“For most of us, the garage door is usually the utilitarian entrance to the house that leads the way to storage space and lawn equipment. It serves a purpose rather than being considered aesthetically pleasing, so it often gets overlooked,” says Trina Rogers, color consultant with Five Star Painting of Temple, Texas. But no more! Here, we break down how to make your front door and garage doors partner to further your home’s curb appeal. Learn whether you should match your home’s exterior doors, what’s wrong with white, and everything you need to know about choosing a garage door color—straight from the experts.
How to Choose a Color for the Garage Door
No matter which surface you’re painting, selecting the color is oftentimes the trickiest part. The options are endless, and that’s not even taking into consideration the matching versus complementing color ideologies. “If the homeowner is feeling frustrated by the many options, the best and simplest choice is to have the garage door match either the body or the trim color for a cohesive look,” says Rogers. From there, she says to be mindful of sun exposure. “A very dark color garage door with the sun hitting it all day will pull in more heat, which can make the garage interior, which in most cases isn’t well insulated, that much hotter,” she says. “Darker paint colors also tend to fade more quickly, requiring more frequent repaints to keep them looking fresh.”
When Should You Match Your Front Door and Garage Door?
So when should you match your front door to your garage door? According to Rogers, it’s a matter of personal preference. “If you prefer a more subdued, neutral front door, then you could make them the same color for a more uniform look,” she says. While you might opt to do the same shade for both, you can still achieve a cohesive look by pairing two colors that share close proximity on the color wheel. “Matching your garage door with your front door either by choosing the exact color or a color a few shades from the front door creates a cohesive look and makes a statement,” says Wadden.
When Should You Avoid Matching Your Front Door and Garage Door?
The number one thing to keep in mind when it comes to your front and garage doors is not whether they match, but whether they work with the home’s exterior features, such as siding, trim, and shutters, says Wadden. “When people drive past your home, you want them to see the beauty of the whole home, not just the garage door stealing all the attention,” says Rogers. If you’re going for a statement color on the front door (think Sherwin-Williams Raucous Orange or Fabulous Grape), Rogers advises homeowners against repeating a bold color on the garage door. “In this case, I would keep the garage door either the body or trim color,” she says. As for her preferences on garage and front door color schemes, Rogers prefers to let the front door act as an extrovert. “It is usually the primary entrance point for guests and the area we are most likely to add other decorative elements,” she says. Using a bolder hue to instill a dose of personality to the home’s curb appeal can be an effective way to make your home stand out on the block. But, perhaps most importantly, keeping the impact color minimal can help with upkeep too. “By keeping the garage door either the body or the trim color you can more easily refresh or update the front door without having to consider making a change to the garage door as well,” says Rogers.
What About Monochrome?
There are occasions when you might want your garage to fade into the background. In that case, Wadden suggests painting the garage door the same color as the siding. “This is a great option for people who have a front-facing garage and want to modernize their exteriors to look seamless with the rest of the house,” she says. For this aesthetic, Wadden suggests going with deeply saturated colors like Urbane Bronze and Tricorn Black for a bold, modern look.
What to Know About a White Exterior Color Scheme
If you’re into white walls and neutral furnishings, you might be considering taking it to the doors, too. But first, hit pause. “Some homeowners might consider just going white on the garage door in the hopes of keeping it simple, which can work in some cases but might not be what is best for the home,” says Rogers. “A bright white garage door against a natural brick or stone exterior may look too stark, once again drawing too much attention to the garage.” Wadden agrees, saying white can miss the opportunity for a bit of drama. “Garage doors are becoming more of an accent point, and white garage doors are taking the backseat to more colorful options,” she says. “A well-thought-out garage color can add a beautiful, dramatic touch to your home and differentiate your curb appeal from your neighbors’ while still complementing your front door.”
Be Mindful of Being Too Subtle
If you’ve decided to mix up your front door and garage door color schemes, but think a subtle shade difference is the right way to dip your toe in, Wadden advises against it. “Don’t forget that most people will not see your home as close up as you do,” she says. “It’s harder to differentiate subtle color changes from farther away.” To make sure there’s enough distinction between the two, Wadden says to ensure color variations between siding, accent, and front door colors. “This is another reason why sampling is a must—cross the street to see what the colors look like from your neighbor’s perspective and see if you still like it,” she says.
