Your garage door color influences your home's overall curb appeal. We asked experts what the most popular colors are, and why.
8 Best Garage Door Colors and How To Choose One
Updated Jan. 04, 2024
How To Choose a Garage Door Color
Your garage door color plays a big part in your home’s overall curb appeal. This focal feature lets you stamp your personality while complementing the rest of your home’s exterior and the wider neighborhood aesthetic.
But with so many exterior paint colors to choose from, how do you decide the perfect shade for this prominent part of your property? We asked the experts for their input on popular colors, and when they might be the right choice for your garage door makeover.
To help you narrow the range, consider the following:
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Available light: “Paint colors have an LRV [light reflective value], which refers to the percentage of light that will be reflected,” says Allison Vaccaro, co-founder of virtual exterior design service Brick & Batten. “Black has an LRV of zero, and, therefore, painting the garage this color in an environment with a lot of sun can make the garage heat up like an oven.”
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Get the balance right: Vaccaro says the entrance is typically the focal point of your home’s exterior. The garage door color is often regarded as an accent color that complements other exterior tones.
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What’s in your brick?: If your home’s exterior features brick or other stone, Vaccaro suggests opting for warm, natural, earthy colors influenced by the shades within these raw materials.
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Consider your landscape: Hannah Yeo, color marketing and development manager at Benjamin Moore, says you can take inspiration from the colors within the landscape around your garage.
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Consider the architectural style: You might not want a bold, bright color if you have a traditional Craftsman home. On the other hand, earthy clay and cream tones are a good fit for terracotta pueblo-style homes. Victorian homes typically feature multiple contrasting colors across the exterior features.
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Don’t forget your neighbors: You might not endear yourself to your close-knit community if you opt for a bright yellow garage door in a row of muted neutral tones. It’s possible to add personality while maintaining harmony with your neighborhood.
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Don’t forget to test: Sampling on a decent-sized spot on your garage door is an important part of the process. The color can look different from the swatches when you see it in the natural light and against other home and landscape colors.
Here, I’ve collected eight garage door paint colors to inspire you.
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Black
“Black is popular on contemporary designs or those where we want to show contrast with a lighter color on a house,” Vaccaro says.
This moody, neutral shade is often used for a monochromatic, sleek look. It’s a popular choice for mid-century modern properties. A black garage door is often a good match if your siding features fellow neutrals such as browns, whites, grays, or even richer deep blues or greens.
As long as the garage door isn’t front-facing, painting the garage door black is a good way to ease yourself in if you aren’t brave enough to use it across your whole home.
Vaccaro recommends Black Beauty by Benjamin Moore or Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams.
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Warm Gray
“Warm grays are a great contrast color while not being so dark that you have to worry about LRV,” Vaccaro says. “These neutral, elegant, classic shades work wonderfully on the garage doors of white houses.”
Warm gray matches with just about any color and creates an inviting appearance, especially on houses featuring exterior wood siding. They typically feature red, yellow or orange undertones, making them good for classic brick homes as well.
Vaccaro recommends Repose Gray and Dorian Gray by Sherwin-Williams.
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White
“White is a safe choice for garage doors, especially if the trim is also white,” Vaccaro says. “It will also reflect a lot of light, as the LRV is high.” If you live in a hot, sunny spot, white is an ideal choice.
While crisp, clean white is a timeless classic unlikely to offend your neighbors, it doesn’t have to be bland. Hundreds of subtle white shades can change the look of your garage door.
Yeo recommends Benjamin Moore White Dove. “This neutral off-white brings just the right amount of warmth and pairs well with just about any color,” she says. “Regardless of architectural style or region, White Dove is a fail-proof color that doesn’t take away from other colors of the house.”
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Green
Vaccaro says rich green garage doors that match the shutters and other exterior trim can introduce a whimsical, fun vibe. Yeo recommends Benjamin Moore Salisbury Green if you’re looking for a shade to complement the greenery surrounding the house.
“It’s a charming mid-tone green that is sure to give a bit of personality to your exterior without overpowering it,” she says. “This color is best paired with creams and off-whites, but could also make a great monochromatic story with other green hues.”
If you want your home to blend into a thick grove of gorgeous trees, paint your entire home, including the garage door, a harmonizing deep forest green. Give your home a facelift with these fresh, modern green exterior paint colors.
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Dark Gray
Yeo says dark grays are a great alternative to black, because they offer a perceived confidence and grounding power. She recommends Benjamin Moore Anchor Gray.
“Tapped with a hint of blue, this adaptable hue puts a modern twist on the classic black color,” she says. “It pairs well with just about any color, and especially with natural materials, such as stone, brick and natural wood.”
The depth of color offered by dark gray is a practical option for hiding dirt your car might splash up on the way into the garage.
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Brown
Stained wood or brown painted garage doors are an obvious choice for introducing a rustic or country aesthetic. However, Vaccaro says they’re popular for various styles, “including traditional, mid-century modern, contemporary and transitional.”
When used alongside creamy white or beige siding, the result gives off a sophisticated but welcoming appeal. And combining shades of brown across your entire home, including the garage door, blends your home naturally into the surrounding landscape.
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Navy Blue
Whether you have a cool coastal summer house or a classic colonial-style property, painting your garage door navy blue adds elegant drama. Pair this with matching shutters, exterior trim and white siding for a crisp, clean contrast. Navy blue is also a good match alongside natural stone and wood siding.
Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue is a perennially popular choice.
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Red
If you want a statement-making garage door, consider a deep red, like Benjamin Moore Heritage Red. This bold pop of color pairs well with white or neutral beige. It’s ideal for drawing attention to a type of garage door with interesting design details.
There are many red shades to choose from, so be mindful of the mood they can create. A bright fire-truck red brings an energizing vibe. while darker plum tones are sophisticated, cozy and calming.
Originally Published: October 19, 2023
