7 Ways Your Home Can Make a Dazzling First Impression
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Having guests over for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience. We run around cleaning, cooking, and styling our house in an attempt to make guests feel welcome and at ease — and, if we're honest with ourselves, to impress the pants off of them with our sophisticated style.
A great first impression, however, starts long before guests reach the killer gallery wall in the living room or inspect the pristine bathroom. It starts from the second they arrive outside your home.
If you want to dazzle from the get-go, keep on reading for our list of seven things that wow guests before they even make it past your front door. Source: Brittany Ambridge for Domino
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Clear Walkway
Make the trip to your front door a pleasant one by creating a convenient path. Clear walkway debris, sweep dirt and dust off the stoop, and be sure there's enough lighting for your guests to see at night.
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Happy Welcome Mat
A doormat will not only keep dirt outside your home, it's also a great place to give your guests an initial greeting. You can't go wrong with a playful doormat that puts a smile on their faces.
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Bright Front Door
A pop of color on your front door sets a fashionably cheery tone that guests are sure to carry into the house with them.
Standout Door Knocker
Make the first physical interaction your guests have with your home memorable. A statement-making door knocker shows you've got style to spare.
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Seasonal Wreath
A vibrant, seasonal wreath on your front door signals to guests that you give every detail of your home thoughtful consideration. Photo by Katie Parra Photography via Style Me Pretty
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Organized Entryway
A surefire way to make a bad first impression is to usher guests into a cluttered foyer where they have to navigate around shoes, discarded coats, and piles of unsorted mail. Tidy up your entryway to create a good first impression and easy access to your home.
Good Smell
An old real-estate trick is to bake cookies in a for-sale home to fill it with the attractive scent of homey goodness. You don't have to go as far as to bake, but you should still greet guests with a pleasant fragrance. Place a scented candle or plant, such as eucalyptus, by the front door.