Dear Danica, How Can I Add Curb Appeal To My Ranch Home?

Dear danica,

Our house is a late 1800s vernacular farmhouse so I’m trying to undo the modern farmhouse updates from the last owner. In the full bathroom, I feel like the sconce over the toilet should maybe have a shade and be dimmer than the sconce next to the mirror, which I think should be more functional for make up, etc. In the powder bath, the mirror and vanity will be gone, likely replaced with a wall hung sink with a skirt. I think I should just patch over the left junction box and only have a sconce to the right of the mirror. But if I do keep them both, at least for now (avoiding drywall patching at all cost), I don’t feel like they should be matching sconces?

– Dana

I applaud you for undertaking this project and turning back time on your historic farmhouse! For the full bath, I struggle with the two sconces. I would remove the sconce over the toilet entirely, as it feels out of place. Instead, I would install two sconces above the sink – on either side of a mirror. I love these for a farmhouse! If two sconces are too close to the shower, swap the one existing sconce with something less modern, like this.

For the powder bath, I agree that the left junction box needs to go. Likely, you’ll need to hire an electrician to have it removed; otherwise, an unsightly junction box cover will have to go over it. The same goes for the full bath sconce that I recommend removing. While I don’t dislike the asymmetry of one sconce on the side of the mirror, I think one sconce above the mirror would give you more balance!

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Dear danica,

What’s your take on changing up the look of this house in a small town in Minnesota? I don’t want the house to “stand out” within the context of the town and neighbors yet I desire curb appeal. Does it need to be painted? Would landscaping/planting some “big-ticket” shrubs be a better route? Or would adding architectural interest like an overhang be worthwhile?

– Bri

There are several relatively easy upgrades you could make that don’t require extensive work. And there are several more “involved” projects that would make a big impact on curb appeal. I’ve outlined my thoughts below, and I used AI to create this rendering with my proposed changes to help visualize the home’s potential –

Easy Upgrades

• ADD SHUTTERS: While I generally only recommend shutters that are functional, sometimes they are needed to provide depth to the exterior, regardless of function. I’d add shutters to each window.
• ADD WINDOW GRIDS: It’s an instant charm boost. I like the insertable window grids from this shop! Alternatively, if replacing the windows is in the budget, I’m sharing my recommendation below.
• REPAINT THE HOUSE: White is a timeless exterior color, and (assuming the windows are vinyl and can’t be painted) white would blend well with the windows. I love Oyster White by Sherwin Williams. It’s a warm white that still feels clean and classic.
• ADD LANDSCAPING: Plants will have the biggest impact on the house. Don’t hold back. Add larger bushes on the corners that bookend the home and layer in tall, medium, and short plants between. Plant more trees and add boulders for visual interest.
• ADD A SECOND SCONCE: Add a matching sconce on the right side of the front door to make the door a more obvious focal point.
• BEEF UP THE TRIM AROUND THE FRONT DOOR: While there isn’t a lot of room, you can widen the trim around the front door ever so slightly to give it a greater presence. Choose trim with a subtle profile, not flat boards.

Big Impact Upgrades

• ADD A PORCH: The best remedy for the flat facade is a porch. I’d make it fairly wide and center it over the main portion of the house, which would cover the front door and the window to the right. This would create a clear focal point and allow you to get creative with landscaping too. Plus, this would allow you to style the porch with rockers, potted plants, etc.
• REPLACE THE WINDOWS: Swapping the windows with 6-over-6 double hung windows would be a wonderful improvement! This would also allow the shutters to be functional, which ultimately looks the best.
• REPLACE THE GARAGE DOOR: Rather than one long garage door, I’d replace it with two carriage-style doors. Perhaps a trellis over the garage doors with climbing plants would be a stunning addition as well.

All these upgrades combined would give you a big boost in curb appeal!

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