How to Change the Front of a Ranch Home

A side porch can dramatically change a ranch house's appearance.

The ranch-style house is strongly evocative of Americana, and its characteristics make it easily identifiable. Ranch homes are typically one story, hug the ground, integrate strongly with nature and often one-room deep. The style evolved naturally from the hacienda style in the mid-19th century. If you own a ranch-style home that you think could use some sprucing up or a more modern appearance, then changing its front can give it a quick face-lift.

Things You'll Need

• Double door
• Arched windows
• Shutters (optional)
• Porch building materials
• Path building materials
• Landscaping pebbles
• Bushes
• Shrubs
• Flowers

Instructions

1. Create a double-door entry way. Changing the front door into a double door eliminates the inherent modesty of the ranch-style house and creates a grander entrance.

2. Replace the home's standard rectangular or square windows with arched windows. They will give the front of your house a more modern shape and loftier ambiance. If you want to change the look but have a more traditional design, then add shutters beside each window.

3. Build a covered porch along one end of the home's front. A side porch will change the look of your home in an understated manner.

4. Landscape so that the front walk changes into a curvy path, which is unusual for a ranch-style home. Cover the path with bright, shiny pebbles to add texture and color.

5. Add bushes, shrubs and accent planted flowers along the curvy path to break up the home's understated landscape.

References

• Old House Online: The California Ranch
• "Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling and Building New"; M. Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman; 2006