The front entrance to your home is where first impressions are made. It is the space where visitors are greeted and it is the first place you see each time you come home.

In Feng Shui it is also believed that your front door is where all the vital energy that circulates through your home enters. A pleasing entrance will attract positive energy along with new opportunities, abundance and vitality. Therefore, it is important to usher in as much energy as possible by making your front entrance as appealing and inviting as possible.

There is no better time than spring to enhance your front entrance. Clearing away debris from a long winter, potting plants and adding outdoor lights are all great ways to start.

10 tips to enhance your front entrance:

1. Clear away the debris that may have accumulated on your front yard after a long winter. Make sure the path to your front door is clear of obstacles such as fallen tree limbs or overgrown bushes. You do not want your guests or essential energy to encounter any obstructions when trying to reach your front door.
2. Be sure the pathway to your door is in good repair. Are stepping-stones loose or cracked? If so, be sure to make those repairs as soon as possible. If you do not have a path to your door consider creating one by adding stepping-stones or defining a path with flowerbeds. A well-defined path is an excellent way to direct your guests, as well as energy, to your front entrance. If possible, create a path that is big enough for two people to walk side by side to your door. Also consider having a path that meanders to your door. Curved paths direct the energy in a more organic way, mimicking the curved lines in nature.
3. Add potted plants or flowers on either side of your front door. The plants will accentuate the entrance, which is particularly good for hidden or recessed doorways.
4. Brighten your front entrance with lights. Add a light on either side or above your door. Also consider lighting the edge of the path to your door with small solar lights. This will lead your guests right to your front entrance as well as ensure everyone's safety.
5. Make sure your door is well marked. Is your street or apartment number visible from the street or do people have to search to find the entrance to your home? By clearly marking your front door, you are not only helping people find your home, you are signaling to the world that you welcome new opportunities and abundance into your home and into your life.
6. Consider painting your door. In Feng Shui the color red is frequently painted on doors to draw energy to the home. If you don't want to paint your door, hang a wreath or consider choosing brightly colored flowers for your flowerbeds and pots to attract energy to your home.
7. You may want to add a water fountain or wind chime by your front door. Sound is a great way to attract auspicious energy into your home and life.
8. Be sure your doorbell works and can be heard throughout your home. If you don't like the sound of your doorbell consider replacing it with a chime or bell. If your doorbell is broken, repair it as soon as possible. A broken doorbell is symbolic of missed opportunities.
9. Make sure your front door can open at least 90 degrees without hitting any obstructions such as shoes or furniture. The space just inside your front door should be free of clutter.
10. What is the first thing you and your guests see when you enter the front door? Be sure whatever greets you is beautiful and peaceful. If you can, create a foyer by adding a table with a mirror or artwork above it. Keep fresh flowers on the table so you are always greeted by beauty and pleasing smells. If you don't have space for a table hang your favorite piece of artwork, a photograph or an attractively framed mirror on the wall where you will see it whenever you enter your home. A pleasing entryway will lift your spirits every time you leave and come home - a great way to start and finish your day.

Entrances provide an opportunity to leave the stresses of the day and the outside world behind by offering a place to pause and shift gears before entering your home. A walk down a path, a moment to smell flowers or stopping to listen to a fountain all help you transition from your public life to your private life.