When you get home after a long day, your garage is often the first thing that greets you. A bland, unpainted door should not be the first thing you see. Painting your garage door is an excellent, cost-effective way to beautify your house and increase both curb appeal and home value.
For a gray house, the best color to paint your garage door is red for contrast. Gray would be the very next option if you were trying to blend. Alternatively, if you decided against painting you could do full glass doors. The options are endless
Ready to grab a can of paint? Before running off to your nearest home improvement store, get creative and be prepared. There are hundreds of different ways to redo your garage door. Check out some of our favorite ways to redesign your entrance, from basic coats of paint to completely new materials.
Why Paint Your Garage Door?
Painting your garage door is a simple way to make a massive difference in the appearance of your home. A boring garage door can make an impact on your housemates and guests that you welcome.
Curb appeal and increased home value are two of the biggest concerns homeowners have when making the decision to paint.
Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is essential for most homeowners. We want our houses to look good for ourselves and anyone who goes past it. Beyond general landscaping and upkeep, the garage door is a major aspect of your home’s facade.
The most common reason people paint their garage door is to improve the appearance of their house. People (and neighbors) see your garage every day. It should be attractive. Adding a bright coat of paint or redoing the entire thing can significantly improve curb appeal.
Increase Home Value
Making a solid first impression on buyers is important if you are trying to sell your home in the near (or far) future. Your garage door is one of the first things they will encounter when they tour your home.
Redoing your garage door is also a great way to cover damages from water or general wear and tear. Paint quickly covers up blemishes on garage doors.
Issues like this can be a turn off for home buyers. A beautiful garage door makes a strong impact. It is the first thing buyers see and has a lasting effect on purchasing decisions. Be original to stay memorable.
15 Original Idea To Paint Your Garage Door
There are hundreds of options to consider when beautifying your garage door. These range from which paint color to choose to whether to pick out a new material entirely. There are plenty of roads to take and no bad options.
1. Red
Red is an instant pop of color and is increasingly popular in home renovations. Between front doors and window finishings, red is showing up in neighborhoods worldwide. A red garage door is an especially great idea for gray homes. It is a lovely accent color for neutral-colored facades.
The shade perfectly juxtaposes a sleek, gray home. Red is also traditional. In early America, settlers painted their doors red as a symbol of welcoming guests. Red can also symbolize bringing in positive energy and abundance.
2. Gray
Not sure what color to paint your garage door? Gray is a safe choice that is timeless and sleek. Although monotone is in right now, nothing says you must go with the same shade of gray as your house. Take it a few shades darker or lighter to accent your home’s facade.
The color gray is associated with intelligence and dignity. You can’t go wrong with gray if you want a neutral, sophisticated-looking home. Gray is also popular with home trends right now. It is stylish and minimalist. This is the way to go if you want a refined and simple look.
3. Black
A black garage door looks sleek and polished if you want an accent shade without a pop of bright color. Black is also a great color if you want to minimize the look of wear and tear. Damages are less visible on dark surfaces, so you won’t have to worry about much upkeep.
Black garage doors are an easy way to make your home look expensive and custom. Your guests don’t need to know you got the look by purchasing a simple can of exterior paint. Black doors are relatively new in home styling, so if you want your house to look contemporary, this is the way to go.
4. Clapboard Siding
Clapboard is composed of wooden boards that often overlap when installed. It is also known as bevel, weatherboard, and lap siding – depending on what region of the country you are in. Clapboard is a timeless and popular home siding choice, but you should also consider it for your garage door.
This type of finishing is excellent for a gray house as the brown wood will contrast a gray exterior well. Neutrals look good together, and clapboard adds a polished texture to your home.
This shade also looks good if the siding on your home is clapboard. It is a great way to take on a monotone look while maintaining your home’s character.
5. Steel
Steel garage doors are the most durable material on the market. They are a great choice if you live in an area with heavy snow, wind, or rainfall, as they do not damage easily. They protect against warping, cracking, rusting, and fire and water damage. They’re meant to withstand harsh conditions and last a while.
Steel doors come in various colors, much like any garage door material. They also do not need much regular maintenance as they are so durable.
With a gray house, consider purchasing your steel door with a pop of color or a darker tone to make it stand out from your home.
6. Light Colored Wood
Wood garage doors are beautiful and timeless. They also contrast nicely against a gray home. Although dark wood looks chic, light wood is a home trend that looks excellent against a gray facade.
Wood also does better in harsh conditions than aluminum. It will not dent due to things like hail or baseballs and also does well when faced with wind storms. Wooden garage doors come in various custom designs, stains, and styles. They make any home look more expensive.
