skip to main content

Exterior Smaller Homes Paint

need door and shutter color ideas for small ranch

5 years ago

Hi! I just moved into this ranch in upstate NY. I hate the dark red trim, shutters and door. I need ideas for good door colors. I have been considering a grass green but am open to other ideas. I tend to gravitate more towards cooler and lighter/brighter colors.

The door needs to be a color—would white shutters be too bland?

Featured Answer

Denita

5 years ago

Yes. I would get rid of that maroon color

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

Denita
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Where in the world are you going to put the shutters?

There is no room for them from what I can see. Plus your windows aren't designed for shutters.

Here is a brief article to show you why: https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

Where is the red trim? I don't see it on this house other than those two inappropriate semi circles and those need to go.
jessicalacey
Original Author
5 years ago
Sorry—the shutters are on the sides and in the back. I can share a photo of those as well.

I hate the semi circles as well.

So, colors?
Related Discussions
Brick ranch door and shutters. Help!
Q
Comments (5)
I agree with your decorator - dark tan. And I'd also suggest working on the landscaping. The dense shrubs around the house, while attractive in and of themselves, aren't needed there and tend to obscure and distort the attractive and classic ranch lines. I'd get a landscaping plan that clears those shrubs away (you could transplant them elsewhere) and allows the full house to shine, unobscured by heavy plantings.
...See More
Need ideas for stone/siding/front door and landscaping on 1978 ranch
Q
Comments (3)
For landscaping, you'll need to supply more pictures. Starting at just left of the mailbox, with camera in hand, walk straight toward the house until you're even with the flower pot in the circle island. (The bank of 5 windows will be straight ahead.) Take 3 SLIGHTLY OVERLAPPING pictures from that location, panning from left to right. (In addition to the home itself, need to see the far left and far right surroundings of your house from that viewpoint.) Similar to this:
...See More
Door and Shutters Colors on Raised Ranch
Q
Comments (23)
We have decided to go with grey (with a hint of blue) shutters and a bight red door. We took everything down, power washed it, primed, put on several coats of paint and put it all back up. We like the result. Really weren't fans of burgundy and think it looks a lot better now. We also did see the house without shutters in the process and it really doesn't look right without them. Thank you all for your input!
...See More
Need color ideas for front door, porch, steps, shutters;landscape idea
Q
Comments (9)
I pulled up this photo. The brick is a little darker but similar to yours, I thought. I like the idea of a green for your shutters and I wondered about painting both door and trim a dark color, maybe a dark purplish almost black. I think the column could be pulled from your chart, a warmer tone than your current white - maybe Swiss Coffee. Think about whether you'd like that same color for your railing and maybe a dark brown from your brick for the treads and risers. Here's a screenshot of some greens that might work. This link will let you identify all the colors shown, if you want. I love your brick. https://benjaminmoorefrance.com/en/colors/1560
...See More
jessicalacey
Original Author
5 years ago
Here’s a photo of the door closer up and without the screen. I’d really love any suggestions for colors, keeping in mind that I do have shutters on the sides and back as well.
Denita
5 years ago
Your front door color is supposed to be the accent color - different from your trim color and your shutter color.

Can you remove those semi-circles or paint them the same color as the siding so they blend?

I like your idea of a grass green front door including the sidelight.

I would stay away from the very dark colors like black, brown or even the dark red you have now as it creates a dark hole look for your front entry which isn't inviting.

Let me see what I can find that would work.
jessicalacey
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes, my plan is to paint the silly semi circle things to blend in with the house. There is an older photo of this house where they were either painted white or a lighter color and it looked MUCH better.

Understood that shutters need to be a different color. Good point about how a dark door will make the entry recede even more which I don’t want to do. Thank you for the help
Denita
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
How about a soft coral front door with white trim like the insp pic below?

You would need to change your shutter colors to black
Denita
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
How about a blue/green color similar to the one below?
My Houzz: Home Full of Boys Achieves Order and Inspiration · More Info

Charles Garden · More Info
Consider planting colorful flowers and pull a color from the flowers. It really helps warm up your entry. This red is much brighter than the dark one on your home. It brings a whole different feel to your front door with the brighter, cleaner colors IMO.
jessicalacey
Original Author
5 years ago
I love them all. I think I might like the blue/green the most. What color flowers would you use to compliment that color? Yellow? I haven’t had a yard for ten years so I need to get reacquainted with gardening!
Denita
5 years ago
I don't know your planting zone, but if you post in the landscape sub-forum here there are others there that are experts in landscape design and know what works in your plant hardiness zone. This is a fun project - it will look like a different home!
Denita
5 years ago
If you have plants with purple, yellow, green for your garden right out front I think it would enhance that blue/green door nicely :)
jessicalacey
Original Author
5 years ago
Great tips. Thanks!!!

What about shutters if I do the blue green door? Still black?

Related Stories

LIVING ROOMS Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Take the guesswork — and backbreaking experimenting — out of furniture arranging with these living room layout concepts

DOORS Pocket Door Ideas You’re Going to Love

By Victoria Harrison

Thinking about a space-saving sliding door for your home? Take a look at these 10 efficient examples

SMALL HOMES 16 Smart Ideas for Small Homes From People Who’ve Been There

By Mitchell Parker

Got less than 1,000 square feet to work with? These design-savvy homeowners have ideas for you

SMALL SPACES Small-Space Ideas Unfold in Origami-Like Cube Loft

By Annie Thornton

A redesigned studio in the Charles Moore–Arthur Andersson architectural compound in Austin, Texas, makes the most of its snug size

LIVING ROOMS Storage Ideas for Small Living Rooms

By Victoria Harrison

You may have more space in your living room than you think. See 11 often-overlooked places for storage, seating and more

KITCHEN DESIGN Stock Up on These Stylish Pantry Door Ideas

By Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

With this assortment of door options, a gorgeous pantry exterior is in the bag

ARCHITECTURE Ranch House Love: Inspiration From 13 Ranch Renovations

By Becky Harris

Kick-start a ranch remodel with tips based on lovingly renovated homes done up in all kinds of styles

BEDROOMS Small Living 101: Get Maximum Style in a Small Bedroom

A snug bedroom doesn’t have to look utilitarian to function well. Find out how to make a compact space work beautifully

REMODELING GUIDES Outfit a Ranch Remodel in Updated Style, Top to Bottom

By Laura Gaskill

Get ideas for lighting, tiles, accessories, window coverings and so much more, to make your ranch renovation easier

KITCHEN DESIGN Beef Up Your Ranch Kitchen

Work with your ranch kitchen's smaller size to make the most of every precious square inch

Sponsored

More Discussions

Best way to fix this ceiling

17

Looking for ideas on an exterior color pallet

8

Struggling with Paint Decisions

16

can you spray paint a shiny brass lamp?

2

Help soften stark white stucco exterior without complete repaint

3