Fixing the 'Tall Forehead': How to Fill Dead Space Between Wide-Set Windows

The Scenario

A homeowner recently asked:

"What to do with this dead space?"

The GardenOwl Diagnosis

The Assessment

You are staring at the front of your house, specifically that big gable end over the garage. You have two windows that seem to be running away from each other, leaving a massive, blank stretch of white siding in the middle that feels empty and unfinished, dramatically reducing your curb appeal. Your gut instinct is to fill the void; most people immediately think, 'I need shutters.' If you are interested in preventing The Tall Forehead Syndrome, stop right there. You might even be browsing catalogs for decorative stars or fake vents to slap in the middle. Stop right there.

The Trap: Why Shutters Will Make It Worse

I see this mistake on every suburban street in America. You have sliding windows (wider than they are tall). Historically and architecturally, shutters are meant to look like they can close and cover the window.

If you put shutters on wide sliding windows, you end up with skinny little rectangles that look like stuck-on plastic ears. They don't fool anyone, and they don't actually fill the center gap—they just clutter the corners.

Your problem isn't the horizontal space between the windows. Your problem is vertical mass. That white siding creates a "tall forehead" effect. The plane is too flat and too tall, drawing the eye up to the empty spot. We don't need to fill the hole; we need to break the plane.

The Solution: The Eyebrow Pergola

To fix this, we need to bring the visual weight down and add depth. The best way to do this without a major renovation is an Eyebrow Pergola (sometimes called a garage trellis or visor).

1. Create a Horizontal Break

Install a timber trellis or shallow pergola directly above the garage door header. It should span the entire width of the garage area, extending slightly past the doors on either side. This acts as a "belt" for the house, separating the garage level from the window level.

2. The Power of Shadow

By projecting this structure out 18 to 24 inches, you create shadow lines. In architecture, shadow is just as important as paint. That shadow breaks up the "tall forehead" of white siding. It tricks the eye into seeing the upper story as shorter and more grounded, making that gap between the windows feel intentional rather than accidental.

3. Material Matters

Don't just paint it white to match the siding. That defeats the purpose. Go with a natural cedar stain or a dark color that matches your window trim (the dark grey/black you currently have). This contrast creates a focal point that isn't the blank wall.

If you're dealing with a flat facade elsewhere, we used a similar approach in Turning a Beige Stucco Box into a Cozy Cottage, where adding dimension was key to killing the "boring box" look.

4. Soften with Living Elements

Since I'm a landscape architect, I can't let you build a trellis without putting a plant on it. Once the structure is up, plant a vine at the corner of the garage.

• For Sun: A climbing rose or Wisteria (if you are brave and diligent with pruning).
• For Shade: Climbing Hydrangea.

Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Map to ensure you pick a vine that survives your winter. The greenery will creep up and soften that stark white space between the windows naturally, unlike a static plastic decoration.

Visualizing the Result

Drilling into your siding to mount a ledger board is a commitment. You don't want to realize halfway through that you hate the wood stain color.

Before you buy the lumber, use GardenDream to test the look. You can overlay a pergola onto your photo, switch between natural cedar or painted black, and see exactly how the shadow lines change the face of your house. It’s a safety net for your wallet.

If you want to test this on your own yard, upload a photo to our Exterior Design App and see what this design would look like in your space.