I have a ranch style home as well, and I personally like a fun retro take on the design of ranch homes. Take a look at "vapor trails" for trim and shutters, then have some fun with the door with something like "orange sky"!

Of course, consider your location and the neighborhood. What kind of colors are around you? When I help my clients with exterior colors, I look at three things:

1. The roof (will it clash?)
2. The neighborhood colors
3. The interior color scheme

I will definitely look into the colors you suggested. My roof is a charcoal gray, although it looks much lighter in this pic. Thanks for the suggestions. :)

Pulling out the clumpy shrubs will do wonders! Do you have a green thumb? Nice loose plantings would look good. A substantial column or post could replace the wrought iron support and you could use larger light fixtures. Paint the door and shutters alike or add a pop of contrast at the door.

Molly, I don't know if you are aware that BM put together the Affinity line to help people make decisions on coordinate colors. Any color in that fan goes with every other color perfectly.

I have a suggestion. Sparrow, as the last color in the line, is very dark…although very lovely.

See if one of the AF grays matches you roof. If one does, you are safe to pick any color you like.

I particularly like Instinct and Constellation with the Sparrow.

Not sure about your comment on the shutters, but I would have no shutters on your house nor white trim.

If you find the time I would like to hear your take on your roof color.

Yes, we are pulling up those hideous shrubs! I am looking into a post or column for the front, and larger light fixtures as well. The paint is just stumping me. Do I go with a trim that provides a contrast or one that fades into the body color. I definitely want a pop of color at the door! It was also suggested I get wider shutters. Thanks for the feedback!

I will check on that roof color asap and let you know. I appreciate your feedback so very much! No shutters? I wondered if that would look okay on my style house. I would actually LOVE to have no shutters. Hmmm, y'all have me thinking! :)

judyg, the roof matches silhouette. I also have reddish orange brick at the bottom.

Great idea, marybyrne. Thanks!

white trim..black or white shutters

I am thinking the shutters are part of that design and i can't see it without them. I wonder if you could go with white or maybe even a butter yellow for the main part of the house and paint the shutters a dark color. If you go with gray and or black - I have always dreamt of having a big red front door. They just make me smile. I dread when the painting will begin but it has to be done. I think coats of paint sometimes are the only thing holding some houses up at all! Good luck and can you tell us what you ended up with? Would love to see!

simple landscaping

I really like the color Sparrow: For a trim color, they recommend Also recommended is Richmond Gold, which I think would be great for the shutters and the front door.

I agree that the shrubs look "clumpy," but if you hand prune them to a more natural shape they will look great. None of them should be higher than the bottom of the windows. Add some perennials and small evergreens (green and gold) in front of the shrubs. A ornamental tree in the middle of the lawn will also add dimension.

Good luck!

What about a earthy sage green color for house and a dark cranberry color for shutters?

giniaginia, I LOVE that blue door! :)

hazelruth, a pretty yellow (waterbury cream) was one of my favorites, but I just wasn't sure it was right for my style house. I do love a yellow house. My husband is hard to convince on "A pop of color" when it comes to the front door, but the one color he is ok with is red. There are several red front doors on my street however. Most of the houses on my street are in the beige family with some shade of red or sienna color door. The street over has the cutest houses ever! Yellow, teal green, chartreuse, etc. Or the body is neutral and door vary is bright orange, lime green, lilac, etc. So cute! I will definitely post updated pics of my house. Must decide this week...painter is coming middle of next week!

houssaon, I have that color palatte saved in my favorites and have considered it many times. I'm just not sure about the gold color for shutters. Great landscaping ideas also. Thanks again!!

marybyrne, my very first color choice was a green (like the one in this pic), but my next door neighbor beat me to it. Thanks again!

You can see much more of the brick from the back of my house.

I like this color combo : Landscaping would make a great impact. Start with a clean slate - have those overgrown shrubs taken out and create two curved beds on each side of the walk. Plant beds with combination of low growing evergreens ( azaleas, boxwood, etc. ) , blooming shrubs, rose shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials. Plant a small blooming tree on each side of the house . Have the walkway stained or tiled over. Remove shutters and have wider trim installed to enhance windows. Add window boxes filled with colorful flowers. As mentioned above, beef up the two columns at the entrance.

Sweet Caroline Garden Design, I'm loving your landscaping ideas! Thank you so much!

Thanks for your kind comments, Molly, you're more than welcome.

Roof is dark gray that matches this color you said, so how about a lighter Affinity gray for the body and coral for the door? No shutters but paint the muntons/mullions Silhouette
.

Spice and Meditation

Judyg, here is a pic of the colors I'm leaning toward. I don't want shutters, but I'm having to compromise with the husband (for now). ;-)

Molly, tell the colors. I can't see the numbers...too small.

Just an FYI (husband), the shutters that you have on the window are not the correct size. You should be able (or at least visualize) that when closed they would completely cover the glass. Tell him the shutter size now is as if he is wearing his pants too short :>). Floods.

Here's the progress so far.

Well that is just beautiful! I'm sure it will make your place the standout in the neighborhood. Those shrubs
must go - I bought a house with shrubs like these - it took heavy work to remove them - but it opened up a whole new look. they make a barrier in front of your home, not a welcoming look. Follow Sweet Caroline's advice - your yard will be lovely.

Thank you nancy22032! Yes...the shrubs are next to go! Budget is limited, so this project is taking some time. I can not wait to remove the shrubs and add the flower beds, change the lights fixtures, remove the wrought iron and add post/column, and a few more details.