Maybe the creamy yellow of your brick?

I would leave the house as is and work on more inviting landscaping. Painting just the trim won't do much to lighten the house. You could definitely lighten up the door with paint as it seems to recede somewhat.

I know how you feel! My brick is a similar color. I moved from a white and bright cape cod. I came to the realization that bright and cherry was never going to be my house so I'm going for moody and sexy...that can be a house right? Ha. Anyhow, absolutely stay away from a red undertone brown! The original owners did that to mine and it looks awful. I like what you have currently.

What I would update, though, is your front door and larger light fixture to make it feel more inviting. The door is very ornate for the clean lines of your house. I would also add some color through landscaping like the ever popular hydrangea bush. With that large tree there, hydrangea endless summer and azaleas do well in shade.

Thanks, yeah, landscaping will be done soon...very overgrown and some dead bushes from a major freeze, grass is a major eyesore too and will be worked on. I will consider a brighter door color.

I would look for a ” khaki ” color for the trim and something cheerful for the door. Pumpkin Pumpkin?

A lighter, more airy landscape plan will do wonders. Remove all of the shrubbery and power wash the brick. Replace the dowdy front door with one that looks like it relates to the rest of your house and windows. Paint it bittersweet, or ochre. Keep the trim in the same brown family. Upgrade your lantern light to compliment the new door and do the same if you have any flanking the garage door, which might need the same brown paint if it doesn't already have it.

I would rip out all of the bushes hiding the windows. Get ones that will not grow above the bottom of the sill. You don't need much.

I think the trim looks good in brown, but you could try a lighter color.

Paint the ceiling of the porch a light blue. It will brighten the entry and it has a calming effect. I think Woodlawn Blue or another one of these colors would work.

Paint the front door a green.

Maybe one of these colors would work on the trim.

Thank you for all the great ideas. I think once the brick is power washed and the yard taken care of it will look a lot better, but still going to paint the trim. I like the idea of just taking the brown a few shades lighter. I really like the Kennebunkport green above for door or someone suggested ochre, and SW Earthy Ochre or Sunbleached Ochre are both nice, and very different Imo. I was thinking about a reddish brown, but someone commented to avoid and I think they're right upon further thought. I am wanting to downplay the reddish/pink in the brick. I also am looking at a khaki color as someone suggested. So many choices!