1950 ranch style home - would like rustic ranch ideas to spif it up and update the porch (?)

Nice, neat home. But you need landscaping to complete the look, anchor the home and give it some color. Best to visit your local garden center when they can draw up a plan, work within your budget, and set a timeline. You can save money by doing the work yourself. The tree looks lonely and is too close to the house. That should go first.

I like your house!

For rustic ranch, one thing I’d do is replace is the metal column with a square cedar post — painted, stained, or left natural. It’ll look beefier, while still going well with the style of your house.

For landscaping, I don’t know where you are or your conditions to suggest specific plantings. What look do you like? MCM style, very organic, simple, natural? A cottage-y look with lots of flowers? Etc.

The planting bed looks pretty narrow, but it’s hard to tell in a picture. If you want a simpler look, I’d do a variety of ornamental grasses, some perennials, a a large decorative rock. Just a general idea:

I was thinking of bringing the steps to the entrance out a little further - brick and yes love the idea of the cedar post! We have a real gopher problem - I would like to tear out the weed/lawn and replace with ??? Some kind of rock garden?

I would consider widening the current lanscaping bed and include curves to soften the linear aspects of the home.

You could grow climbing roses or clematis on the metal support post.

what about the porch area? Should it be enlarged to make it more welcoming?

Remove the bush, heftier column painted white like the trim; if you widen the porch the column will be in the middle and may look silly. Landscaping will help

ahh haa...good point

I like the concept Yardvaark shows, but would change the material in front of the stoop to brick to match the stoop rather than an extension of the asphalt. Very nice home.

Wow, very cool softwear! Thank you for doing that visual for me. Would it be possible to bring the brick out in place of the driveway extension to see how that would look?

The "cool" software is Microsoft Paint. :-)

Very nice! Thank you so much! Are you located in No. Cal by any chance?

No. I am in Florida.

Oh YESSS
! I love this! Perfect!

I see the imaging battle is on. How do you folks do that??

Where is the house located? That makes all the difference when selecting plants. Although with the concept designs, usually you can find a local plant to fit the concept, so those are excellent.

Some landscaping with a West Elm type feel, new modern metal house numbers that match your roof color & a fun modern chair or small bench near door w cool pillows. Cute house!

dchall_san_antonio(8 San Antonio)

"I see the imaging battle is on. How do you folks do that??"

Don't know what others are using but I'm using Microsoft Paint. Paste (or open) an image in the work area and draw over it. Requires a touchscreen with stylus in order to do detailed work (pencil, eraser and brush tools.) Without that, pretty much limited to using line and shape tools.

I use Microsoft Paint with basic computer, keyboard and mouse. Requires one hand with fingers! LOL!

Ooo, ooo, ooo, I'm lovin' the additions! House is located in West Petaluma, (North of San Francisco). Cooler temps, but this is the warm, sunny side of the house.