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On the hunt for garage ideas for your project? From performance to aesthetics, there are numerous factors to consider when designing your garage and choosing its door style. “Today, the choice is extensive. While the basic options still comprise up-and-over, roller and sectional opening styles, they all come in a wide variety of designs and materials,” says Jon Watson, managing director of Garador. Each garage door opening style can make a big impact on your garage and how you interact with it on a day-to-day basis.
In terms of the overall design, a considered scheme and structure can add architectural interest and kerb appeal to your property, as well as providing a valuable multipurpose space. You could consider turning your detached garage into an annexe with a room above, accessed via exterior stairs. Or, an open car port design can allow you to have easy access to your vehicles while keeping them sheltered from the elements. The options are aplenty.
If you’re self building, speak to your architect or designer early on about what you need from your garage, how big it should be and what kind of access/door arrangement you’re most interested in. In the meantime, though, to set you off on the right foot here’s a collection of inspiring garage ideas to make note of.
As part of an overhaul to a traditional 18th-century home in Cambridgeshire, Studio McW added a new garage that contains a guest suite with bathroom and kitchen. The home is located within a conservation area so the materials needed to be sympathetic to the original dwelling’s character.
Photo: Lorenzo Zandri
The building has therefore been constructed using reclaimed stone and pale timber cladding, with an unbroken design that creates a flush look and helps the functional building remain discrete.
After finding a run-down 1960s two-bedroom house with fantastic countryside views, Suzie and Sam Andrews soon realised that the best route to turning the property into their forever home would involve a knock-down and rebuild project. Not only was the house in poor condition, but it had also been built at the front of the plot, meaning the garden was north facing. “Rebuilding meant we could use the site to the best advantage and move things forward,” says Suzie.
Photo: Adam Carter
Designed by Rixon Architects, the couple took a fabric-first approach to creating their new, contemporary and energy efficient home. A detached garage sits at the rear of the property’s driveway – tucked away from the roadside. It’s been clad in timber to complement details found on the home’s picture window and veranda, which feature Siberian larch from Vastern Timber. This consistent finish allows the doors to be cleverly concealed for a sleek, clean look.
Freddie and Katie Pack saved up to build this contemporary and efficient house on their family’s Romney Marsh farm after living in a small cabin a few fields away.
Photo: Richard Gadsby
They set out to renovate an existing 1950s brick house on the plot, but soon realised it would be easier to knock down and self build a new home, recreating the farm-style design with a modern twist. The beautiful new home is clad in two types of Siberian larch, and the stunning interior features a bright open plan kitchen-living-diner.
Photo: Richard Gadsby
The garage takes on a similar appearance, with a larch-clad exterior, seamed aluminium roof and a black up-and-over door. The self build project came in pretty much on budget, with the only overspend being on the garage because they hadn’t anticipated constructing it straight away.
Garage door opening styles – which is best for you?
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Border Oak designed this oak carport as part of a wider renovation project to a home in the heart of the Cotswolds. Situated within a strict conservation area, every design detail had to meet the local planning requirements.
As such, the roof is finished in authentic Cotswold stone tiles to ensure it blends seamlessly with its historic surroundings. The open bays provide easy access for vehicles and showcase the beautiful character of the handcrafted frame.
Des Ewing Architects created this beautiful refurbishment of a charming Victoria villa, restoring it to its original splendour while enhancing functionality and style.
A striking standalone stone garage – complete with two sets of double doors and a separate access door – adds valuable storage space and a versatile home office area that overlooks the tranquil rear garden.
In this self build by Weave Architects, the integrated garage is a seamless extension of the home’s architecture. Large, well-positioned doors ensure smooth and convenient vehicle access, while the generous interior offers space for storage, tools or even a workshop.
Adding an electric vehicle (EV) charging point is now a requirement when building a new home. Why not go the whole hog with this practical solar carport from Pure Energy – keeping your drive under cover while adding renewable power generation.
The modular design enables straightforward installation with a range of solar capacities and frame sizes.
CLOSER LOOK What is a car port?Car ports offer shelter for vehicles, but are open across at least one wall. While this may not offer the same security as an enclosed garage, it’s a great way to protect your car from the elements (and you, when you’re getting in and out) without the need to open and close garage doors – useful if you’re in a hurry. Car ports work well both attached to and detached from the main dwelling. The best result for you is going to be down to the style of the house, how much space you have and the way in which you intend to use the zone. There’s also some design versatility – for instance, architects have created wow-factor schemes, such as car ports positioned below a cantilevered section of the main property that appears to float out over it. Bear in mind that you won’t be able to store other items in these spaces in the same way as you would with a fully enclosed garage. So you’ll have to keep washing machines, freezers etc in the main house. |
Side-sliding garage doors open to the side instead of upwards – great for those looking to retain ceiling space for storage. This Rundum Meir Original sliding garage door is made from aluminum with a powder-coated finish, curving round at one side.
