It's a simple cottage. Lush landscaping is the answer. You can find plants that take little water and look lush if you are in an arid area. You'd have to give us zone and nearest city for plant advice.

The jerry-rigged shade over the front door is not helping. If it serves a useful purpose, fix it. Otherwise ditch it.

I would make it a little wider - you will need to do some calculations on width - so it is proportional to the house. Les heavy looking railings. As already suggested a nice aluminum awning. No shutters. Some nice landscaping and you will have an adorable home

I agree the shutters and droopy awning are doing you no favors. Removing those and installing a larger porch light would be a quick cheap improvement. Under the porch does look a little sketchy but its hard to see what‘s going on.

If you can do more, in a previous house we replaced a not nice railing with a bronze metal one and it was a wonderful improvement. If thats too much at least paint what you have one color because that stripy look isn't great IMHO. If you do replace the railing make sure you are happy with the porch and steps first.

So helpful. Thank you everyone ! We are in LA and there is no irrigation there so mostly likely have to do plants that doesn’t require regular watering. I was thinking blue agave and Westringia. Any other suggestions ?

If I take the shutter off- I am nervous the paint color will be dramatically different

If you do see a difference, try a little cleaning solution and a hose to wash off the dirt from the exposed siding.

You might find local plant societies that can recommend appropriate drought tolerant plants. Usually the plants are massed in ground that has been covered with stone.

You can get a plan with a list of plants, then buy and install them over time to avoid a bit hit to the budget. If you are handy, install drip irrigation yourself.

Good luck!

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Some things you can do to improve the look:

--Remove shutters

--New porch landing with pergola and pillars in cedar between windows on left and right.

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--Or something like this:

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--Create gravel beds on both sides with taller drought tolerant plants against foundation. Gravel should be close to roof color, which will give illusion house is bigger.

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--Paint front door teal/turquoise

--Note the gravel beds and foundation plantings:

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love the look of blue agaves and westringias! We have a row of green octopus agave and they are very sculptural and do have only one pretty soft terminal spine which is quite friendly for an agave! Also red flowering plant behind is California native Chuparoso which is very drought tolerant and showy.