News: Top 5 Design Trends for Solid Oak Garages in 2024

11/12/2024

At Oak Timber Structures, our solid oak garages have always boasted timeless appeal. That's to be expected! But we’re seeing growing trends in the world of oak garages. Trends that don't seem to be going out of fashion anytime soon. Here are the top design trends shaping the future of solid oak garages.

1. Open Oak Carports & Garages

Minimalism is a popular trend for both home and gardens, and oak garages are no exception. Simple open designs will be a favoured choice for years to come.

Key Features of Open Oak Carports:

• Oak Frames and Open Spaces: Utilizing a similar design to gazebos. The minimalist approach draws eyes to oak beams and gives the garage a light, airy feel.
• No Doors: A carport-style garage has no doors. This is often suitable if you already have adequate security such as at another entry point. At the same time, there’s an ease to parking cars while the roof offers protection.
• Integrated Landscaping: Many open garages incorporate greenery. Considering carport-style garages have no walls, this is becoming a common choice. You can assemble the garage next to trees such as conifers. This natural look blends the garage into the surrounding landscape.

Why Oak Carport Garages Are Trending:

Minimalist looks never go out of fashion. You still get protection from the elements while still having a garage with sleek aesthetics.

2. Hybrid Garage & Workspace Designs

The rise of remote work and DIY culture means garages are more than places to store cars. Hybrid designs mean you can combine vehicle storage with practical spaces. Whether that be home offices, DIY workspaces or studios, multifunctional designs are gaining popularity.

Key Features of Hybrid Garages:

• Two or More Bays: We can build a garage with as many bays as you’d like, and partition them to create two dedicated spaces. This allows one side for the car and the other for a workshop, gym, or any other use. So, a garage is no longer a single-purpose space. Moreover, it becomes a versatile and integral part of your home.
• Second-Story Additions: With a gable-roofed garage, you can have a second floor. The upstairs of the garage offers space for whatever you want. Many homeowners are now adding an upstairs to oak garages making the most of vertical space. From storage to even a dedicated living space, what would you do with the extra room?

Why Hybrid Garages Are Trending:

The need for a flexible workspace is ever-growing. As such, garages becoming multi-purpose, not only offer's much-needed space away from the main house, but it can also add significant value to the property.

3. Modern Rustic Garages

The 'Modern Rustic' trend is a style found in the most magnificent hotels and homes alike. Niko Rasides is a design director at Nicholas Anthony. He states the way to achieve a ‘Modern Rustic’ look is through materials. Here’s a quote from an interview with ‘Homes and Gardens’... "One of the key elements of modern rustic decors is the use of natural materials."

Key Features of Modern Rustic Garages:

• Materials: As mentioned above, materials are key. It just so happens that we know one of the best natural materials. That's right, oak! With durability, water resistance and mighty looks, it’s a top outdoor wood. You can read about why oak is the best outdoor timber here.
• Dark-Stained / Painted: In the picture above, you can see painted black cladding. The contrast of timber cladding with the modern black paint creates a striking aesthetic.
• Other Considerations: Ironmongery on garage doors and modern lighting are a few examples of how to contrast the natural charm of oak to create a modern rustic look. With contemporary lighting, you can create a juxtaposition to the rustic oak finish.

Why Modern Rustic Is Trending:

Modern rustic garages strike the perfect balance. You have both old-world charm and contemporary style. Such a design is appealing to homeowners who want the best of both worlds. Something that's particularly trendy and will always appeal.

4. Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Construction

Sustainability is a major issue these days. It’s a trend that’s here to stay, and we at Oak Timber Structures have been ahead of the curve. We have implemented responsible practices since the start. So, when considering a garage, we can make sure it reduces your environmental impact without sacrificing style.

Key Features of a Sustainable Oak Garage:

• Sustainable Sourcing: All our oak comes from well managed forests. This means we only use forests that regenerate after harvesting the oak, ensuring the conservation of forest ecosystems. We take great care in sourcing our oak!
• Carbon Footprint: We also only use European forests which means our carbon footprint is low. In contrast, bricks have a significant carbon footprint, embodying 0.317 to 0.371 kg of CO2 per brick.
• Other Considerations: With our bespoke service, we can make sure the roof accommodates solar panels. Our garage log stores can also be used for added coverage to EV Charging Points. Just a few ways we can help.

Why Sustainable Oak Garages Are Trending:

For starters, environmental awareness has grown. As people wake up to the need to protect the earth, research is taking place. Turns out that brick production requires different fuels. There’s no such heavy production with oak.

You know what else has grown… Energy costs! Surprising for many but oak is a better insulator than brick.

So oak garages are better for the environment. They also reduce energy costs through inherent insulation. Throw in the gorgeous natural looks. It's no wonder timber garages are growing in fashion. You can read more about how Oak Timber Structures products are an eco-choice here.

5. Bespoke Oak Garages With Customised Solutions

Bespoke means made to suit an individual customer. This concept isn’t new in construction. With oak structures though, we’ve helped pave the way for homeowners. Through sheer craftsmanship, we can create any oak garage you want. It’s simple, you get a structure catered to your every need. Something of huge appeal nowadays.

Key Features of Bespoke Oak Garages:

• Sizes: Of course, size is all-important. With our bespoke service, you can design the garage to whatever size you want. Such precision allows your garage to fit neatly into spaces tailored to your home.
• Your Vision Without Limits: We create everything from scratch and bespoke. This means that whatever you can dream up, we have the skillset to execute the design. So, a key feature of bespoke is you can conceive any garage you want. Different shapes, roof types, and anything else you can imagine.

Why Bespoke Oak Garages Are Trending:

It’s hard to find exactly what you want. Every home and every taste is different. With our bespoke service, you have the freedom to create a garage to meet your unique wishes. Whether storage needs or hobby rooms, having a garage that offers custom storage or function is a growing need.

Conclusion

Oak garages were once traditional structures, but there’s no doubt we’ve helped evolve them to meet modern demands. 2024's garage trends offer something for everyone:

• Open Carports
• Hybrid Garages
• Modern Rustic Looks
• Eco-Friendly Builds
• Bespoke Design

What's more, these trends won't go out of fashion! With custom options and sustainable materials, oak garages will be a standout feature for any home in 2024 and beyond. For inspiration, go to our Oak Garage page and play with the Online Designer to see what you can create!