Consider painting the garage doors (front and side) the same color as the siding. That will help pull more focus to the front entry area. Painting the front door a light color (even white) will help pull it out of the shadows. White chairs would show up better, too. The windows aren’t really the right style for shutters, but window boxes could work. Landscaping will be a big improvement.

When budget permits, a garage door with windows would add interest. Also, paint downspouts the same color as the siding. No need to do everything at once.

When you do repaint, a sage green would look nice with your roof color.

You don't have the right kind of windows for shutters. I don't know what the climate is like where you live, but if you can have foundation plantings, adding some would really help the appearance of the house. Right now it just looks like a sea of gravel next to the house. If you're not knowledgeable about plants, get a plan from a local landscaping designer.

The exterior color is unfortunate. The white garage door and trim are stark and unappealing against the brown, but I don't think I'd bother changing it now unless it's going to be a long time before you're able to change the exterior color.

Landscaping would go a long way to improving the exterior appearance. That would mean carving areas of the drive area to add planting beds. Any chance of that?

Otherwise, if you could get some soil near the house you could plant a climbing vine like a bougainvilla on a wall pergola. You can mount those over your garage door and windows. The vine does best in sun and not too wet.

Hardscape! It looks like you might live in a dry area and are xeriscaping.

You can still add curb appeal with a wide stone walkway from the front door to the driveway and to the street. A low wall in front of the house would look nice as well.

Add some large boulders and some areas with a larger rock.

I would also paint your front door a much brighter color.

Replace a lot of the gravel with greenery.

Thanks for the input! I will paint the door white and the patio chairs and add a window box. I did have the idea of adding a trellis above the garage door too so will add that as a project! I do know landscaping is needed and will be working on that but looking more on ideas for just the house for now.

Save your money. Buy a couple big pots of blooming something for the front entrance. wait until you can paint away the brown

A white door will look better but not add much curb appeal. I'd pick something brighter, like orange, red, etc.

The house doesn't need anything other than a prettier paint color ... spend your time and money on hardscape and landscape.

Window boxes are a pain to keep looking nice. Take it from me, I'm a gardener. When it's hot, the roots bake and there's limited space for them. In the ground, there's much more insulation against extreme heat and cold, more room for roots to reach down and find water, more space for water to be absorbed.

Foundation plantings will be much easier, you can plant them in your gravel and they will do the same thing. If you want more extensive gardens for annuals, you have plenty of room.

I'd start with a garden to the right of the porch.

I like the paint color. I wouldn't change the color of your house unless and until it needs painting anyway.

Yep house is not bad, it is the lack of landscaping that is the culprit imo.

If your house has a hose spigot on the front or on the side near the front, window boxes and big pots would be manageable to water. The keys to success with window boxes are water and gardener attention. The deeper the window box, the more soil it can hold. Here's an example of a deep window box.

Garden Designs in Containers · More Info

I have to agree about window boxes- they look great but unless you are DEDICATED to them they will bake. My first thought is why so much gravel? Even in an arid climate you can mike it up and add some green. I think I missed where in the country you are (7a is a wide swath). I’ve marked where ‘beds’ could be whether they are green or rock gardens with a specimen plant. I also like the idea of the trellis over the garage door. I would repeat the form by adding craftsman brackets in the eaves. Keep them simple and they coals be painted the trim color or stained cedar.

Window boxes are difficult even in the mildest of climate. I live at the beach in So Call, no frost or temps above 80 except on very rare occasions & I’ve found them problematic. Others have suggested a trellis with perhaps bouganvillea … just be aware that even though they’re beautiful they are very messy & require constant pruning when mature. They also have some pretty nasty thorns. I like Jan’s suggestion, but I would add a nice light fixture at the front door .

Window boxes DO need attention, if you’re willing. We’re in SoCal and had them at a previous home with a western exposure. I filled them with ivy geraniums (vs zonal) and they bloomed year long. Other than watering, most of the work was deadheading spent blooms.

The picture is quite dark so it's difficult to see what's going on on the porch. One thing for sure is you can do some landscaping. Install a walkway from the front door towards the garage with large pavers. If you don't want to remove the stones, find some plants that work with them and plant sparingly. You can replace your lighting with larger sconces and perhaps install flower boxes on some of the windows and place a few plant containers here and there.. This can tie you in until you have a budget to paint and perhaps do more.

@lisedv thank you for the mock up! That’s super helpful to see the ideas. I uploaded a few extra photos for better lighting to see. We actually do already have a pathway to the garage.

@Hallett & Co I like the idea of adding craftsmanship brackets. I thought about doing one in the peak of the roof.

If you are on a budget I would buy two white flowering plants for either side of front door area. Add white furniture on the front porch, with baskets of white flowers to brighten things up. It will relieve some of your anxiety for a very small amount of money and you an enjoy them this weekend while to plan what to do next. Anxiety adds stress especially when funds need to go other places. Good luck.

Could go with darker trim and darker and or bigger gutters and ds my parents have brick and dark blue trim black gutters and ds hides way better but way cheaper than copper