what's the budget?

If it is 'unlimited', the house could be painted a different color. Or at least needs color - could just paint the trim and/or definitely the door. maybe a metal lower roof?

landscaping - too many of the same evergreens. add flowers. some variety in the bushes.

some thing to hide the gas meter on the front of the house.

The landscaping is overgrown. Reworking that would help a lot.

Not too ugly at all!!! I don't think you've seen ugly if you think this is it, lol! I know there is a name for what they did with wrapping the eaves like they did on the right roofline. That is all I can see when I look at your house and I'd want to change that. I don't know what could be done...I might carry it all the way across (the trim) and fill in that upper part with a different finish, like shakes or similar and do the same on the other peak. Maybe someone with photoshop skills can rework it for you.

If it works on the interior, I'd probably replace the oval window with one to match the one on the left, next to it.

I'd take down the green soldiers next to the walk and probably most of the plants next to the house and redo the landscaping there. Removing those plants in front of the porch will open up that area and let the porch be seen. Lots of ways to make a porch attractive. Looks like you have a nice specimen tree in front that perhaps blooms and is lovely when it does.

This certainly is not an ugly house! It's also not colonial, and it might not be too smart to refer to it as colonial since you might end up with unfavorable comparisons.

But, unlike many colonials, it can have personality!

To me, it seems as though the second storey window on the left is out of proportion with the rest of the house: it should be bigger. Cany you get rid of the oval porthole? It really doesn't belong....

Photo looks like it was taken at end of winter which isn't the prettiest time for landscaping. Lots of possibilities for curb appeal. As mentioned I would remove the shrubs and work with your local nursery to create a nicer planting bed that wraps around on the right. When budget allows consider residing. I can imagine cedar shakes at the top of each pitch, board and batton siding on the left, horizontal siding on right. Black metal roof over porch and bigger cedar posts on porch. Without any changes the house looks normal so don't fret about it. Focus on your interior needs as you mention and it will all come together in time.

When you’re ready to landscape, would remove all the “stiff” bushes and go for softer ones. Flowers with color will help too.

And yes, it’s definitely more farmhouse than colonial. Do you want to change the exterior color? Something brighter would help. A large house that’s beige can read “dull” unless there are a lot of unique features.
White with black trim is one idea. Or go dark, like a deep charcoal and keep the trim white. A striking contrast will make it more detailed and interesting.

Stop thinking it is a colonial it is not. I would not add shutters at all IMO one set of shutters on a house with tons of windows that should not have shutters just looks silly .

On my monitor you appear to have a mix of white and tan windows. Surely that's an optical illusion, but if not, I would do all white. Change the porch for biggest impact and to re-focus where the eye goes The posts are too small and all of it looks to be more of a deck than a true porch. In addition, wider trim on your windows will make all the difference.

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Your home resembles a Queen Anne style/farmhouse. Can you remove the muntins from your double hung windows? Late Victorian homes have single pane or at most two over two windows. Painting all of your porch trim and skirt white would help pull things together. Consider edging your front walk with red brick trim. And rethink your front door. Possibly one with a window? And paint it a fun color. You have gotten great advice about landscaping. Adding color will bring character to your home. Good luck!

Like most houses, it looks better in every season that is not winter. Lovely house just needs some color and landscaping help. I agree with painting the porch.

I would change the front door and get rid of that single sidelight. Get a door that has lites. Center the door, adding framing and beefy trim to cover.

Paint the door a fun color.

Also, the oval window up top would get the heave-ho.

Cute house. I’d focus on the porch to bring it out with white paint. Shrubs around the porch are too large for curb appeal, but might give you desired privacy. The oval window doesn’t help aesthetically, but your front door wreath repeats the rounded shape nicely. Your budget, obviously, will drive any changes. Lots can be done with $100k, but $5k will get you some nice enhancements - new window, porch paint, some landscaping, and maybe a new front door. Love your yard sign :)

I don't really think the house is ugly. If the style is colonial I'm thinking it is also heavily influenced by Victorian style. The biggest problem I see is landscaping. There seems to be a bit too much in your yard. Might suggest eliminating a few of the plants and would definitely suggest you trim down the shrubs adjacent to your porch. Also, the shrub in front of your bay could use a good trimming too. Would also suggest that you introduce some color into your yard with flowering plants. Good luck!

Please don't get rid of the porthole window. Remove the spiderweb detail that is distracting and it will be absolutely charming.

Lots of good suggestions such as a new wider door, beefier porch posts painted white, white porch railings, wider window trim if possible, maybe add a belly band. Paint the house a deeper colour, gray/green or deep blue etc or white with contrasting trim if you feel it’s dull.

Landscaping - widen the sidewalk, remove the two pairs of shrubs crowding the sidewalk, lower new shrubs/plantings at the windows and hide the gas metre by widening and deepening the bed there. I would have shrubs that stay green in for winter interest with a front layer of annual flowers or flowering perennials. Deepen both planting beds, six feet or more.
If you want the lattice below the porch to recede and disappear , paint it black/green or black/grey instead of white.
Hire a very skilled arborist every time you need the trees pruned or the canopy elevated, it’s worth it. You shouldn’t be able to tell trees have been pruned, they should still look natural and not butchered.

I would make sure the window coverings match on the front of the house, if drapery are different, make sure they are backlined with the same fabric, right now they differ in colour and are not cohesive to the eye.

Lots of room for improvement whether you own it or are looking to buy it.

Your house is a wanna be Queen Anne Victorian and it is an attractive house. You can go two ways...choose any color combinations you want or choose colors which would compliment a Queen Anne. Grrrrr, my pup chewed up the mouse and I don't know how to get photos to you with out the left click option...so search houzz for photos of small Queen Anne Victorians and you will see so many beautiful examples of color combinations. You might even see a trim color you like that will work with the siding color of the house now.

Looks to me like a quasi Victorian, not a colonial. I don’t think your house is ugly at all.

It's the front door that is throwing every thing off. Single sidelights are never a good look.

I agree--it's Victorian inspired so don't remove any fluffy details--you can add more. :)

It's a little unusual but not ugly. And it looks decent as is--no rush to "fix" what isn't broken. Just take time to get it more to your liking.

Here is a Victorian with paint similar to yours. Windows painted red.

Wow, that Victorian color scheme is gorgeous!