I don't think you are quite ready to decorate the porch. Is that asphalt in front of the porch. Definitely wider stairs. I might try some shutters on the window for decor. I'd paint the sidelight the trim color for a more balanced look. I think it's too high for no railings but ones that don't block the porch so much but be better.

Thanks for your response. We are still a little ways off from decoration, but it has plagued me since we bought the place. It is always on my mind since I feel the wall is bare and unbalanced. So just thinking ahead. The area in front of the stairs is stamped/stained concrete. We don't have the budget to redo that quite yet. As far as the railings, we are right at the height that we don't need railings. Also, if our stairs extend the entire porch length, we wouldn't need them either. So not sure if we will put them back up.

Any other ideas how to balance the blank wall with the window on the front porch?

For the blank space on the right, you can add a star (or similar metal design).

I would look for porch chairs on sale and add one or two as an invitation to sit. I’m a fan of colored Adirondack chairs. I think they cheer up any place you put them.

Here is the star on Wayfair. I’m sure other sites sell them as well.

You have different siding for the porch which is fortunate because it provides the opportunity for a contrasting or accent color for the walls of the porch.

The recessed, shaded structure of the porch gives a sense of intimacy and you could play that up with a darker paint color for a cozy, enveloping feel that is distinct from the rest of the house...play it up, play up that feature.

The ceiling could be painted dusty gray blue to open up the space visually. It's a retro look that is trending big time in high-end design and is very practical as well,,,wasps etc. think it's sky and won't nest.

The front door is lost in the shadows and really should be a bright color...there currently is no focal point and the door would be a good one. It will also distract from the asymmetry, which isn't a major problem once you have your furniture and plants.

I think those horizontal wire cable porch rails would further open up the space because they are basically invisble. Wider steps as mentioned. The wreath blocks too much light.

Very nice house...it's gonna look fantastic. Here is a rough rendering of my concept, dark brown and charcoal sidings:

At this point you can assess if you want to add a little more color to the house trims..perhaps a bright color to match a pretty color on the front door

I know you're a ways off from decorating, but have you had a chance to review the additional ideas and renderings I posted?

I think the railing looks fine and is needed for safety reasons. Larger stairs, a strong door colour and larger hanging baskets would look nice. One of my neighbour's has a similar porch and she has two large boston ferns hanging from a black chain over her railings -it is quite effective. In the winter she hangs two big stars. I like your patio umbrella - you could take inspiration from that and paint your door black, then add in a second brighter colour to make things pop.

Thank you all

@tracefloyd - I did see your renderings and actually had thought about doing a darker color previously. It was initially a wood color that I did not love in the slightest. I went back and forth between painting it lighter, darker, or the same color of the siding. I was encouraged, by a designer here, to do the same color as the house and that's what I did. I still love the thought of going a dark and moody color. Here's what it looked like before

I think that I would add some beefy trim around that porch window. I cannot tell if the porch is wide enough for a chair and small table on the side without the window, but if it is I would consider that. Put a pretty lamp ( outdoor safe) on the table. I would a nice piece of art to the wall. I have purchased most of our art from thrift stores/ flea markets, and added the appropriate frames. You could do that knowing that you have not invested a lot of money….in case the outdoors takes a toll on the pic and frame..

An old, pretty window (glass or no) would look nice to the right of the window. We took the railings off our tiny front porch when we redid the deck boards and it looks so much more open. Put some pretty plants or shrubs in front with wider steps. Please post pictures of what you decide to do!

Cool, thanks for the additional info and I'm glad you like my little sketches.

The continuation of the base color, to me, seems a little bland.

The front door, including the sidelight and trim is perfectly centered on the wall. Concentrate on making that pop and it will really outline the symmetry of the front porch. Paint out the door divider trim with the door color.

The porch is dark and the door is dark and everything is in the shadows....something needs to stand out...more contrast somewhere. The white railing was the focal point.

You could go with a light greige porch but the garage doors are in the sun and would make the porch look dull. Would you be open to painting the garage doors a darker color?

