Bigger ceiling light, bigger mat, move the pots as from the photo they look like obstacles. Don’t entirely remove pots, just move them off the steps

Decorate the blank wall with something like a welcome sign or metal artwork. Update the color of the entry door. I agree with Donald in putting down a bigger mat but also turning it so the longer side faces the steps and not the door

Measure carefully before buying a bigger light; potentially could block screen/storm door from opening fully.

Change out the light to a LED can light. Paint the back wall of the porch to match the green trim you already have and hang something interesting on it. When you can put out plants, do just one stunning thriller-spiller-filler between the steps and garage door. When you can afford it, change to a solid glass storm door over an updated door and paint both in an accent color so they are differentiated from everything else.

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I wouldn’t set any pots on the driveway-side of the porch or steps. They make a small space even more crowded. You have room for pots - long or narrow or tall - next to the house near the spigot.

I agree on the full length glass storm door and a colorful rug that covers the entire entry stoop. Nothing belongs on the stoop except a rug. You don’t have room for anything meaningful, and little stuff looks clutter-y.

The storm door and entry door are busy with all those lines. I would paint the entry door a nice white that goes well with the greens, and also paint the two horizontal parts of the storm door the same white. A pretty rug and brighter light . No plants on the steps, it’s too crowded. Nice house!!

i don’t think the size of the light is as important as leaving it on even during the day. Definitely some kind of informal artwork for that blank wall. The light could illuminate the art.

I also wonder if you could paint or stain the concrete along the right side of your driveway heading toward the door. Make a sort of path to the door along the house with a subtle contrast. That would lead the eye towards the entrance. I’d paint the stairs also To match if that is possible

or highlight the artwork with a string of battery operated (Christmas or fairy) lights.

Or maybe replace just the concrete along the edge of your drive to make a path to the door

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Match garage door color to color of your siding to make it less prominent. Add a brick red door to your recessed porch and large house numerals or a garden decorative piece on the wall.

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Yellow door looks with red brick and green siding.

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Give your driveway a good scrubbing. Develop your landscaping so your front garden bed is several feet deeper. A border on the left side of the driveway would help though in a northern climate, maybe excess salt and snow melt chemicals would make that a problem.

1. Remove house number from where it is and place it vertically on wall next to the garage.

2. Remove plants, and add hanging plants.

3. Add an outdoor welcome mat at bottom of steps- it will define the front door entrance.

4. Lastly, you could add a large outdoor lantern in the corner of the porch area there.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful ideas!!

I have been searching for a light to replace our current one, but wouldn't you know it that almost all the ones I love hang too low for clearance with that screen door. The hunt continues.

I am also hoping to replace the front door and screen door in the future but unsure on a color for the front door. We are needing to repaint the green trim on the house soon so I was looking to opt for a completely different color. Any suggestions?

We did end up putting up an address sign on the brick next to the garage. I love it there!

I am definitely going to hunt down a bigger outdoor mat. That is a great idea!

I have also been hunting for something to put on that blank wall on the porch. I am just so stinking picky that I can never seem to find something that fits my style which is way less traditional and much more minimalist modern.

I love the idea to do some hanging plants, but I may not be able to bring myself to completely get rid of my potted plants. They make me happy. I'll probably play around with where I have them though.

Thanks again, all of you! :)

Please keep us up to date; would love to see it come alive

A DIY tall wooden planter box at the left of the steps (as tall as the landing and as long as the steps) would satisfy your need for happy entryway flowers and would keep anyone from falling off the edge of the steps. You could add a trellis to the box against the brick and have a flowering vine.

The green trim looks fine. What needs to be repainted is the garage door, which is too prominent. Paint it the same as the siding. Then consider getting the new front door. Good luck!

I think you need a multi-pronged approach.

First, draw the eye away from the things that you don't want to emphasize - the bright white garage door, and the 2 white downspouts. Paint these with a dull medium color that fades into the background. I gave them a duller, darker version of your green trim.

Then make your entrance appear larger by removing all the barriers. Your planters constrict the entrance, which is not welcoming. 2 adults and a toddler should be able to walk up to your front door side by side, not single file.

Your planters are good but need to be moved away from the actual entrance. I'm guessing that nobody actually sits on that bench, so I'd move it parallel to the house, maybe even over the basement window, and put plants on it. Add tall plants too for a great effect. If you group your plants, the "thriller, filler and spiller" can be in separate pots. This will draw the eye towards that area without the uncomfortable feeling of I-better-not-knock-this-over.

Instead of looking for the perfect piece for that wall space, just put something up there and you can replace it when you find something better. Even a rustic window frame, although it probably is not modern enough for your taste. Because it's sheltered, a rug or wall hanging would work too. If you like something and you don't like the color or finish, spray paint (including a metal finish) can fix it. You might like something like this from my search of Etsy for "outdoor metal wall art".

For an outdoor light, if you are going to have a screen door then the light needs to be a flush mount. There are lots of 13" round flush mounts that are very low profile. But if you are going to replace your front door you may not replace the screen door, which would let you have a hanging light.

To really make it clear that this is the entry, you could put a handrail up those 2 steps. Absolutely not necessary for code, but it would be for appearance. They have "grab rails" which just attach to the house, for one or 2 steps. Search Google for "handrail 2 steps" images. https://ez-rails.com/product/single-post-railing-w-base-plate-for-1-or-2-steps/

Also paint the downspouts to blend with the brick/siding.

I know you said you don't like traditional as well as modern minimalist style, but for your house exterior I think that will result in a confused look. Your general house shape is not modern minimalist, and the gable roof line and double hung window style reinforce the more traditional style. I gave you shutters and put mullions in your windows to reinforce a more traditional look. I also painted your bench black to repeat, and gave you black stair railings. Black looks good with white window frames and your red brick. I'd paint the front door white, especially if you are going to have a white storm door.

