Detached Garage Styles

Garage Sizes

• The style of a detached garage starts by determining how large the garage should be. In general, the garage should be smaller than the house or the house will begin to look awkward. If you want a much larger garage you may want to design the garage to look like smaller buildings positioned together. This can disguise a too-large garage. When you are considering the style of the garage first evaluate the existing home and any outbuildings on the property.

Architectural Style

• If your home has a strong architectural style, you should use the same style for your garage design. This doesn't mean your garage should look like a miniature of the house. In fact, it will look better if it doesn't replicate the house. To stay in the same style the garage should have the same basic form, such as a rectangle, the exterior finishes should include elements used on the main house, such as brick or siding. The roof should have the same pitch and shingle style. You can add elements in keeping with the original style that may not exist on the main house. These might include dormers, a balcony, an arched window, a front-facing gable or other trims. These differences add to the visual interest of the property. The garage should be a strong secondary feature that invites the interest of visitors.

Types of Garages

• Not all garages are the same. Each homeowner has a different use planned for their garage. Some are purely car storage. Others want home storage and a workshop. You may want a car lift or garage doors on the front and back wall. The garage you design should be well planned with an expandable future to allow for future owners to use the space differently. This means it is usually a good idea to insulate the garage, have a separate junction box for adequate electricity to the building, have water piped to the building for a wash basin or laundry area and provide for possible heating of the space. Try to imagine the garage as a flexible space that can be modified easily for different purposes. Use the features you want to help shape the outside of the garage to inform its finished style. A garage that has a smaller workshop section built to one side will look more visually interesting than a simple box-shaped garage.

Outbuilding Garages

• If your detached garage is located on substantial rural property you may want to use an outbuilding style for the garage. This is a style not focused directly on the house but on the period of the house and the style of the property. If the property has horses a small barn-style structure in keeping with the theme could be visually appealing. While the exterior of the garage may reflect an outbuilding aesthetic, it should still be constructed with future-use flexibility and upgraded features. Curb appeal is determined largely by how the garage sells the story of the property when you first see it. In a similar way, if a portion of the detached garage is going to be used as a pool-side cabana, consider how the garage will match up visually with both the home, the entertainment area and the overall property. Try out several garage styles using sketches to see which approach will work best for your new garage.