garage door suit my home and my style?
Do I like the door? Is it something I can be proud of?
You’ve just discovered that you don’t enjoy your garage door or the impact it has on your home’s style, there’s another big reason that you need to upgrade ASAP.
There are only 3 steps in the process, and you’ll have a garage door that is what you deserve in no time.
So, what’s the biggest reason to upgrade to a door that reflects your style and personality?
The #1 Factor: MONEY
Especially for those who have front-facing garage doors that take up a lot of the space, they are a big deal and can have a HUGE IMPACT on the sale price and value of your home overall. Even if you don’t think about it, your friends, relatives, and neighbors all notice and will get a certain impression.
If you want that to be the right impression, you have to have the right garage door. Even with the nicest landscaping and best curb appeal, a boring or neglected garage door is going to drag down the mood and the value quickly.
Garage doors that Are attractive and fit with the home’s style or architecture AND that have an organized, easy-to-visualize interior will help your home sell faster and get better offers.
It’s just a fact, as reported by the National Association of Realtors, it increases your home’s value significantly. As 4% more for your home if the garage door gives that “WOW” factor first impression.
Remodeling Magazine conducted studies each year looking at the best renovation projects for return on investment (ROI). Known as the Cost vs. Value report.
This study showed that the highest-ranking renovation project was the garage door with a staggering return on investment—98%.
If nothing else, this should convince you that it’s time to do something about your garage door. Here's how.
1. Ask Yourself: What’s my home’s style?
The 1st thing that you need to know is what architectural style your home has. It’s different than the type of home (bungalow, split-level, etc.). There is a connection between your home’s architecture and the best garage door design.
Today's home designs can fit into 1 of just 3 basic categories:
If you’re into things like carved inlays on kitchen cabinets, multi-pane windows, traditional stained glass, and other details like these, this is your style.
If you buy cars, clothes, and other belongings in a well-made, but not flashy style, and expect them to stay in style for at least a decade, you are well-suited for the Traditional Style.
Do you like this look? These are 9x7 Garage Doors, in Classic Mix Pattern and Desert Sand Color
Often in the US, two-story cottages and one-story bungalows have a classic look with distinguishing features, borrowing styles from a range of trends to create a more classic look that is uniquely harmonious.
If you’re into this look, try the 9x8 Prestige XL Pattern in Moka Brown featuring Cachet Windows.
Contemporary or Moderne Style:
Modern style is growing as a design trend in many homes around the world. This trend can be spotted by its use of earth tones and dark colors to create an elegant, simplistic look. This style often offsets itself with surprisingly-sized elements.
For example, here are our 9x8 VOG Pattern garage doors in Black with Harmony Windows (right-side or left-side option available).
Ultimately, however, it’s just a balance of simple, pure lines and clean forms.
What do you think? This is our 6-foot and 16-foot CALIFORNIA garage door in Black Aluminum, with our modern windows in Satin Glass finish.
This example bestows the final characteristic of modern and contemporary designs: large windows that bring the outdoor living space in, creating the illusion of more square footage.
You’ve left the big city and you fell in love with country style architecture?
Image: Interior Design Magazine
Also known as the carriage house style, these homes feature various traditional elements:
- Cornices
- Dormers
- Spacious porches great for cool summer nights
- Pitched roofs
- Multi-pane windows
Check out our PRINCETON P-21 garage doors that feature x-shaped overlays in Chocolate Walnut, featuring 8 Panoramic lite windows.
As you’ve probably noticed, the garage doors for Country style are designed to pay tribute to classic swing doors and barn doors of yesteryear.
They feature square, x-shaped, v-shaped, and a-shaped overlays that lend that barn effect and create rustic charm instantly. You'll know right away if these doors are the right choice for you.
How about these Vantage SHAKER-CS LONG garage doors in Dark Walnut? With unique overlays, Stockton inserts, and decorative hardware, they add the perfect style.
By now, you can see that there’s just a bit more to garage door designs than the standard white door with square embossing.
