I don't think there's a hard and fast rule that can be applied here - show a picture of a specific house (but you'll still get differing opinions!) I agree with much of what Fori said and think another factor to consider is visual weight. Even if the shutters are not sized to serve a true function, as long as they are not the obvious thin, lightweight plastic that looks flimsy and bowed, they likely add some needed weight and shadow lines. What is the exterior siding material on most of these ranches where you live? Are they brick? Clapboard? Board/batten? Stucco? That makes a difference too.

I've noticed that same "rule" (remove if they don't appear functional) but not much character is left of the boxy mc-ranch that isn't MCM if you take them away. I wish there were more examples of stylish/sensitive exterior updates of these homes.

Typical siding: painted shakes with brick, board and batten (I like b&b), wide clapboard, and then a variety of brick or stone veneer... some leaning more traditional (the mc but not mcm styles) and some with more modern types of brick/stone. Often stucco on the back sides of the house; later homes (cheap 70s/80s) have T1-11 with lava rock veneer in the front.

It seems like if the exterior already has a modern vibe, taking down the shutters enhances it. But if the house veers traditional then it looks like something is missing when shutters are removed. But in both cases they would be purely decoration not function.

I ask this question because we bought a 60s ranch that doesn't have a modern exterior (which bums me out a little bit) and I guess we should keep the shutters but I'd like to still update it in fresh colors or something that would not be as traditional. I don't care for traditional, but the house has been updated in traditional style over the years so that feel won't be easy to overcome. So I'm thinking tone-on-tone with the house/trim/shutters and paint the vintage door something fun and dress it up with a brass kickplate.

Do you have cutesy shutters? C'mon...where are the photos?

Yeah, the shutters don't usually work on the modern styles but sometimes ranches can go either way. We're talking space age, after all. You can have everything! :P

(Did your previous home have a really nice low-water corner front yard garden? Was that you?)

yes our current home has a corner front yard low water garden but I'm not sure if it's "really nice" LOL. I like it and will miss it. The new place is also a corner and maybe one day we will turn the yard into low water, for now the boys and working takes up a lot of time so the fact that the yard would only need maintenance was appealing!

i don't have any good pics of the exterior just the listing photos. i don't think these count as cutsey shutters but they appear to be original and I don't think they detract... the shrubs pruned into formal shapes are more of an eyesore to me:

We are thinking of adding a courtyard area on this side--it would be outside the kitchen/laundry room and create a little more private space:

Nice! It is one of the good-looking ones, and looks like it has good landscaping bones, if a bit thirsty. But kind of hard to see the shutters. :) You might not NEED the shutters but I agree they don't detract. And that removing them won't make it MCM. Will be fun to see what you do with the place.

I think the house is darling! And I think your tone on tone plan is spot on. I love that look. Don’t remove them, just blend them in a bit. Please keep us updated!

Thank you! We don't have any major plans for changes at this point but the front door does need some TLC with wood filler and new paint. It has a couple gouges and a 2"paint bubble. A kickplate would be a nice touch The house could use a coat of paint, so why not go with updated color choices? Also it has an adorable little vintage mailbox that's rusty so hope to fix that up as well.

Think the shutters look “right” on your new home. Very appealing exterior. Enjoy your new home.

I agree that it is a very cute house! I also agree with you that those shrubs should go. You will then have an instant update and more opportunity to see what other things you can change.

Another vote to 'trim the jungle' then step back and re-assess. I love the deep overhangs and roof line and your courtyard idea sounds lovely! If the roof is in good shape and not changing, that's your big color influence whether you go the tone on tone route or something more vibrant. I can see possibilities for either direction, just depends on what you like and the shutters can be part of of the plan either way. Do you have any inspiration pics of houses where the colors really call to you?

I'm so torn on the shrubs--hate to tear anything out because the landscape is "done" but I dislike how formally they are clipped and how close they are to the house. I was thinking I'd let them grow a little more naturally for now although we will still have to shear the back sides. Eventually the yard needs an update and a more water wise selection of plants.

No inspiration pics yet, but I think the roof is brown and has a lot of remaining years so that will drive the color choices. I do like cream with white trim and maybe a lavender, purple or orchid door. I love green houses too, but the house directly across the street (which is beautiful) is green. This house we bought is one of the less showy homes of the neighborhood.

in your case, shutters should stay)) they do add rather than detract

Here are some of the homes with exterior color schemes that I find appealing -- would anything work for the ranch we bought?

This one is just so cheerful! The house next door to us is yellow though, so it might not be a good choice:

These two have the tone-on-tone I was imagining for the siding/shutters, although my preference is for shutters/trim to be slightly lighter than the main house color:

I love these colors, especially the sage/purple!!! Would love to paint the house sage/purple. Not really sure how it would look on an understated ranch though.

Another great one, love black and love this style of home. Our home has black slate entry floor and black slate on one fireplace hearth, I really like it.

The trend I see is that I really like the aqua colored doors! However, I do also like the idea of a purple door.

This one is really fun with the use of color blocking -- not sure if it would work on the style of our house though: