This is a cute house! I would paint the exterior a more interesting color - perhaps a nice blue-grey. Replace the front door with one that is solid in a contrasting color (brick red?) Brick on the front porch would also be nice. Pour a new driveway and hire a landscape designer. Good luck!

Plants are organizational, not specific.

are they perennial

ideas:

I like Doug’s idea

1. but instead of plants at the sides of the driveway, I’d extend the driveway on both sides a lot on the left and a bit on the right for more driveway space.

2. Then I’d also make the porch deeper and add a solid guardrail to create more bottom privacy and screening of the interior of the porch. And extend the guardrail to separate the driveway from the door entry.

3. And Id change the front door to a sliding door if the interior space allows it for an indoor-outdoor connection.

4. I’d add some type of solid screen to block the view of the ac unit at the left of the photo between the extended driveway on the left and the lawn in front of it with a planter bed between the solid screen and the lawn. Maybe that’s where I would actually put the tree.

5. And that water bath feature of Doug’s I would then scoot it closer to the driveway to create a better entry from the driveway to the stairs and/or from the front street to the front entry. And add a 3-4ft tall hedge and flowering plants front of the porch guard rail to create a clean simple garden look.

Good Luck!

I certainly wouldn't put a patio in the front yard unless you don't have a back yard and that's the only place to sit outside.

I like Yardvaark's plan, but I'd pull the bed even further out and plant the tree so it overlaps the front of the house a little more.

I would be sure to paint your shutters a darker color than what you use on your siding. And I would hang a white PVC window box beneath the front window, planting it with some pretty annuals that tie in with the plantings that you will install in front of the home. Also, remove the metal screen door completely. Paint your front door a bright color: red, yellow, bright green. Something to draw the eye to it. A new mailbox, a new light. Perhaps a post light out near your driveway at the corner of the house? It has great potential! Think of it as a darling country cottage! Good luck!

I like an idea of front porch.

Agree with ptreckel.

I like the plan from yardvaark - landscaping and painting the front door a bold accent color will really draw attention to the front door.

Consider coral or orange or something else in the warm range for your front door. Tie it in with your landscaping too if possible.

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it makes it stand out like a sore thumb

Howard, I suppose we are all posting our opinion. Having the front door blend into the siding color isn't appropriate, but there are many accent colors that the OP can select with his/her neutral siding. If the OP doesn't want too bold a color - warm greens work well too for an accent on the front door.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/front-and-center-color-when-to-paint-your-door-green-stsetivw-vs~4068981

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/curb-appeal-the-front-door-stsetivw-vs~315457

Okay it is just different

Thank you all so much for commenting. These are great suggestions. I really appreciate it!