8 ways to make the right first impression with your home

We all know that first impressions are important – with homes, as well as people. As a homeowner, there are few things better than when a guest comes into your house and feels instantly relaxed and welcome. This is a more difficult thing to achieve than you might imagine, requiring some work and preparation on your part, but fear not. By following the simple steps listed below, you can create a home anyone would be thrilled to enter.

A new front door

A person's impression of your home starts to form before they even step inside. When they're standing on your front step waiting for you to answer the doorbell, they don't want to be looking at a dirty, peeling or flimsy-looking front door. They want to see something clean, attractive, and secure. If you already have a solid front door, give it a clean and a fresh lick of paint, but otherwise, you can go even further.

Front doors are the guardians of our homes. They should be strong and durable, but also speak to our personality. Spitfire front doors make by far the best entry doors. They're durable, strong, and provide excellent security and thermal and acoustic insulation. They also come in a wide range of designs, any one of which would give your guests a beautiful first impression of your home.

A well-lit entryway

Once your guests have actually entered your home, what will they find? Hopefully a well-lit hallway or entryway. Well-lit needn't mean bright (though your entryway should never be dark). Layered lighting is much more appealing than a single, stark bulb. Combine natural light from windows with lamps, pendants and/or spotlights to create a welcoming atmosphere you can adjust depending on the time of day.

Beautiful art

Your house is your home (and presumably your guests like you), so don't be afraid to show off your personal style in the art and decoration you fill your home with. Place a signature piece of art or decor in the first room your guests will enter, to show off who you are. It needn't be a big bold piece (though it certainly can be); just something that brings you joy.

Fresh fragrance

Smell is the most evocative of the five senses, so you want the first thing you smell as you enter your home to be something pleasant, not 'bin' or 'dog'. Investing in a scent diffuser, room spray or some scented candles is a cheap and effective way to spread a relaxing atmosphere throughout your home.

Plants and flowers

Fresh plants and flowers bring a sense of life and colour to otherwise unremarkable spaces like hallways. Unlike artwork or decor, it's not really a subjective thing; everyone likes flowers, so don't be afraid to place them throughout your house.

Declutter

A little clutter can be a nice thing to see, creating a relaxed, 'lived-in' atmosphere. But there's a difference between a stack of books or a few knick-knacks, and a pile of receipts, used mugs, kid's toys etc. There are plenty of great, cheap, storage solutions out there you can buy to help you tidy away all the clutter that accumulates over the course of daily home life.

The perfect temperature

Feeling comfortable is a basic human need. You can be sat in the most beautiful living room in the world, but if you're too cold or too hot, you're not going to enjoy yourself. Make sure to set the timing and temperature on your central heating according to the day's weather.

Clean!

We've danced around it and tried to avoid it, but we can't put it off any longer. Clean your house! You don't have to do a top to bottom deep clean (unless, of course, you actually have to). A quick vacuum, a light dusting, and emptying the bins is usually enough to freshen the place up, so your guests can fully appreciate the beautiful home you've created without distraction.