May 17, 2022

As new homes keep getting larger and larger, so too has the trend toward designing new garages to accommodate more (and bigger) vehicles and a host of storage needs. Garage design has started receiving more attention than it used to.

A typical garage is not an expensive piece of construction, but too often the drive to keep costs to a minimum results in a finished product that detracts from the visual appeal of the house, not to mention the experience of living in it. If you are planning a new garage, here are some ideas that may help you create something truly special and “outside the box.”

Attached vs. Detached

It's been a long time since we saw a newer housing development that didn't have garages attached to all of the houses. Attached garages offer a lot of convenience, especially in cold, wet weather, but they also severely limit the design options for the house and garage. If you are planning to build a garage, take some time to consider the benefits of separating the garage from the house.

A Better Entry

In new home construction in recent years, the standard house plan has a big garage facing the street, attached to the side of the house, with entry to the house requiring a tour of the laundry or utility room, often passing a small bathroom on the way. That nice entry out front gets very little day-to-day use.For a variety of reasons, this layout saves money. But is cutting costs in the primary entrance really a smart choice to make? A nicely designed mudroom, with good storage and a place to sit is certainly more welcoming and useful.

Getting Bigger All the Time

In 1971, 18 percent of new homes in the United States had a one-car garage; 39 percent of them had garages big enough for two or more cars. By 2007, those numbers had been stood on their heads: 63 percent of new homes had two-car garages, 19 percent had garages for three or more cars, and only 7 percent had a one-car garage.The two-car garage has become the minimal standard, and it needs to be large enough for SUVs, minivans, and large pickups. Three- and four-car garages are increasingly popular in high-end developments, and many real estate agents will tell you that they can be a positive selling point.

Better Orientation

Rather than having your garage face the street, try to adjust the footprint so that the garage entrance is angled away from the street. A 90-degree offset from the house is ideal, but even 45 degrees can significantly reduce the impact the garage entrance has on the street view of the house.

Original Post: Designing a New Garage