One of the most basic tenants of home design and decor is to have all the hardware match, throughout rooms, and throughout the entire house if possible. This goes for the exterior of the home as well. The more windows and doors can be made to match, coordinate, and complement each other, the more curb appeal a structure has. Most everybody values coming home to a space that is pleasing and pleasant. Yet, structural items like garage doors can become dull over time. Renewing them with proper cleaning and a good garage door protectant will restore luster and beauty to the doors. But updating existing door hardware to match other exterior hardware is an easy and inexpensive way to add curb appeal without having to replace the entire door.

Many garage door service companies sell decorative hardware kits that are made to fit and compliment the doors that they sell and install. When shopping for replacement garage doors, check on the type, style, and color of the hardware that comes standard on the doors. Upgrading at the time of purchase makes upgrading the look of new doors simple. For existing vehicle entry doors, check with the original service provider or manufacturer if possible to see if they sell decorative hardware.

If the original garage door service or manufacturer cannot be ascertained, no longer exists, or simply does not have the sought after items, there are plenty of other services, shops, and internet stores that have many offerings. In fact, many online retailers offer selections of matching decorative hardware for many of the exterior fittings of a home, making it easy and relatively inexpensive to update the aesthetic look and feel of the entire exterior of a home.

Not only is it possible to replace operating handles and hinges on garage doors, many "dummy" items are also available to create an all-new look on an existing garage door. False hinges are perfect for creating a carriage house look, and the wide array of available finishes allows for creativity in the garage door remodel.

Most of the replacement operating parts as well as decorative dummy pieces are easily installed by the homeowner. Make sure the items come with matching screws, or purchase matching screws separately. For operational hardware, like locking handles, it is vital to read the instructions before starting. In general, these types of hardware changes and installation can be done without the need for a garage door service company, making updating garage door hardware an easy and affordable way to update the home.