Georgina Crothers shares her top tips and tricks to help your property make an impressive impact on the street scene

The porch and traditional sage green front door from Thames Valley Windows (www. tvwindows.com) complement the style of this quaint country cottage

Whether you’re renovating or building from scratch, you have the chance to carefully craft the exterior design and landscaping of your home, adding to its value and appeal. The front of your house is what visitors will see first, so it’s a prime opportunity to set the tone for the rest your perfectly-tailored new home. Here are 10 fantastic ways you can design and improve the front of your house to give it wow factor from the get-go:

1 MAKE YOUR HOME’S FRONT ENTRANCE THE FOCAL POINT

The front door of your property is a stand-out feature, and arguably the most important when it comes to making a great first impression. Not only is it a key consideration when ensuring airtightness, energy efficiency and security, but it also forms the centrepiece of your home’s front facade. Whether you choose a traditional or contemporary design, there’s a range of materials, finishes and sizes to choose from when specifying your front door that can make a wow-factor feature. Don’t forget about door furniture, such as the house name/number, letterbox and handle. These features don’t always have to be on your door, either – you can place them next to the entrance or even on the boundary fence/wall. To further enhance the design, consider building a porch. The structure can add drama, and it’s a convenient place to provide additional storage.