Original article featured in Agenda magazine, June 2011. Images: The White Company, Purlfrost.

Make sure your home looks welcoming - even before guests have crossed the threshold. Victoria Harrison of Angel + Blume shows how to smarten up the exterior of your property.

The outside of your home is not only how you present your home to the world but it is also the first impression you make to your guests and more importantly, the first thing you see when you come home. We spend so much time making the interiors of our houses look beautiful it can be easy to overlook the exterior, but with a few simple updates you can open your front door with pride.

The main consideration is obviously your front door. A fresh coat of paint can work wonders and when it comes to paint choice this is where you can really make a statement. Unless there are any restrictions which apply to the building or area you live in, the choice is yours, although there are some timeless colour schemes which always work well. A town house always looks smart with a glossy black painted door for example, whereas a soft green or blue looks beautiful on a country home. When you are choosing your colour think about your door furniture. This includes the door handle, letterbox, door knocker and doorbell.

If you have glass panels in your front door then there are lots of ways to personalise these too. You could choose from frosted glass, leaded glass or stained glass, or for a quick and easy update you can use frosted glass film. Some companies, such as Purlfrost will personalise the frosted film with your house name or number.

A well lit porch is essential on dark nights to welcome visitors, and make their approach safer. It will also help you to identify callers before opening the door at night. Any type of mains voltage light which is used outdoors must be waterproof and durable, so get an expert to fit it for you. A classic carriage light attached to the wall is a timeless choice. Alternatively if you have a long driveway or approach to your front door then you could consider installing floor level lights along the path to light the way. Solar powered lights or lanterns are another option if you want to avoid wires and complicated installation.

Consider your fencing and gateposts. Are these in keeping with the rest of your house, or could they do with a makeover? Consider freshening up the paint if they are looking a bit tired or installing a new one if they have fallen into disrepair. If you have a postbox attached to the fence, give this a fresh coat of paint too. Planting around your front door will add another layer of character to your home. Planters either side of the door with bay trees, flowers or shrubs always look smart or if you’re short of space, window boxes are a pretty alternative.

Finally, if you are lucky enough to have a spacious garden and a lovely view from your front door, consider placing a bench outside the front of your house. On a summer evening it can be lovely to sit, relax and watch the world go by.