I would plant a tall bush on either side of the entry and bring the bed out all the way to where the sidewalk turns. Don't plant too close to the house and allow room for the plants to mature. Layer more lower shrubs and perennials.

Well I couldn’t stand looking at that. I would explore getting footings where you would put columns (and square shape is better for this porch) and put square pillars in at level of current porch. Then add plant materials to cover lower areas until new extended porch is ing in. Then add bright annual flowers and some sod as needed. Like this. I added black full length shutters to each side of front door for more emphasis on entry. Two black wood bench seats and a gold lion door knocker would be a nice addition too.

There is nothing wrong with the symmetry of the entry so ... is it just that you think something is missing? If so, consider this option: Since the front corners of your porch roof have a large overhang beyond the posts and concrete floor, measure from the corners in each direction to create an imaginary square in the ceiling of the porch and then hang a pair of eye hooks from which you can hang planters (or wind chimes or bird houses or bird feeders) in the center of that imaginary square ... corner is now filled and area seems more balanced.

In lieu of planting more shrubs to replace those you just removed, consider two groupings of three large planting pots to create a right angle beside your step, at the corner of your porch and beside the porch floor on each corner. That way you're creating symmetry -- balance -- that doesn't upset the balance of the single flower pot (or other item) you've hung in the invisible square in the front corners of your porch roof.

Once you've done those two things, pause with the plantings and landscaping and focus on having a great lawn until you have some time to consider what, if any changes you want to make to the porch itself so that it has a less "out of balance" vibe for you.

If you're planning to go ahead changing your porch/portico, consider creating a wider porch floor with a totally new roof supported by posts that have a more "balanced" visual. You have numerous options depending upon how much you might want to enlarge your front porch, including but not limited to:

* You could create a porch the full width of your home with a shed roof beginning just below the upstairs windows and only add a small gable within the shed roof over the front entry door. My personal preference would be hip corners for each side of the porch roof.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/frontporchideas/12329191664

* A forward facing gable porch roof could share a center ridge line height with the main house roof ridge line but would be at a right angle to it. You could have the gable roof cover the upstairs window and leave the front of the gable open so the window view is below the porch roof.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/145381894191248234/

* You could use creating a new forward facing gable for the porch to "bump out" -- enlarge -- the room above it so the space above the porch within the gable is included in that room.

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/narragansett-ri-idea-house/21019432/in-fine-detail-2018-idea-house-finale

* More ideas:

https://www.front-porch-ideas-and-more.com/porch-roof-designs.html

I love your entry.

I would get white sparkly gravel and create a wide white box on the ground around the porch to balance out the size of the portico roof. I’d bring it all the way down to the walkway. At the beginning of each side of the path leading to the steps, I would put a very large urn planter , probably in white, with a big display of plants in it.

Wow!! I cannot thank you enough for all of these wonderful ideas! This is such a great platform! Thank you all!! I love everything you suggested!

This is too much, but you get the idea!

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