I added some taller more evergreen shrubs too. In the winter, you can decorate your bench with an evergreen garland and a seasonal arrangement with evergreen branches.

I would bring two/one sidelights door to the front, making mud room for shoes.

Thanks so much to all of you for responding with your help and advice!!

Enough of you have recommended painting the garage door that I think I am just going to have to make that a priority and tackle it one of these weekends. :)

Roccouple, I get what you are saying about staining the concrete to create a pathway feel, and it has piqued my interest, but I am having trouble envisioning how that would end up looking connected to the driveway as it is. I also like the simple idea of leaving the light on all day.

Housegal200, I would absolutely love to put a decorative garden border on the left side of the driveway!! It has been on my to-do list for a while, waiting for the time and budget to make it happen. The chartreuse plants currently in the flower bed have grown quite a bit from this photo. Most of what I have planted there should fill the space over time, but perhaps I could add something here and there while waiting for them to grow. Also, I don't hate the green trim, but I like to change things up now and then. It is very weathered and needs to be repainted anyway so I'm not really saving myself any work by leaving it green. What would you think about a color scheme where the trim around the windows and doors was white, but the trim between the brick and siding was a deep navy and there were deep navy shutters on the larger windows?

Frankie, I love the idea of a planter box by the steps. My dad is great with woodworking, so I might pick his brain a bit to see if he could help me out with that.

Partim, I think shutters would be a great addition! What do you think of the color scheme I mentioned to housegal? I was thinking if the trim around the windows was white it might make them appear slightly larger, and the deep navy for the shutters and the trim line between the siding and brick that runs around the house would add some visual interest. Also, we do sit on that bench from time to time. I used to have it sitting along the wall blocking the basement window like you mentioned, but I just didn't like it there. It gave a stark, cold, less inviting feeling. When I moved it where it is now, it just seemed more welcoming to someone walking up to the house, which surprised me. I will take a better picture of that area. Lastly, are you meaning to paint the downspouts as well as the gutters or just the downspouts?

Celerygirl, oh, how I have fantasized about doing something just like that. Unfortunately budget for remodeling the entry just isn't there given all the other improvements/updates we have on our list. :(

You all have fabulous ideas to give this house more curb appeal! I am definitely planning on working with some of your ideas to see what I can do to dress it up a bit.

Any ideas on a way to make that concrete area between the driveway and house pull you towards the entrance or be like an inviting sitting area...I had thought about sectioning off some of it with some self made, like 2ft tall, very long rectangular planter boxes in some way that created more of a porch like feel to the area. I just can't figure out if it would actually have that affect or just look awkward and be in the way. I don't even know if working on that area would really do all that much for the house. I have always loved big porches, and wanted to see if I could give it that feel somehow. Most homes around here that are similarly shaped have an area of dirt there rather than concrete so it is full of plants, which doesn't offer me many ideas. I realize now that the pictures of my house that I had on hand don't really showcase the area I'm wanting this help with. We got snow last night so getting a picture now won't help much, but once it melts I will get a better picture to post.

Again, thanks everyone for taking your time to help me out!!

If you are going to do an outdoor seating area, put it in front of the house. You could incorporate it into the landscaping and make it really cute. There really is not enough room on the driveway.

You're not likely to find a light fixture at a big box store that will clear your door. I had the same issue once & had to look online. I'm guessing you need a fixture with a drop of about 4 inches. You'll find them online & with reasonable prices but they are boring & will not be much more inviting than what you have. Is it in your budget to replace the fixture with a recessed light?

Normally I have some colorful pillows on the bench, but haven't had them out for most of the winter. I haven't been outside much this winter so I also haven't done much with the pots. Last spring I had put in plants to give them a stair-step look, but am considering the other options you all mentioned. Also I am replenishing my mulch in the flower bed this spring, so forgive the sparseness of that. For reference, this area measures 6'x19'.

Samondragon, I actually like that idea a lot for recessed lighting. My dad could definitely do the work for fitting it and installing it, so it would really just be the cost of the light itself if I went that route. We try not to ask him for help too much though, so I might see what I can find online first. Thanks!

I still like the idea of the bench closer to the door. It "signals" that it's an entryway area. I'd use a flat light like this one from Home Depot. Only 3.7" deep.

I meant just to paint the downspouts the same tone as the brick behind them.

I really like the idea of doing a box planter to the left side of the steps. You could build it out of cedar and stair step it so it still has a layered effect. It would free up space on the steps as well. In the fall and winter you can add ornamental cabbages and small evergreens in pots to keep interest in it all year long. A recessed light in the entry is a wonderful idea as well as the idea of a new color for the front door and screen door to match. Definitely add a larger outdoor mat. Since the area is covered, you could probably get away with a smaller outdoor rug. Once you find the right piece to hang on the wall, it will really help draw attention to your entry.

Curious to know what you all think of this. I made it using a virtual exterior paint tool, which really isn't the tool for the job. It was, however, one I had access to. I basically drew it all for a rough idea and wasn't able to fully edit out everything I would have wanted. I also couldn't choose quite all the color variation I would have wanted in my decor here simply because all the colors except black were translucent. The house and door colors are actual colors I am considering as well adding the shutters. Anyways, very curious to hear what you think. Also I would probably do something to hide the basement window...just not sure yet. Again this is a general idea made with, let's face it, a very poor tool. Thanks for all the help you've given me on this!

I like the looks of it if the pots are all black like that and you stick with a white/black/green look. Simple lines & clean look. I'd prefer a wood bench but with your climate that may be a bad idea.

If you've named your house, consider a sign. We had a friend make ours for us.