Remodeling Ideas for a Ranch House

Add On

• If the biggest problem in your ranch home is lack of space, think about adding on. Because of the design of the ranch-style home, creating an extension or second-story addition is often easier than on homes with more complex blueprints. But before you start planning additions, be sure to keep you current landscape in mind. If you don't have enough land to expand or you'll need to remove some trees to add height, it could take more time and money than you initially thought to add on.

Bring In the Light

• Small windows and dark colors were popular looks when ranches were in their heyday. To modernize the ranch while keeping the home's clean lines, bring in the light. If you're in the middle of a major remodel, think about enlarging the windows where possible, and use light colors on the walls to brighten up the space. If you're remodeling a ranch kitchen, try installing glass doors to reflect the light from a window through a room and make the area appear more open.

Redo the Exterior

• Nothing dates a ranch house like its exterior. Cover up old dark bricks with a coat or two of white stucco for a more modern exterior, or mix it up with stucco and natural materials, like stone. If your ranch-style home's exterior is as flat as can be, add depth by creating gables, installing shutters or turning a large picture window into a bay window.