new paint and refreshing the cedar stain would go a long way! or if you can only choose one, refresh the cedar.

I love the idea of using mismatched vintage chairs for a porch, but it's not working here. it's contributing to the disheveled feel overall. would suggest choosing two matching chairs from that set and removing the rest, with a small table between them. or if you need lots of seating, consider all new patio furniture --- although that's a little hard to find these days.

Doesn't look like your porch is high enough off the ground to require any railing. Check local regulations on that and remove it if you can. Beef up your posts. Remove the faux shutters and replace the storm with a full glass one. Or, if you're in a mild climate, eliminate the storm. Get a new lantern light 1/3 the door's height. These can be done as you have time and money. The biggest change would be to remove the picket gable and do an open gable. Here's one on a back porch, but for concept, I think you could make things more airy and open and not so oppressive as the current porch.

Decks/Porches · More Info

Framing over the bottom part of cedar incorporate bigger posts, fresh coat of paint and landscaping

I would remove the shutters and the railing. Paint the cedar white.

Low-cost options: Power wash the sidewalk, deck, columns and overhang. Permanently remove the shutters. Use an edger on sidewalk to stop the plants from taking it over. Do some weeding and trimming / shaping on the plants. At this point you have only spent sweat-equity (unless you needed to rent a power washer) and you can then decide where you would like to spend your dollars. Good Luck and please keep us informed

I would suggest repainting the entire house one color to unify it. Replace the columns if you can with beefier ones. These look too skinny to support the roof. You can do a lot with landscaping as well. That would enhance your house a lot. Good luck!

I would remove the shutters.

I would remove the shutters.

-Off with the shutters & railing, which is probably not required since there's very little rise to the porch. If you legally have to have a porch railing then get wood railing and stain it to match cedar colored refinishing on overhang and new pillars as shown below.

--Refinish the wood in a cedar stain.

--Beef up the pillars and stain them to match the cedar (see below)

--Paint the front door

Addition · More Info

--Go to a small garden center and have them design a cottage garden for you. If you buy all the plants there, this can be done affordably and is a good time of year to do it. That way you'll have a garden in place for next year--shrubs, grasses, groundcovers, perennials. It could look gorgeous starting fairly soon.

Look how open this porch is and how the plants enhance the house:

Modern cottage with low water frontyard planting · More Info

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--When budget allows in the future and the garden is in place, install a stone walkway.

Paint the stained wood facade the same green as the house, then paint the fascia board white to match the trim. It will need a couple coats of white primer. Collect all the hanging pots and all the yard pots, then add fall flowers to each.

paint, paint and more paint to brighten up the overall look. you can sand and stain the cedar portion to brick it back to life.

sweat equity on the landscaping would do wonders. clean out the pathway and maybe have some flower beds along side the walkway, or just do the flower beds close to the house

even if you could edge your cement walkway w/pavers or brick, it would look so much better

new railing. maybe paint the porch floor.

Inspiration photo for front garden and open gable. Decoenthusiaste's idea of opening up the gable could really work. Stain or paint existing supports, add new matching pillars, remove or replace porch railings.

Gracious front porch · More Info

I would paint the cedar the same color as the house, As it is, it feels heavy and overpowering. Remove the shutters as suggested. Paint the railings, posts, and fascia white. Power wash the porch and sidewalk and edge the plants on the sidewalk as suggested. Remove the mismatched chairs and add a pretty plant pot underneath the house numbers and fill with mums for the fall and something evergreen for the winter. Pick a pretty color for the front door and paint it and the storm door the same color. Change out the light for a cottage style light that works with your house.

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Home-Decorators-Collection-1-Light-Antique-Pewter-14-5-in-Outdoor-Wall-Lantern-Sconce-with-Seeded-Glass-7953HDCAPDI/301868221

Less than $300 for paint, light, pressure washer rental and a few plants and it will look like a new house!

More open gables: