Wider shutters would help as well as shutters need to at least give the appearance that they are sized properly to be functional. Maybe paint the door a blue to give some contrast.

I would do a navy blue for the shutters, if you keep them. But your current shutters are too narrow for the windows. Look at Hale Navy.

I would not do grey, choose something more interesting.

Green?

You can stencil the front stoop to make a faux rug.

For landscaping, you can ask a local garden center (NOT big box store) for a landscaping plan that can be implemented over time as budget allows. You can also take advantage of local gardeners who would be dividing their perennials and offering them for free. In the meantime, there's nothing wrong with using annuals like wave petunias for color as a "stop gap" measure.

Oh yeah, and make sure to match the storm door to the front door color:

Shutters should be sized so that they could actually close over the windows they adorn — your eye makes that match and that’s why it looks odd to you. What is the exterior dimension of your windows? If you’re working with a tight budget, check Lowe’s or Home Depot online for replacement shutters possibly already in a color that you’d like. I’d worry about paint on the older cement stoop peeling off and would probably leave that thought until all the other elements are in place. I think you would find that pulling out the three LARGE shrubs would do wonders for the rest of the landscape (getting rid of the small pots along the walkway is probably something you’ve already done?) I am not sure about the root system — So, #1 order new width (same style) shutters in the right color, #2 remove the evergreen shrubs, #3 install the shutters then stand back and look at what you need to do next. Don’t paint the porch until you decide on painting the portico over the porch, the front door and the windows.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I had not considered replacing the shutters with wider ones but I will now. I will also go back to the drawing board and consider other colors. I am not keen on the green but will check out the Hale Navy as well as some others. Anna, I love the idea of stenciling the stoop to mimic a rug. N Johnson, I agree the large shrubs should come out, and yes, the small pots are already gone. Thank you for sharing the order in which I should approach this work. I really needed that. I tend to want to do it all at once. I will replace the shutters, remove the shrubs and then look to see what I should do next.

I would get a large welcome mat or small rug that you love and pull colors from there. If you like the idea of navy, search using blue as the color. You can pull colors from the rug to use in other places such as the door, shutters, portico, pillars, house numbers, a planter, flowers, etc. And you don’t have an HOA, correct?

Post photos of your progress and you’ll get continual reinforcement and comments. (Some these threads are eternal, I think!)

A more welcoming front walk and foundation plants, and:

Reassess after each change. You'd be surprised how small changes can have a big impact.

Also, if a new light is needed, size it to be 1/4 to 1/3 the height of the door. Yes, that big.

Some idea

Celery, I love the walkway. I am not sure that it will work on my property because I would need to eliminate the existing walkway with stairs that behind the left flower bed. I do love the look so I will get some cost estimates to see if I can implement that change. Although I don’t love the color of the shutters, I do like the idea of matching the color of the shutters to the area over the portico, and leaving the white border. The landscaping looks simple and low maintenance. I think I have been trying to use too many different plants and the beds just look messy. Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas. You have given me a lot to think about. Much appreciated.

You can work around your existing walkway. This muted green works good with red brick, but you can paint with color you like. may be tan/beige/taupe.

Update: So I was not at all planning to replace the walkway but I couldn’t get the picture of a curved walkway out of my head. I also decided that I really wanted a front porch. A porch was not in my budget so I settled on a patio.

I now need to decide what I will plant in the beds come spring. In the past, I’ve purchased plants simply because I like them and did not give much thought to where I would place them until after I got them home. My beds were overcrowded and unattractive. I have a chance to start over and do better. I want a relatively low maintenance, but beautiful front yard, with some winter interest and seasonal color. I love different shades of green and different textures with pops of color.

I am in zone 6 outside of Philadelphia. The front of the house faces south. The bed on the left is
14 ft wide and 10 ft deep. The bed in front of the patio is 24 ft long and 2.5 ft deep. The bump out at the start is 4 ft deep. The bed near the steps is 4x4 on the straight sided. The bed near the sidewalk is 6x6 on the straight sides.

I’ve read multiple post on this site a value the wisdom, ideas, and advice that many of you offer. I appreciate whatever advice and ideas you can offer me and am excited to hear your thoughts.

The tree in the left bed is a Blood good Maple. I would like for the boulders to stay but will consider eliminating them.

I have had good luck with Facebook Marketplace. You might find some reasonably priced outdoor furniture (bench? chairs?) for your new patio. On the filter at the top, scroll left for “condition” and select “used excellent.” Otherwise your results are mostly new (not reasonably priced) items. You can also specify “local” only so you can actually see the item and have no shipping costs.

I like the boulders. You may want to see if you can get a landscape plan drawn up, and then follow it and put in plants as you can do so. I love your new sidewalk.

Some design inspirations for you:

Akhilesh Joshi, thank you for the ideas you put forth in your drawings, they are beautiful, but I was hoping for some ideas that fit into the current bed design. I just had the walkway and patio installed and am now trying to find a complimentary plant design.

You’ve made such wonderful changes - beautiful work! I like your boulders but I think they would have a bigger impact if placed in a tighter grouping. I would limit your color palette. Mass planting of the same plant is very pleasing. Whatever color plants you choose will help you decide what color to paint your shutters, trim and porch. Also, large planters might be useful to achieve a nice composition with some plants needing a bit more height.

landscape ideas · More Info

Here’s some examples of plantings that informed the door color.

Exteriors · More Info

Exteriors · More Info

Exteriors · More Info

ffpalms, Thank you for your comments. I agree the boulders would make a better impact if placed together. I think they would look nice in the curved portion on the left of the walkway. The three I have (on the left) are similar in size. Do you think I would be better with varying sizes?

Rather than vary the sizes, you might try placing the flatter one vertically.

Dig Doug’s Designs, thank you for the rendering. It is very close to what I had in mind, though, I would like just a little more color. My challenge is that this area, it is hard to find a selection of small flowering evergreen shrubs. Plants won’t go in until around May. I will post another picture then.

@Dig Doug’s Designs, can you tell me the name of the plant around the lamp post in your second design?

It is white dwarf butterfly bush.

Update

Update

Ohh boy! You did a great job!!! :-))) Thank you for update!

Thank you Celery.