7. Aluminum
Aluminum is the most common garage door material. It is inexpensive and durable, making it the standard choice for many new models of homes being built. It is also lightweight and easy to install, so if you don’t want to hire anyone, this can be an easy DIY project.
The light weight of aluminum also makes it a long-lasting door material. It does not put as much stress on the components of your garage opener, so it will require fewer repairs down the line.
8. Fiberglass
Fiberglass is an incredibly durable material made from glass fiber. It is excellent at withstanding damage and more substantial than aluminum, making it more resistant to cracks and dents. A fiberglass garage door is low maintenance and excellent quality.
This material is completely customizable so homeowners can get one in many different forms for a unique look. It is also rust resistant since it is a plastic composite and energy efficient.
Fiberglass is a semi-transparent material, so it is ideal for homeowners who want to brighten up the interior of their garage. The translucent finish allows outside light in while keeping the room secure and private.
9. Glass
Glass garage doors are becoming more popular, especially in newer homes. Believe it or not, they also do not break easily. Many are reinforced with aluminum and have multiple panes making them incredibly durable.
Glass looks beautiful against a gray house, adding some shine to the otherwise monotone exterior. This look is customizable based on how you want it framed, how you want the panes laid out, and whether or not you want the glass to have a tint. Homeowners may also choose the color of their aluminum frame.
If you are not ready to go with an entirely glass door, many choose to instead purchase doors that are partially glass or have large windows. The options are expansive.
10. Green
Green is an excellent choice that comes in various shades if you want a pop of color but are not looking for something as bright as red or yellow. Forest green looks excellent against gray homes and provides a rich contrast to any exterior.
Alternatively, homeowners may choose an olive shade or something lighter to contrast a darker home. Olive is one of the most trendy earth tones, but it is also a timeless shade that will be gorgeous for years to come.
11. Beige
Beige is a timeless shade to paint your garage door. It also pops against a gray home. Its warm undertones perfectly contrast a calm gray house exterior. Beige is flexible, neutral, and versatile.
Traditionally, the color beige was used on old Tudor-style homes. If you are going for a classic, elegant look, this could be the perfect color for you.
12. Brown
Brown doors doesn’t just have to be composed of wood. This exterior paint shade is popular and can be lathered onto any garage material, from aluminum to steel.
Brown contrasts nicely against a gray home and is a neutral way to brighten a space.
13. Rust
If you want to introduce slightly more color than brown, rust is an excellent shade to paint your door. Rust has orange and red undertones, introducing a pop of warm color against your gray home. It is also muted enough to be timeless.
14. Gray-Blue
Sometimes, a cool blue is the perfect addition to a gray home facade. A gray-blue shade is ideal for adding color to your house without being too flashy.
The color blue symbolizes prosperity and abundance. It also emulates a sense of peace and tranquility. If you want an elegant-looking home, a cool blue shade may be the perfect choice for you.
15. Yellow
Yellow is the ultimate color pop. This primary color is on the opposite end of the color spectrum from gray, making it an excellent way to add character and charm to your home without choosing a shade as lively as red.
This is the most bright and inviting shade on the color wheel and eagerly welcomes guests into your house. It also emulates happiness and prosperity and tends to mean that you have a lively and fun household.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint Your Garage Door?
Painting a garage door is an inexpensive DIY project when done alone. However, if you want to change the material of your door altogether or hire help, the price tag can start to increase. DIYing this project is sometimes your best bet.
DIY
The typical cost of painting your garage door is $1 to $4 per square foot of space that you have. The door material, size, and paint type account for the price range. Typically, this adds up to about $100 to $230 for a one-car garage and $120 to $500 for a two-car model.
If all you plan to do is paint, you will need a drop cloth, shop vac or broom, bucket, dish soap, sponge, paint roller, paintbrush, paint primer, and exterior paint. Although this is an excellent DIY project, a professional eye is sometimes best.
Hire a Professional
Sometimes, the DIY project can be too burdensome. Usually, paint jobs can be handled by yourself, but if you plan on installing new siding or a new door, get on the phone with someone who knows what they are doing.
Hiring a professional to paint can also provide you with some ease of service and an expertly trained hand. Most painters charge $2 to $6 per square foot for paint jobs. Add that to the cost of paint and materials.
Conclusion
Painting your garage door is one of the simplest things you can do to beautify your home’s exterior. However, it is not as simple as choosing a color. Before grabbing a can of paint, consider the materials you need and what type of door you have. Once you understand the process thoroughly, happy painting!
Our team includes many home improvement professionals such as painters interior decorators and architects. Collectively, we have over 30 years of experience.