Curb appeal and door color for cavernous entry on 1960 ranch

I'm looking to update the door color and post on my front porch. Right now the door is a rusty red. Because of the porch layout, the door gets lost in the shadows. The brick is orange and all the trim is white. I'm not planning on repainting the trim right now. What would you do with the door color and what style of post would complement the house? Would shutters add curb appeal?
  12 answers
  • Lagree Wyndham Lagree Wyndham on Apr 21, 2015
    Its the Brady bunch house, just kidding, you need a bright stand out color for door, yellow comes to mind or a bright green, shutters would definitely help. The column replace with wood or a half column, faux stone on bottom and wood column on top finished look or rustic. I know you did not ask but I would also take out the existing plantings, they are over grown, off balance and not doing anything to enhance your curb appeal. Truthfully when you go to paint i would consider painting the brick also so you will be able to use color to help your house pop. One more thing the different size windows to left of house need to be distracted from, this can be done with plantings and or adding a trellis to the wall space in between. Sorry more than you asked for but i love a blank slate and i watch to much HGTV. :)
  • MaryStLouis MaryStLouis on Apr 21, 2015
    I noticed that the windows to the left of the porch are fairly high on the wall. Adding a plant shelf or a window box to the bottom ledge of each window would visually lower them and bring in some pretty color. Your porch column could be boxed in, but it would look better if it could be moved to the right side (facing) of the picture window. A thick cedar post or a white, square post would look great on your ranch home. To bring light into your front door area, you could install a small skylight in that corner. In the meantime, with the clay colors you have in the brick, a rich blue door would look nice.
  • Ellen H Ellen H on Apr 21, 2015
    I would replace the one column that bisects the window with two square columns - one on either side of the window. Those could be painted white if you want to keep everything simple. I think shutters would be complicated with the two windows on the left front. I think you could paint the front door any color you like - a good paint store could probably give you some good suggestions. The brick wall next to the front door begs for something to look at as you walk down the sidewalk toward the front door - a wall fountain would be nice if there is an electrical outlet for the pump on that wall. Some new landscaping would go a long way toward curb appeal too - doesn't have to be complicated, just well-placed.
  • Barbara Thomas Barbara Thomas on Apr 22, 2015
    I had a house exactly like this years ago and we painted the trim and garage doors a gold yellow picked up from the brick color. Shutters will add to curb appeal in either black to match the roof or same as the trim color. Same with the door. I sort of like the black option to match the roof. Mine was brown, so we opted brown shutters. The column should be 2 substantial columns on either side of your window to frame the look and show off the window. You could concrete the rest of the dirt area under the window for a nice patio. Just some ideas.......good luck!
  • Jaclinericher Jaclinericher on Apr 22, 2015
    je mettrais la porte jaune soleil et le placerais des fleurs jaunes et blanches dans l'espace sous la fenรชtre.
  • Leslie Leslie on Apr 22, 2015
    If the wrought iron support is not load bearing I would remove it. It cuts your front window in half visually.If you need support structurally, then build wood box columns on each side of porch area. Fill in the empty planting area under the front window with cement, which will create a full covered front porch. Paint your door in a lighter tone so it will stand out, as that area is very shaded and dark. I would start new with landscaping on front end of house where the two windows are. In the blank area between windows I would plant taller plants to create interest, so it isn't so bare. Good luck with your adventure!
  • Lee Cunningham Green Lee Cunningham Green on Apr 22, 2015
    A great deal can be done with flowering plants and some comfortable seating. Comfort is after-all what creates curb appeal.
  • M M on Apr 22, 2015
    Shutters do not belong on a 1960 ranch. Have you considered painting the trim around the windows a darker color? Also some landscaping would help fill the expanse of brick.
  • Liz Lamberth Liz Lamberth on May 17, 2015
    We had a house similar to yours and added railing across the front. We also had shutters.
  • Nancy Nancy on May 17, 2015
    I think shutters on all the windows would look very nice, painted black. I believe it's modern masters paint, they have an app you can download take a picture of your front door and you can experiment with door colors to see what you like the best.
  • Sue Ryan Sue Ryan on Aug 16, 2016
    If it was my house I would do the following.
  • Sue Ryan Sue Ryan on Aug 16, 2016
    Just noticed your second picture. Instead of adding plants to the area underneath the roof. (nothing will grow well there anyways) I would add patio stones and have a nice sitting area.