You might be surprised, however, to learn that we have an impressive 38 garage door designs and 12 color options, along with over 100 options for windows at Baker Door Company.
That’s just for now. Because they add such value and style, it’s only a matter of time before manufacturers create more styles and colors for you to choose from.
2. Ask Yourself: What’s Your Color Preference?
There are global color trends and newcomers to the design industry that bring diverse, interesting ideas that change the game.
What about current trends? In the past 5-7 years, dark colors and earthy shades have dominated garage doors, with popular colors including Sandstone, Mocha Brown, and Charcoal.
Everyone gets nostalgic for the past. Along with wanting to be grounded and blend into nature a little. Of course, we want all of this without the maintenance of materials like wood.
Fortunately, we’ve got 5 colors that mimic stylish wood garage doors without the maintenance:
3) Dark Walnut
4) Cherry
5) The New Iron Ore Walnut
Black is the trendiest color on the market right now.
If you like black, check out the EASTMAN E-11 garage door in Black with overlays and panoramic lite windows.
A black garage door tells people that you enjoy an elegant look that’s a touch modern, but that doesn’t stand out too much.
Because it’s such a trendy color, you can find black garage doors in all kinds of patterns across carriage house, traditional, and modern designs.
Black does go great with darker homes, including dark grays. It also looks great as a contrast to red brick, white siding, and rich woods . It fits in with faux and natural stone, too, making it a diverse option for both blending in and standing out.
As fashion designers say, black is slimming and that’s why it’s so popular in clothing design. Why, though? It's really basic color science:
Black is distinctly able to absorb light waves completely, which means that it will not reflect anything. This optical illusion creates the appearance that black items are thinner or smaller than they are.
You have a wider door and don’t want it to be such a scene-stealer? Rely on the color black to create the perception that the door is smaller.
Bear in mind that BLACK ABSORBS HEAT. In the summer months, it can even cause burns if it is touched for too long. If you have kids around, this can be a big danger.
Of course, given that the average garage door is between 9 and 16 feet wide, that’s a lot of black space absorbing heat and heating up your garage. If you have a sun-facing home, this might not be the best choice.
It's an important consideration because your garage door should last about 20 years, and that’s a long time to live with something that doesn’t work.
If you do want something neutral, consider beige, sand, or even white to get a color that blends in without creating the heat absorption issue.
These colors will coordinate with just about anything and they won’t stand out as much as a bright green or bold red door might.
3. Let in the Light & Let Your Personality Shine Through with Windows!
If you’re wondering whether you should go with windows—the answer is YES. Two main reasons:
1. They add Natural light
2. They add Style
Depending on the style and architecture of your home and the garage door that you choose, there are hundreds of window options to choose from!
Instead of asking whether you want them, ask what you want from them:
- Layouts :
There are standard windows and unique designs, giving you the chance to create exactly what you want. You can choosefrom left or right-side windows, double or single panes, and even a variety of other layout options to design your perfect garage door.
- Decorative Inserts:
Although these are typically seen more commonly in carriage-house or traditional homes, they add elegant style and a unique look to any garage door.
- Window/Glass Type:
You can choose from multiple types of glass and finishes too, giving you control over the level of privacy and light that you let in.
You probably didn’t think there was so much to a garage door design, did you? Don't feel overwhelmed! There’s an easy solution!
Your garage door is going to give you at least 20 years of life, and we’re here to help you make the most of that investment.
Contact the garage door specialist of your area..
Call Baker Door Company and get guidance and support in choosing garage doors that suit your home and your style perfectly.
York: 717-767-1419
Mechanicsburg: 717-901-4056
We’re available to show you our garage door styles here in our showroom. We can even provide you with quotations via email. Plus, we’ve got plenty of advice to offer along the way.
Are You an App Fan?
Check out our Design Centre. You’ll be able to upload photos of your home and create the garage door design that is the perfect fit.
Need inspiration?
Check out these inspirational photos of residential garage doors, which can help you explore your options and get an idea of what you want.
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