There are endless garage styles to choose from, and it can get even more intricate as you start incorporating smaller details. It’s an exciting journey to customize a garage door so it fits perfectly into your home, but where do you start?
We’ll help you answer the question of how to choose a garage door style, by providing different characteristics of the design process as well as a small quiz to match you with one of our Artisan door series.
What is a Carriage Style Garage Door?
Before you find out what garage style is best for you, it’s important to know your options and the difference between them. Overhead carriage-style garage doors are the most common, and therefore make up most of the garage doors that Artisan offers.
Other designs are slightly different and may slide out, fold, or roll to open. There are advantages and disadvantages to both overhead and non-overhead garage doors, so your decision should be based on your design style.
There are a lot of other considerations for you as you start the process of investing in a new garage door. Listed below are additional questions to ask yourself.
- Is my garage attached to my home? If attached, you may incorporate design details from the rest of your home into your garage door. If your garage is separate, it’s possible you’re looking for a more traditional shed or barn look.
- How many windows, if any, should I incorporate into my design? Windows can bring in a lot of natural light to the space. So, if you’re using the space as a creative studio, or additional living area, you may want to brighten the room with more windows.
- What’s my budget for a new garage door? This will help you decide what design details are most important to include in your new garage door.
Your Style Options
As you search through endless garage door inspiration and garage trends, you’ll start to get an idea of what works best for your home. At first, all the options can be overwhelming, but later in the blog, you’ll find a quiz to help match you directly to an Artisan garage door.
When choosing a garage door, you shouldn’t have to fit it into a mold. You’ll want to find a combination of your style and what works realistically with your home. Let’s walk through common styles of garage doors, different materials, and decorative hardware you can choose from.
Common Styles of Garage Doors
Learning about the style of garage doors is the first step in designing your dream garage door.
- Swing-out. Although it looks like these doors would swing open as two separate doors, they actually roll up and down like a typical overhead carriage garage door.
- Bifold. Just like swing-out doors, bifold doors look like they should fold into each other. However, these garage doors act like overhead doors as well.
- Trifold. While bifold doors have a minimum of four panels, trifold doors have a minimum of three panels. Similar to the door styles above, they act as overhead garage doors.
- Barn. A common style of garage door that isn’t an overhead style! These doors will either swing or slide and usually do not have any windows on them.
Garage Door Materials
When you’re deciphering the different garage door materials, ask yourself, what would work best with your home’s exterior. You will also want to consider the climate and temperature you live in, as some garage materials work better in extreme temperatures and humidity.
- Wood. This classic garage material will help insulate your garage in extreme temperatures and offer a sophisticated curb appeal.
- Wood Composite. An eco-friendly option made with wood fiber, plastic, and a binding agent, this material gives you the look of real wood but takes less effort to maintain.
- Faux Wood. Faux wood is made by pressing wood pieces together in a mold to create the look of real wood. Similar to wood composite, this material does not require much maintenance and can withstand high temperatures and sun exposure.
- Vinyl. The most affordable choice, vinyl garage doors are naturally insect, moisture, and rot-resistant.
- Glass. A glass door provides natural light to flow into your garage space and is very easy to maintain because they are not painted.
Add Decorative Hardware
Your decorative hardware can really set you apart from other homes and help emphasize the look of your garage door. At Artisan, we can recommend different hardware based on your garage series and style.
No matter what kind of decorative hardware you decide to go with, you should make sure your garage door still looks functional. For example, you want to put decorative hardware in spots that make sense. Here’s a list of decorative hardware that Artisan offers, all can help enhance your garage door.
- Ring Pulls
- Latches
- Strap Hinges
- Clavos
- Pull Handles
Take the Quiz
Now it’s time to find out which Artisan garage door is right for you. Sometimes, when you’re choosing a garage door, it’s best to think about your style in all aspects of your life. Write down your answer to each question, and at the end, we’ll provide our recommended door series.
- What’s your design style?
- a. Classic and Traditional
- b. Modern and Chic
- c. Earthy and Simple
- d. Pops of Color
- What colors do you incorporate into your home?
- a. Monochrome
- b. Neutrals
- c. Greens and Browns
- d. Bright and Bold
- What materials make up the exterior of your home?
- a. Vinyl
- b. Stone
- c. Brick
- d. Wood
- Pick your dream home
- How many vehicles does your garage fit?
- a. 1
- b. 2
- c. 3
- d. My Garage Is Not Used for a Vehicle
- What’s your coffee order?
- a. Black Coffee
- b. Whatever is in Season!
- c. I Prefer Tea
- d. A Frappuccino
- Where is your dream vacation?
- Greece
- Rome
- Colorado
- New York City
- What do you use your garage for?
- a. Storage
- b. Home Gym
- c. Creative Studio
- d. A Second Living Room
- How is the weather in your area?
- a. Humid
- b. Moderate, Lots of Sun
- c. Cold, Lots of Snow
- d. Hot
Explaining Your Results
Mostly A’s: Symphony Door Series
You’re someone that likes timeless designs and keeping it simple. Our Symphony Door Series is built with a vinyl material so it will look great without the constant upkeep. It provides your home with a historic and classic carriage door look and can be customized with panel and trim board options.
The Symphony series represents Old World craftsmanship at a lower cost. With the additions of decorative hardware, you can also make your Symphony door an ageless design.
Learn more about our Symphony Series.
Mostly B’s: Panorama
You’re looking for a garage door that’s innovative and stands out from the rest. The Panorama Series is a glass garage door that will ultimately elevate your home’s style. These doors illuminate your garage door and provide lots of natural light.
Because of the great natural light, these garage doors work well for home gyms that can be used all year round. Even though the doors are made of glass, they are still resilient and can secure your home from potential intruders.
Learn more about the Panorama Series.
Mostly C’s: TimberLife
An eco-friendly garage door, the TimberLife series is made for a household that is naturally beautiful. This door is made with either Tricoya or Accoya wood, which makes it incredibly durable and versatile. These natural browns and tans allow the garage door to blend into your home and fit just right.
Our TimberLife Series can be made into a plank-style design, with limited windows and trim boards or decorative hardware. So if you’re looking for something refined, and naturalistic, then this could be the door series for you.
Learn more about the TimberLife Series.
Mostly D’s: American Farmhouse
You want to stand out from the crowd and have a garage door that makes walkers stop and look. Our American Farmhouse series comes in a variety of colors including blues, greens, and reds. It’s a classic choice that can add an extra level of sophistication and elegance to your home.
Learn more about our American Farmhouse Series.
