Your front entrance is your first chance to make a great impression. We asked experts to name the most egregious eyesores to avoid from the walkway to the foyer in order to ensure that your home projects a welcoming and well-maintained feel for both you and your guests.

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Confusing Front Walkway

Obvious front walkway eyesores include cosmetic defects such as cracked pavers, crumbling bricks, or overgrown landscaping. But structural flaws can make your front entrance less user-friendly while creating the uneasy visual impression that something is off.

“Not all entry problems can be resolved due to building codes like setbacks, budgets, or the style and configuration of a home,” says architect James M. Crisp. “Having said that, some of the biggest start with the approach to the front door.”

There should be a clear path to the front door and/or porch when you arrive at the home, Crisp says. “If that path is uneven or hidden from view, the first part of the approach will be poor.”

Uneven Front Steps

Some eyesores can hurt more than just your eyes. “The front steps should be gradual and even since people of all ages may be visiting the home,” Crisp says. “Uneven or steep steps can be dangerous.”

Poorly Maintained Front Door

A front door that looks neglected—with faded or peeling paint, warping from water damage, or tarnished hardware, for example—will give your facade or front porch an unkempt appearance.

“The front door should be maintained well since it makes the first impression visitors get of the home,” Crisp says. “It should work properly, so the owner can open the door with grace.” 

The architect argues that “all doors should be covered if at all possible” with a portico, a covered porch, or a recessed entry door “that is deep enough to protect a person standing at the door if it happens to be raining.”

Mudroom Shoe Clutter

For a mudroom located near the front entrance of your home, a pile of shoes on the floor will produce unsightly clutter. Ensure that your home is always ready for company with targeted storage solutions that make it easy to keep things organized and tidy.

“Make an obvious place for removing and storing shoes like a guest bench and basket or rack,” says interior designer Denise Taylor. For items such as car keys or sunglasses, she suggests “a textural, colorful or unusual box dedicated to storing these items—something easy to access without adding clutter.”

Furniture Blocking Entry

Every entry should have a console table that functions as a landing spot for personal items or for dinner guests to put down a bottle of wine, Taylor says. But be careful that it doesn’t encroach on a smaller entryway, foyer, or narrow front hallway space, or block the front door from opening fully.

“One of the biggest entryway eyesores is when the scale of the furniture is incorrect, and guests and homeowners are dancing around each other to get in and out,” Taylor says. “A well-designed entry has a clearly defined path for a guest to enter your home.”