Boost the Curb Appeal of Your Ranch-style Home

A ranch-style home's exterior can feel very different after changes to planting, paint or the front entrance. Start with the features of your own house: its roofline, window placement, siding, porch and the amount of yard visible from the street. Decide what you want to keep before choosing a new color or adding another feature.

Work with the shape of the house

The original article focused on a low, rectangular ranch-style profile. If that describes your home, compare a simple planting scheme with taller accents before buying plants. Think about their mature height and width, not just their size at the garden center. Keep the entrance and windows in view rather than filling every open space with shrubs.

A white exterior was one of the original article's suggestions. It is an option to compare, not a rule for every ranch. Test paint samples against the roof, siding and existing stone or brick, and look at them in different light.

Choose a few colors and textures

Look for a place where a contrasting texture or color would make a feature easier to notice. The front door, trim, shutters, a beam or a porch column may be a useful starting point. Compare a small accent with a broader repaint before committing to both.

If you prefer a neutral exterior, plants and a brighter door can provide the contrast instead. Check the colors together; a trim color you like on its own may look different beside the siding.

Plan planting and the route to the door

For a small front yard, sketch a modest flower bed and leave enough room for the walkway. Rounded beds, a curved path or a limited group of plants were all ideas in the original article. Compare them with the space you actually have, the route you use and the upkeep you want to take on.

For a house with large windows, consider whether a simpler planting pattern would suit the exterior. Ask about the plants' growing conditions and mature size before settling on grasses, perennials, annuals or taller evergreens.

Separate cosmetic work from building work

A worn section of siding is a different project from choosing an accent color. The original article suggested fiber-cement or steel siding, porch extensions, awnings, new doors and windows, and roof accents such as arches or gables. Compare those ideas with the house's condition and ask a qualified professional what each change would involve.

Changing a window opening, adding a porch or altering a roof is not simply an exterior styling choice. Before commissioning work, discuss the structure, weather protection, permits, materials and total project cost with the appropriate professionals.

Make the entrance work for everyday use

Smaller entrance changes might include potted plants, a railing or lighting. Check that the arrangement leaves a usable route to the door. For any accessibility changes, describe the person's actual needs and the entrance conditions to a qualified professional. A ranch-style label alone does not establish that a home is accessible.