Bright ideas

In a bid to help its customers dress their new homes, Barratt Homes asked photographer and Instagram star Bella Foxwell to come up with ideas on how to personalise their front doors. Accessories: Year-round wreaths and unusual door knockers are very on trend at the moment. Wreaths are the perfect accessory for city dwellers and those less green-fingered among us, and door knockers in the shape of bees, chilli peppers and pineapples are a fun way to show off the homeowner’s personality. Colours: Interestingly, this year I’ve seen some of my favourite brightly coloured front doors painted in more neutral shades such as grey and beige. This could signal a broader trend towards a more pared back aesthetic.

Regardless of trends, the choice of colour is hugely telling of someone’s personality. A bold colour speaks of someone who wants to stand out and is proud of their home. Having a brightly coloured front door isn’t the norm, which is what makes them so special. I really hope more people will be inspired to take a paintbrush and a brightly coloured pot of paint to their door. Flowers: Lavender, clematis and roses round the door are perfect choices this year. For the lucky few that have wisteria, they may find themselves subject to wisteriahysteria admirers. This is the Instagram hashtag dedicated to the short-lived wisteria season, which is my favourite time of year. For a few weeks, Instagrammers across the UK madly dash about to capture the gorgeous lilac pendants before they are gone.