I understand the desire to paint the brick but I think that should be a last resort. I would take some more photos of it and try some colors on the upper part and/or add some windows to reduce the sense of the upper level crushing the lower level. In other words, I think the primary problem is scale which might need greater modification than just changing color.

Paint the siding if you paint anything , a new door that suits the house for sure there are no windows that would work with shutters I can’t see a front porch on there without some huge money spent . Landscaping will help

Shutters are a no go on this house. None of the windows are appropriate for shutters. I'm in the don't paint the brick group. You take a no maintenance product and turn it into a long term maintenance issue.

Some ideas:

1. A darker color on the siding that doesn't emphasize the difference between the orange brick and the rest of the house would be a good option.

2. A new front door that was not a Victorian leaded glass style (think Mid Century Modern MCM) would also be an upgrade.

3. A porch over the front door would add some depth to the front façade of the house.

4. Pulling all the landscaping (including the woody shrubs on the side of the house) and redoing it.

5) Stain the fence between the house and the garage to tie them together more.

6) Paint the garage door a color that makes it less obvious.

7. Also get rid of the dark brown trim.

If you're interested in seeing some virtual makeovers of your home check out my web site, Creative Visual Concepts.

Replace the faux Victorian door, remove the brick edging along the planting areas, and get a professional landscaping plan that can be implemented as the budget allows. Remove the current foundation plants right away. Do not add shutters of paint anything gray. New landscaping is really the key! Cute house!

All of you are super helpful, thank you. I think I completely agree on no shutters & major landscaping!!

Follow up questions:

1. If I were to paint the siding, what color/colors do you think would work best? Can you paint siding without issue?

2.@JDS brings up a valid point about it maybe being more of a scale issue. But then how do I go about balancing it out? My best thought would be a porch, which brings me to...

3. How much do you think a porch would cost? Def just looking for ballpark est so I can start saving. Would love to do something

thank you all!

Here’s another photo

Heres something I'd love to implement somewhere down the line. (Not these colors but this concept)

Is it possible to paint/change lower part of the shingles to the same color as the brick to bring a better balance between the top shingles of your house and the bottom brick of your house. Notice in your sample photo the white trim between the top and the bottom of the house...which serves to balance the areas of the top and bottom.

Do you think I could paint the siding a blue variation?

Well, you COULD. Personally, though, I predict that I wouldn't care for that color combination.

Here's your house in a color similar to your garage. (Obviously I'm not real skilled with the Paint program.)

How about white?

I'm not feeling the blue.

Just for fun: deep blue?

The brick is the best part of the house. The problem is the oversized upper level. If you paint the brick, you'll bring it down to the blandness of the upper.

The problem is not orange/beige. The problem is the visually overwhelming upper floor. Deal with that specifically.

Littlebug has an excellent point. Tying in your brick color to the siding color will enhance your home and having it work with the garage is best. Similar to the first pic shown by Littlebug. Then work on your landscaping, the current shrubs are old and leggy. Bring in a landscape designer. Post in the landscape sub-forum too for ideas on your patio/hardscape as well as walkways and landscaping.