Urban Front supplied the doors for this renovation and extension project in Surrey. The grand home features a set of six bespoke European oak entrances, including contemporary internal doors, a bifold garage door and a sleek front door.
Manufactured from European oak, the four panels of this bifold garage door stack up at either side of the aperture – an ideal solution if the height of your garage is limited.
This new build home in Buckinghamshire has been upgraded with a contemporary timber garage door from Urban Front. The design features variegated wood panels, laid horizontally for a striking look.
The model is an up-and-over automated garage door in their Rondo design, made in Iroko wood to match the front entrance.
Westbury Windows & Joinery chose Accoya for this garage’s exterior woodwork, as its dimensional stability allows the entrance to benefit from a timeless look while minimising the risk of any swelling and shrinkage.
The open-out doors, which are part glazed, part panelled, have been coated in Teknos’ Moss Grey to seal in the wood’s strength.
These framed, ledged and braced softwood garage doors from Oak Designs are handmade in the UK and come with a clear Morells Omnia waterborne treatment to preserve the timber’s appeal.
The doors are available with monkey tail bolts and locally-sourced handmade T-Hinges for additional character.
A large, linear sectional garage door in Traffic White from Garador makes a neat addition to this home. Modern, secure and functional, the 42mm-thick sections have been sealed individually and treated with polyurethane (PU) insulating foam to keep the garage’s interior protected from cold and draughts. The Silkgrain surface texture provides a smart wood-like finish.
Garage doors don’t always have to blend in. These homeowners chose bright yellow SeceuroGlide Original rollers, supplied by Access Garage Doors. The colourful model is bold and sturdy, with insulated 77mm slats held together by a unique webbing that provides added security and keeps operation sounds to a minimum.
The charming Little Gloucester garage from Oakwrights features oak double ledged and braced garage doors with black metal detailing and handles.
Photo: Mark Watts
The double-height garage is part of Oakwrights’ Room above Garage range; a customisable green oak frame design with the option to include dormer windows, rooflights and your choice of roof covering for additional character.
As part of this Nordic-inspired self build – designed by Fiddes Architects – a large singular Hormann electronic roller garage door was installed and colour matched to the home’s fenestration to create a cohesive scheme. The high-quality, pre-finished aluminium door provides maximum protection against the harsh Scottish elements.
Photo: David Barbour
Installed by Freelance Entry Solutions, these insulated aluminium SeceuroGlide roller garage doors in black were specified to match the exterior joinery of this new build home in rural Hampshire.
Each door is electrically operated and can be opened or closed via a keyring or through a control panel inside the garage. The doors add a modern feel to the traditional garage, and will continue to complement the timber cladding exterior as it silvers over time.
For this project, the homeowners chose Deuren’s Tavole range, matching their front and garage doors for a cohesive look. The doors are crafted in oak with a unique design, featuring deep lines that are carved into the surface for a wow factor look.
The Tavole sectional garage door range makes a functional statement and is fully customisable to your specifications, available in a range of wood finishes that can be matched to any RAL colour.
In many locations, you may benefit from permitted development (PD) rights, whereby it’s possible to add an outbuilding without the need for formal approval. There are size, location and height restrictions, however, which you will need to work with.
Some places are subject to much greater planning restrictions – such as properties in designated national landscapes and conservation areas. Those within the curtilage of listed buildings may also require both planning and listed building consent, so it’s always best to check with your local authority.
It’s also a good idea to investigate any previous planning approvals on your property, which may have removed further PD rights. Any overarching covenants may also limit what can be built.
A beautiful, well designed and practical outbuilding can add considerable value. At the very least, it will appeal to buyers and make a sale more likely. It needs to complement the main house and be made from appropriate materials, but also well-proportioned and located – without overwhelming the house.
Adding an outbuilding with extra accommodation space (perhaps for a workshop, office, studio or extra bedroom) is likely to increase both value and saleability – especially if electrics and plumbing are integrated. Many of our outbuildings have rooms above or are designed to be adapted and often carry solar PV panels – it’s typically much easier and less expensive to add them to a new garage rather than fiddle around with the main house roof.
You can, but it would need to be designed into the project from an early stage. Green roofs tend to be flat or gently sloping, and will require appropriate construction detailing to hold the planting medium and manage water. There are also ready-to-go green roof kits that might be possible to integrate.
If you are choosing an oak or timber frame outbuilding with weatherboarded panels, a living wall will need a bit of thought to ensure the cladding remains dry, as well as to maintain the plants. However, many people plant climbing foliage which is a very successful way of softening a new structure.
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