It is a well-known fact that interviewers judge a person on the opening moments of an interview. Appearance and the initial moments of a meeting play a pivotal role in whether or not somebody gets a job. It’s not too different when it comes to houses, either. A buyer will know in those first few minutes whether a house is for them or not.

However, it isn’t just buyers and sellers that need to care about a house’s appearance. How homes look from the outside is just as important as how they look from the inside – for a number of reasons. Your front door and the outside of your home is what you will be returning home to after a stressful day at work or after a long summer holiday. It’s also what shapes the first impression of any guests you have over.

Impressions start from the moment guests arrive outside your home, before making it past your front door. It is essential that you care for the frontage of your house. Here are some tips to set you on your way to creating the best first impression with your home.

Keep your path and driveway clear and inviting

First things first, make that trip to the front door easy and pleasant with a perfect path. Have a clear and convenient walkway to your front door. Remove dirt, cut back plants and make sure there aren’t any obstacles in the way. Clean the pathway to give it a new lease of life and make sure there are no cracks or neglected areas.

If your path is too far gone, look into some new paving stones and think about garden walling to frame your path. Consider what is best for your home, how frequently the path is used, and what sort of material suits your front lawn.

Invest in a bright and cheerful front door

When you look at houses, the door is always the centrepiece — so every detail of your door, from the colour to the door handle and door knob, plays a big part in your home’s first impression. This is the portal to a home and often provides the most character.

Colour plays an extremely important role in inspiring certain emotions in people, but it also says a lot about you. A fresh coat of paint that is well maintained and conveys a positive emotion looks both organised and charming. Choosing the right colours is one of the most effective ways of increasing kerb appeal.

Go outside so you can view your home and think about which colour door would go with its surroundings. Alternatively, there are even apps that help you see what your front door would look like in a new colour.

Red can be a wonderful colour and it definitely injects energy into your home, but be careful not to go overboard. Modest shades of Green and Blue are safe bets that are warming and cheerful, while indigo makes for a particularly unique front door colour. If your home is lacking some outside colour, why not match the door with the windows?

Sturdy and shiny door hardware

As guests or potential buyers approach your home, they will view your front door from close up. For both you and them, it is always good to be on top of your door’s hardware and characteristics. There is nothing more annoying than a squeaky door, a broken door handle, or dirty and neglected door furniture.

One thing that’s guaranteed to create a great first impression is an elegant and good quality door knocker. This can be a particularly memorable feature of your home and makes a statement if you have a particularly stylish door knocker. Make sure your door hardware is cared for, well cleaned and polished, and is as sturdy as it was when first installed. If not, have a look into buying some new quality front door furniture.

Ornamental door knockers are particularly effective at giving your home that extra touch. They aren’t too expensive but they considerably impact the character of your house, making it both luxurious and unique.

Add the finishing touches to your outdoor space

With a bright coat of paint and shiny, sturdy new door furniture, your door will stand loud and proud — but this doesn’t mean that it can’t be improved even more with some finishing touches.

A good doormat is the first addition. A thick, quality doormat is the sign of a warm and appealing house; it keeps out dirt and makes guests feel welcome from the get-go. You can never go wrong with a jokey doormat that invites guests in with some cheerful words.

Festive cheer can also add a brilliant touch to the home. A wreath can look exceptional located in the heart of your door, and you should embrace Christmas and Easter by adding those small touches once in awhile. There is a wide range of festive ways to decorate your front door and they show that you care about the little things. Besides, you might like them so much that they end up staying there for longer than expected!

If your door’s surroundings are lacking character or you don’t have enough greenery as you would like outside your home, adding a couple of garden planters that frame the door is always a strong move. Plants and greenery is never a bad idea outside or inside a home — it is inviting and relaxing. With garden planters, your door looks charming but does not require too much maintenance.

Light it up

Now that you’ve got a beautiful home with a proud front door, think about what it looks like in the evenings. Lighting both along the path and above the door are essential. Consider downward facing lights that highlight the edge of the path and the door itself. These show the beauty of your home and make it look like a safe and inviting place, but also allow you and any guests to easily navigate between the front door and the street. As you can imagine, it is not all too comfortable standing outside somebody’s home in the dark, and trying to trace your footsteps in pitch black of night won’t create the best of impressions!

*Collaborative post