Garage door conversion ideas: the best doors to make your garage feel like a room

You’ve decided to convert your garage into a functional new room. It’s a fantastic way to utilise your garage space more effectively with so many benefits.

You’ll get an extra living space, plus the potential to add value to your home.

But, have you thought about your garage door? It’s a key element of your garage conversion project and will transform your garage entrance, from car access to personal access.

How you enter your garage conversion room is the first consideration. And, what your garage door looks like in terms of style and design needs to be factored in too.

There’s more to garage doors than meets the eye! Garage door conversion ideas are certainly not an open-and-shut case.

Before you start your garage conversion or modification, consult a local builder or architect who has experience in this field. There are so many different factors to think about.

Read on for garage door conversion ideas for every sort of project.

Garage door conversion ideas

Whether you’re converting your garage into a workshop, a bedroom or a living zone, you’ll need the right type of door.

In fact, replacing your existing garage doors with a design that suits your new conversion can have huge impact, both in terms of function and style.

For example, floor-to-ceiling sliding doors might not be the best idea for a garage bedroom. Family and friends would appreciate a little more privacy.

Likewise, a standard metal roller door won’t cut the mustard in a home office where you want peace and quiet.

Look for doors that are thermally efficient to keep your room warm when it’s cold outside. And invest in quality lock and frame security features for extra peace of mind.

Let us help you find the perfect door style for your new garage conversion. Say a warm welcome to extra space and a stylish finishing touch.

Side-hinged garage doors

Side-hinged doors are a popular choice for garage conversions: robust, easy to access and available in a range of different materials.

Rather than having to lift the entire garage door up, side-hinged doors open outwards. This makes it quick and easy to access the room inside.

Installing two side-hinged garage doors will create a larger entrance. It’s a good style of door for any sort of garage conversion, especially workshops and home offices.

Here are the main benefits:

Easy access: A simple way to enter and exit a garage conversion, just like a standard front door.

Insulation: Look for insulated side-hinged garage doors for extra warmth and a consistent temperature.

Security: Fit with a secure lock to offer extra peace of mind and added protection for tools and equipment.

Design options: Available in a range of materials and finishes to suit your garage conversion room and your main house. Look out for doors with small windows at the top for extra light inside.

Double up: Why not double up with two sets of side-hinged French doors on different walls of your garage conversion. A great way to let natural light pour in.

Sliding garage doors

Sliding doors make a super stylish entrance to your garage conversion. They are one of the best ways to bring the outside in, so spot on for a kitchen diner, living room or gym space.

The door frames sit on runners and glide over each other – you can open them as far as you need. Trust us, sliding garage doors will totally transform your garage design into a gorgeous room that you’ll want to spend time in.

Let’s find out more:

Space saving: Sliding doors are a space-saving solution and won’t intrude into valuable room inside or out.

Good ventilation: Doors can slide open as widely or as little as you wish. This allows you to adjust your ventilation needs according to the weather and the seasons.

Easy to open: Sliding doors are really simple to open and close and can be fitted with secure locking systems.

Bi-folding garage doors

Bi-fold doors are commonly seen in open-plan kitchen diners. They often take up one wall of a room and fold back on themselves in a neat concertina fashion.

The result is a full and unhindered access to the garden outside

Bi-folding doors work really well in garage conversions too, especially living and kitchen spaces.

Here are some of the benefits.

Fully opening: Bi-folding garage doors swing back out of the way offering full opening capacity. Perfect for appreciating the view outside.

Unbroken access: Expand your garage conversion with full opening, bi-folding doors that lead out to your garden – a great way to maximise your space.

Seamless: With no protruding ground-level frames, bi-folding door offer a seamless exit to your outside space. Enhance the uninterrupted mood with the same floor inside and out.

Other types of garage doors

Sectional garage doors

Made up of several panels that rise vertically when garage door is opened, sectional doors slide along rails and sits along the ceiling of the garage when fully opened.

Roller garage doors

These space-saving doors are made up of individual, horizontal slats that roll up around a barrel when opened. Good for garages with low ceilings and perfect for workshops that need full access.

Electric Garage Doors

More expensive and complex to install but can be much safer than a manual door. Offers simple access with a remote control so you don’t have to manually pull the door.

Garage conversion ideas

Check out our carousel of popular garage conversion ideas to transform a simple storage space into a brand new room.

Bedroom

Living space

Home office

Home gym

Workshop

FAQs

What sort of access point do I want?

If you’ve got an attached or linked garage conversion, you will probably have an internal door that joins your new garage to the main house.

You need to decide if you want to keep this or treat your garage as a completely separate room.

If you have the available space, installing a wall of bi-fold or sliding glass doors will add masses of natural light. This type of access will join seamlessly to your outdoor space and create a more open and airy mood.

What style of door should I choose?

This largely depends on the period and style of your property – and what you are using your garage conversion for.

Glass doors are unavoidably contemporary and clean-lined. Timber doors offer a more rustic mood if the wood is left bare or painted in a heritage colour.

If you are building a new garage, decide if you want to mirror the aesthetic of your house or go for a contrast. An architect or builder can help with these sorts of decisions.

How much do garage doors cost?

If your current garage door is damaged or you want to change it to fit in with a new garage conversion, look at our replacement cost guide.

The price will very much depend on garage door material, size and style but as a guide, wooden garage doors are the most expensive.