In this article, we’ll guide you through how to match your garage door to your home’s architectural style and colour palette. We’ll also share style suggestions and highlight some of Windsor’s best options to suit different home types.
Matching your garage door to your home's style
A garage door can take up a significant portion of your home’s front, but it shouldn’t dominate the look. The key is to align the design with your home’s architectural features.
Start by identifying your home’s style. Ask yourself:
- What year was it built?
- What's the shape of the roofline?
- What materials are used?
- Are there decorative features that stand out?
Once you understand what style of architecture you need to match, choosing a garage door becomes much easier.
Why architectural consistency matters
A garage door that complements your home’s design can improves street appeal and potentially increase resale value. Therefore, you need to ensure your garage door isn't a stand-out feature for all the wrong reasons.
First impressions matter, especially if you plan to sell. Homes with good kerb appeal tend to sell faster and for more.
Popular home styles and the best garage door pairings
Modern and contemporary homes
If your home's aesthetic is clean lines, solid blocks of bold colours and an abundance of natural light, it's likely to have been built more recently.
Contemporary designs are more influenced by geography and climate than the architecture of the past eras, so the specific qualities of your home will probably differ depending on the region of New Zealand in which you live. However, they generally feature clean lines, simple geometric forms and very little in the way of decorative hardware.
Windsor’s Flush Mount Garage Doors are ideal for these designs They can be clad in materials like aluminium composite panels or finished in or Colorsteel® colours such as Windsor Grey or Karaka for a sleek, modern look.
Hamptons style
Originating in the US, the Hamptons style has been adapted to suit the NZ lifestyle and climate. Home features include large floor plans, classic window styles (often with shutters), and a crisp, clean colour on the exterior inspired by coastal living.
White or light, coloured garage doors are a great fit. A Pressed Panel Sectional Garage Door with windows creates a timeless, elegant look. Windsor offers a variety of styles that capture this aesthetic.
Federation or heritage homes
The most prevalent architectural style around the turn of the 20th century, Federation homes fused influences from France, America and Britain. Less formal than Victorian styles with their intricate patterns and more suited to our climate, these traditional homes are characterised by their timber cladding, wrap-around verandas, and dominant rooflines.
Windsor’s Timbertec Steel Sectional Garage Doors offer the classic warmth of timber, while durability of steel, it’s perfect for Federation-style homes.
Industrial homes
While modernism began to pick up steam in NZ in the 1950s and 60s, it wasn't until much later that industrial style homes began to gain traction as warehouses, factories and farmhouses were repurposed into homes.
Industrial style homes often feature exposed structural elements, a minimalist aesthetic, and a confident combination of raw material choices such as brick, steel and glass.
Look for simple, functional designs. Windsor’s Aluminium Slat Roller Doors suits the raw low maintenance aesthetic of these homes.
Mid-century homes
Whether it has a pitched roof or flat, the distinctive organic shapes, clean lines and modest interiors of mid-century homes set them apart from other architectural styles.
To keep in theme with your retro home, choose a natural textures and earth-tones. Windsor’s UniCote® LUX Garage Doors offers horizontal slat profiles with timber-look finishes that deliver warmth without the maintenance.
Material matters – Choosing the right finish
The finish you choose affects both the look and maintenance needs of your garage door.
Windsor offers a variety of options:
- Steel and aluminium: Durable and low-maintenance.
- Pre-painted finished: Products like UniCote® LUX feature UV resistance for long-lasting colour.
- Finishes: Woodgrain looks modern, while smooth finishes are easier to clean.
Colour coordination tips
The safest option is to match your garage door with your home's trim (like windows or gutters colours). You can browse past projects to see what other have done.
Final tips for a cohesive exterior
It's not just your door's appearance that matters. Other exterior elements of your garage can also have an impact:
- Match lighting and hardware on your garage with your front door.
- Use similar window styles on both the house and garage.
- Landscape around your garage just as you have your home and don't forget a conveniently located path.
- Set the garage back from the street if possible.
Ready to transform your kerb appeal?
A garage door that suits your home’s style can make all the difference. Windsor Doors offers a wide range of New Zealand made options to suit modern builds and heritage home alike.
Book your free measure and quote today, and star enhancing your kerb appeal.
Frequently asked questions
How do I match my garage door to my house?
Start by identifying your home’s architectural style and colour scheme. Then choose a door that complements those features.
Should your garage door match your house colour?
Not necessarily. It should either match or complement the colour used on your home.
How to choose a garage door design?
Focus on the era, materials and style of your home. Windsor Door experts can help guide you.
How do I identify my garage door?
Look for a label on the inside, usually at the top or bottom, which shows the manufacturer and model.