"With the garage increasingly becoming the point of entry, more than ever homeowners are investing in garage doors," says John Monfore, marketing manager for JELD-WEN garage doors. "Simply updating the garage door can give a house a completely fresh, new appearance."

The style of a garage door should reflect not only the homeowner’s personal style, but also help maintain the architectural integrity of the house. Carriage house-style doors are overwhelmingly popular with homeowners, replicating the traditional, swinging barn door styles. Yet they open overhead like any other modern garage door. Old-world-style doors are also popular, replicating a Mediterranean look. This style offers plenty of hardware options as well as a traditional vertical grooved look, which works well with stucco homes.

While style is important for curb appeal, a garage is still a garage, and the door needs to be functional. Typical materials for garage doors include wood, steel and now composite, and the benefits and characteristics of each type as well as the costs vary widely.

Solid wood doors are less common today as they are traditionally expensive, extremely heavy and require a higher level of maintenance. Steel garage doors offer low maintenance and affordability, yet are susceptible to dents. Newer on the market are garage doors made from modern, lighter-weight and highly durable composite material. Their advantages include high-quality style and appearance, a moderate price and reliability.

The makeover trend doesn’t stop at the garage door. U.S. homeowners are increasingly remodeling the inside of their garages to the tune of $2.5 billion in 2005, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Garages are becoming multi-purpose serving as bonus rooms or storage spaces.

For homeowners and builders, here are a few basic tips for making over garages:

1. Coordinate styles. Architects are emphasizing design strategies to improve visual appeal. Manufacturers have responded to the garage door makeover trend by offering a variety of styles. Carriage House and Old World are a good match for Craftsman as well as Mediterranean-style homes.

2. Bring in the light. Homeowners can choose from arched, rectangular or square window inserts for their garage doors–a popular feature that provides detailed design accents and natural light. The window inserts are key for homeowners wanting to use their garages as living spaces such as a workshop, utility room or children’s play area. They can bring natural light into the room, but they are still mainly used as a design element.

3. Clear your clutter. Families are spending significant dollars to renovate their garage space for multi-purpose uses including hobby and storage areas. Consider buying a garage storage system to create additional space.

4. Choose materials wisely. Wood has taken a backseat to other materials including steel and composites. Whereas wood doors require maintenance and can be cost-prohibitive, newer composite materials on the market are made from modern, lighter-weight and durable materials. Wood composite garage doors can be energy efficient and perform very well even in extreme temperatures.

5. Create multi-functional spaces. Consider renovating your garage space to include a workout room or a recreation and play area. The key is making the garage a place not only attractive for cars, but also for people. Fresh paint, clutter-free zones and a bright environment can help garages go gorgeous.