Here is a monochromatic color scheme with wood steps and lighter door.

If you had wide wood front steps, say 18" tread and 4" riser, the full length of the porch, you would not need rails in front, just handrails going down on each side.

Darker concept..

It would look perfect with a couple of Adirondacks.

I really like the one with the real door! I do have some Adirondack chairs so I can totally do that right away! I do have plans to go wood with my garage doors. It was my compromise with my boyfriend who likes wood and was hesitant on painting the walls. This was what I initially proposed to him. I'm no longer going with the blackish trim or at least gonna stay with the white for awhile, but it gives you an idea of how I was thinking my garage doors would look like.

Beautiful. But I like your current white trim on the house better.

I'm so pleased you like one of my versions...I think you mean the natural wood front door?

Are you talking about stripping the dark stain front door? That would be awesome..

I'm still thinking about this porch...the wood steps could lead down to a big landing deck before making the angle turn to the driveway. A landing big enough to include a built-in bench.

The porch + front area could use some improvements, to be sure. My opinions:

#1: The steps look cheap. Total tear out and replace with much wider, boxed in (not open-rung) steps.

#2: The concrete pad in front looks like a pad that might be poured beside a mobile home. Total tear out and replace with a wide swooped sidewalk coming off your new steps to the driveway. Leave a space at least 3’ x 5’ for a planting bed next to the porch.

#3: Paint the entire porch inset and railings white or off-white. Paint the front door and trim a cheery bright color.

#4: Toss any decor costing less than $100. Some people like the hanging iron stars (for decor on the right side of the door). Go BIG or go home.

Ranch style homes are my favorite. Yours has lots of potential.

@ tracefloyd Ofta, my message was hard to read. One of the lingering effects of my covid infection in 2021. I need to get better at reading again before I post. I really like the lighter color of the walls in the picture with the wood door. However, I LOVE the pop of color the teal color gives. The door is currently painted SW Iron Ore and could easily be painted a different color. AND I LOVE the built-in bench idea!

@ littlebug Zone 5 Missouri First, thank you for your feedback. We purchased this for the land and not so much for the house. So now we are trying to make the home more appealing to us, but it's proving more difficult than I could've imagined and there are things I would love to do that will never be in budget (such as adding a gable to the front of the house so it doesn't look so closed off).

In response to what you suggested, the steps do indeed look cheap and that is because they are. They are in place temporarily. Initially, the steps were made from patio blocks that were crumbling and falling apart. They needed to go due to safety reasons. Therefore we are left with these temp stairs until we decide what to do and the porch decking is done. I would like to go wider like you suggest, how wide do you think? A third of the total length? Half? The whole way?

I will check out some big items for the wall. I don't care for the stars but I am sure there is an alternative design. You didn't say anything about the wreaths, but they will be staying as they were handmade by my mom.

It's so nice to get your feedback. I thought of Teal because it's opposite on the color wheel from the roof. Go white trim for it...but only for the outline as on my Plum door.

"Boxed in steps" mentioned means you can't see inside and can be done quite frugally as you would a deck. Twice as wide as mentioned sounds about right.

If you have more wreaths, use those to make a wall display for the porch, like people do with baskets. Tney will look very nice as a collection. Use the side wall. Don't block the light coming in the window.

Don't distract from the front door focal point. I would be leery of the big star or anything on that wall. Hanging plants from the eaves and pots on the porch should be enough additional decor.

The door wall looks so clean and open in the renderings with nothing there but the big door in the middle. You could flank the door with nice wall sconces...wow THAT would be stunning. They make them for candles if you can't run wire...it's for the looks.

I certainly understand about ”buying it for the land.” They’re not making any more land, to paraphrase from my late uncle.

As for the stair width, I personally would do twice as wide as they are currently. Not more than that, because I think super wide stairs are seen more often on decks off the back door, not at the front entryway.

Take your time and do things right, as you can afford. And congratulations on your land purchase!