First impressions count and a front door says everything about your house.

One in a dingy colour, with peeling paint shrieks neglect, or even worse, that the shabby state of affairs out-doors could be mirrored inside.

If you have a door like this, there's no time to lose in changing it, especially if you're hoping to sell your home - and also because there's a growing 'keeping up with the Jones's' trend when it comes to front doors.

"People are really paying attention to their front doors, and it's noticeable that they're prepared to spend more money on having them designed so they are either unique or historically accurate to match their property," said Mark Barber, managing director of The Door People which makes bespoke front doors.

"It's infectious - once one person in a street renovates or has a new door, you so often find the neighbours follow suit. No one wants to find they have the shabbiest front door."

There's a huge selection of front doors available in major DIY stores if your budget doesn't stretch to having your door handmade. Alternatively, architectural reclaimation and salvage yards are excellent places to find an original period door. But, be aware that modern door frames are standard while old doors come in varying shapes and sizes.

Barber happily describes himself as a 'door nerd' dedicated to constantly researching and checking hand-crafted designs to ensure they totally satisfy a client's demands.

"No door is ever identical, as there are always small touches and details that can make it totally individual and add huge character to the house exterior."

There is a rising number of front door 'connoisseurs', he adds. "It's partly due to people choosing to invest in their properties rather than move, as well as an awareness that an interior front door, or one which doesn't match the style and date of a building affects it's value and turns buyers off."

Kieren Anderson at The Handmade Door Company, which sells reclaimed and bespoke doors, agrees.

"More people want to return the period detail to their homes, so Victorian and Georgian front doors have never been so popular," he said. "Stained glass panels are particularly popular as a decorative feature. The front door is the main attraction on the front of the house, and it's vital to get it right."

Winning front door features

  • Stained glass: If you're worried about security, have laminated glass panels fitted behind the panes so the look and the light is unmarred.
  • Sandblasted glass panels are attractive on contemporary doors, particularly if they're embellished with a simple decorative detail.
  • Door furniture: brass never goes in and out of fashion, but bruched chrome is currently popular, even on period doors, and in tune with the current trend to mix old and new.