What Color Should You Paint Your Garage? (+5 Best Colors)

Picking a garage color might seem straightforward at first, but once you dive into all the options, it gets tricky – you’ve got to consider your home’s style, what the neighbors might think, and how the paint will hold up after years of rain and snow.

Choose the right color, and you can really improve your home’s curb appeal and maybe even bump up its resale value!

In this article, I’ll walk you through the best garage colors (for walls, floors, doors, and cabinets) that have proven their worth over time and gotten tons of praise from both homeowners and designers.

Why Garage Color Matters

Here’s something interesting – your garage color actually affects your home’s value. When I was selling my first house, my realtor let me in on a little secret: the right garage paint color can boost your property value by 1-4%. Not bad for a simple paint job, right?

The temperature factor is a big deal, especially in the South, where you really need to think about how much heat different paint colors absorb.

Dark colors can turn your garage into a sauna in the summer months – I found that out the hard way! Light colors do double duty – they reflect heat and make your garage feel more spacious, which is helpful if you work with a smaller space.

Lighting and usability go hand in hand with color choice. Light-colored walls mean you can get away with less powerful lighting, which helps reduce your electric bill. Better lighting also makes it easier to spot those pesky oil leaks before they become a problem.

Paint durability is crucial – your garage paint takes a much bigger beating than interior paint does. Between temperature swings, humidity, and car exhaust, it must be tough to last.

And don’t forget about matching your home’s exterior. Take it from me – a garage that clashes with your house can throw off even the most gorgeous landscaping.

What Color Should You Paint Your Garage Walls?

When choosing a garage wall color, consider three key things: how you’ll use the space, the amount of natural light, and how much cleaning you’re willing to do.

If you’re using your garage as a workshop, go with a medium gray like Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray or Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray. These shades won’t create annoying glare while you’re working with tools, and they’re great at hiding dust from your projects.

Planning to use it mainly for storage? Warm beige colors like Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige or Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan work great. They help hide scuff marks from boxes and make the space more welcoming.

Light colors can make the space feel bigger for dark garages with limited windows. Consider options like Sherwin-Williams Pure White or Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.

Just keep in mind that white walls show every speck of dirt. If you go this route, a semi-gloss finish is your friend – it’s easier to wipe down and doesn’t attract as much dust.

Key things to remember:

• If you’re planning to clean the walls regularly, look for paint with antibacterial properties
• For humid areas, make sure to get mold-resistant paint
• Don’t try to save money on primer – it’s essential for a long-lasting paint job
• Consider your garage’s temperature swings – extreme changes can make paint crack over time

Whatever color you pick, make sure you’re using paint that can handle oils and solvents. Double-check the VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels – this is crucial in spaces with poor ventilation. If durability is your top priority, you might want to look into epoxy coating.

What’s the Best Color for Garage Doors?

Here’s something people often overlook – your garage door color! Considering it can take up a third of your home’s front view, it’s worth getting right. Let me share some tips to help you avoid common mistakes.

First, look at your home’s overall color scheme. If you’ve got beige siding and a brown roof, you’re working with warm colors. Gray stone and black roofing? That’s a cool color palette.

Understanding this will help you narrow down your options.

There are three ways to approach this. You can go monochromatic – using the same color as your house but slightly darker or lighter.

Or you could create contrast – think graphite doors on a white house. The third option is picking a neutral color that ties together the warm and cool tones of your facade.

Looking at specific combinations: black doors look sharp on a gray house, while dark brown doors complement beige siding beautifully.

Got a brick house? Try aged bronze – it really brings out the brick texture and creates a smooth visual transition.

Lastly, avoid matching your front door color exactly, and steer clear of colors that clash too strongly with your house.

Still not sure? Here’s a fail-safe approach: go one shade darker than your facade. This adds depth without making your garage door the star of the show.

How to Choose Garage Cabinet Colors?

A lot comes down to the colors you already have in your garage – check back to the wall paint section if you need a refresher.

Your cabinets should either blend with the wall color (like gray cabinets with light gray walls) or create an intentional contrast.

Think about lighting – if your garage is on the darker side, go with lighter shades. If you’ve got bright LED lighting, you can play with bolder colors.

For practical reasons, consider making lower cabinets darker than upper ones – they’ll hide those inevitable scuff marks. Metallic gray is a smart choice since it masks minor dings and scratches. In a smaller garage, white cabinets can make the space feel bigger.

How to Choose Garage Floor Colors?

After experimenting with different coatings in my garage, I can tell you this – epoxy with flakes is absolutely the best way to go! It’s fantastic at hiding dirt, which has been a lifesaver for me…

I made the mistake of going with a dark floor at first – it looked fantastic, but what a headache! Every bit of dust and every footprint showed up. Switching to gray made life so much easier. Beige is another great practical option.

About that glossy finish – sure, it looks stunning, but watch out when it’s wet! You’ll want anti-slip additives unless you fancy turning your garage into an ice skating rink. And if your garage gets lots of sun, go with polyurethane instead of epoxy – it’ll hold up better against fading.

Metallic epoxy floors look incredible, but think twice before committing – they’re trickier to install and will cost you more than standard coatings.

When picking a color, keep the overall room design in mind, but don’t stress about matching the floor perfectly to your walls or cabinets – just aim for a cohesive look. Light-colored floors are more forgiving when you drop tools – just something to consider.

5 Best Garage Color Schemes

1. Modern Minimalist Garage

The key to a modern garage is finding that sweet spot between practical and stylish. Looking at the garage above, you can see how those neutral grays create a calm backdrop that works beautifully with the white furniture.

The gray walls add depth to the space and are great at hiding wear and tear – perfect for a working area.

Paint suggestion: Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray (walls), Benjamin Moore Super White (cabinets).

2. Coastal Fun Garage

That yellow stripe along the walls adds such a great pop of energy! This garage totally captures that summer vibe – from the surfboard on display to all those bright touches.

The light gray cabinets work perfectly here – they stay in the background, letting all beachy elements shine. And that blue floor? It’s like bringing a piece of the ocean inside!

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan (cabinets), Sherwin Williams Decisive Yellow (accent stripe), Benjamin Moore Ocean Floor (floor).

3. Classic Black & White

You really can’t go wrong with a checkerboard floor in a garage. Not only does it look fantastic, but it’s also brilliant at hiding spots and dirt.

The black and white combo makes it super easy to mix and match different materials and textures, plus it’s perfect for showing off sports gear or collectibles.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Carbon Copy (tiles), Sherwin Williams Extra White (tiles).

4. Sport-Inspired Red

Going red in your garage is definitely a statement – it brings tons of energy and really plays up that sporty feel. The bright red cabinets become the star of the show and look great against gray walls and sports equipment.

Paint suggestion: Sherwin Williams Stop (cabinets), Benjamin Moore Gray Owl (walls).

5. Neutral Elegance

A beige-gray color scheme creates a really sophisticated yet practical space. It’s especially great for garages that connect to your living area since it helps everything flow together. The textured flooring isn’t just for looks – it adds some extra grip too.

Paint suggestion: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (walls), Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray (cabinets).