Coordinating your garage and front entry doors is a great way to boost your home’s curb appeal and make your house the best-looking one on the block! But because front entry doors and garage doors don’t come together, how can you make the best design decisions for your home? In this guide, we’ll help you learn how to achieve a harmonious look that reflects your home’s aesthetic, increases your home’s value, and even attracts envy from your neighbors!
One of the most common questions we’re asked when installing new overhead doors is whether their garage door should match their front door. The answer depends on the architectural style of your home and your personal preferences. Matching doors can create a uniform look, especially for modern or minimalist homes with a streamlined appearance. However, complementary yet contrasting colors and materials can add depth and character, particularly in more traditional or eclectic styles.
Choosing the Right Color
Color is one of the easiest ways to coordinate your garage and front entry doors. Whether you opt for matching colors or choose complementary tones, consistency with your home’s overall palette is key. Neutral colors like whites, grays, and blacks offer a timeless appeal and work well across various architectural styles.
On the other hand, bold hues like navy blue or deep red can add a modern touch or traditional flair, depending on the shade and context. Choosing a standout shade for your front door can also draw attention to the entry, adding an interesting visual focal point.
Fun Fact: The History of the Red Front Door
A red front door has a variety of different cultural and historical meanings across the world. Throughout Scottish history, homeowners would paint their front doors red to signify that they had fully paid off their mortgage—in other words, they were “out of the red.” A red entry became a symbol of financial independence and freedom.
In the United States around the Civil War, red front doors were a secret indication that homes were involved in the Underground Railroad, where enslaved people seeking freedom could find refuge.
In Feng Shui, red is associated with positive energy, good luck, and protection. A red front door is believed to ward off negative energy and bring good fortune to the household.
Materials
The material of your doors is another important factor to consider. For a unified look, consider using the same material for both doors, such as wood, steel, or fiberglass. However, using different materials can also be effective if done thoughtfully. For instance, a wooden front door combined with a steel garage door can provide both the warmth of natural wood and the durability of steel.
It’s also worth considering that choosing materials for your doors that are already in use in your home can create a harmonious effect for the entire exterior.
Windows & Glass
Incorporating windows into your garage and front entry doors can enhance both aesthetics and functionality by allowing natural light to enter. Matching window shapes and glass styles across both doors can tie the look together, while contrasting styles can create a unique focal point. For example, frosted or stained glass in your front door paired with clear or textured glass in your garage door windows can add a layer of sophistication to your home’s exterior.
Hardware
Hardware is the finishing touch that can elevate the look of your doors. Matching the style and finish of hardware across both doors, such as handles, hinges, and decorative accents, helps create a cohesive appearance, such as choosing wrought iron hardware for both. What we don’t recommend is having different metals for the garage door than you have for the front door (such as black on the garage door and brass on the front door), as it can create a piecemeal appearance.
Consider the style of your home when choosing hardware: sleek, modern handles work well for contemporary homes, while ornate, wrought iron accents might be better suited for traditional or Mediterranean-style homes.
Garage Door Styles, Decoded
You might be asking: Which type of garage door would work best for my home? Check out this quick video that explains the differences between the most popular styles of garage doors.
If you want to upgrade your garage and front entry doors, we’d love to help guide you in choosing the combination that fits your unique style. If you’re ready to get started, all it takes is a few strokes of your keyboard to request a free consultation!
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