To help you make a great first impression with your home, Anglian Home Improvements and Landscaping Expert Gena Lorraine from Fantastic Services have analysed 500 photographs using the popular #doorstagram hashtag on Instagram to give you the lowdown on exterior trends, and provide tips on how to make your home look appealing to visitors.
Add a splash of colour
Colourful doors are a great way to make the front of your home stand out and add a splash of your personality. Our analysis of 500 doors using the #doorstagram hashtag shows that blue is the most popular colour, accounting for more than a third of the most photographed doors, followed by red and black with 10% each.
Get floral
Trellises adorned with colourful flowers, hanging baskets and potted plants are perfect for creating a stylish exterior and masking any imperfections that the front of your home may have. A tenth of the photographs we analysed featured climbing plants such as flowers draped across the door or the side of the wall, and a fifth (20%) had plant pots on their doorstep. Gena recommends adding various plants such as “petunias, fuchsias, portulacas and geraniums”.
Light it up
Adding lights to the front of your home will not only help you see at night, but they are a fantastic way of highlighting some of the features in your garden such as footpaths or adding accents to your prized shrubs. Almost one in ten of the photographs featured had lighting, most of which were traditional, Victorian-style lanterns. “Remember that lights should be used sparingly as you wouldn’t want to illuminate your entire neighbourhood,” said Gena.
Improve your curb appeal
As well as the door, curbs are one of the first things guests will see when they arrive at your home. Gena said: “Curbs are like a greeting card. If they’re in bad condition, then people will be sceptical about the interior of the house and look for faults everywhere.” Power wash the outside of your home to ensure everything stays fresh and clean and consider adding a lick of paint to spruce tarnished fences and doors.
Add accessories to your door
There are many ways to style up your door, from changing its colour to adding new handles, knockers or even a wreath. Adding accessories to your door is a great way of drawing attention to the front of your home and adding style to a blank canvas. Our research shows that classic Victorian door knockers (16%) and black ironwork handles (22%) are the most popular accessories, but other photographed items were flags, brass lion door knockers and stained glass.
Maintain your garden
One of the best ways to make a great first impression with your home is having a well-maintained garden. Gena said: “It doesn't matter if all you have is grass in your yard, you have to take proper care of it. Make sure your lawn is neatly trimmed and there aren't any overgrown shrubs in your garden. Get rid of weeds and take care of your plants. You can go the extra mile and even plant some border flowers and install window boxes to complete the look.”
Liza Wrigley, Digital Marketing Manager at Anglian Home Improvements, said: “Instagram is a great source of inspiration for any budding interior and exterior designer, as it shows exactly what people look for in a home.
We’re hoping our tips help inspire new homeowners who are unsure of where to start when it comes to the exterior of their property, or those who are simply in a style rut and would like knowledge on how to make a great first impression.”
