The Very British Edit: We Spend So Much Time Decorating the Rooms Inside Our Homes – But It's the Front That Tells the First Story
The small details that make a front yard feel warm, welcoming, and impossible to forget
The Opening Note
This week, I've found myself paying much more attention to the front of people's homes.
It's funny how much time we spend choosing paint colors, rearranging shelves, and hunting down the perfect lamp, while the very first thing anyone sees is often left until last. A tired doormat, neglected planters, an overgrown hedge, or a front door we've stopped noticing because we walk past it every day.
Growing up in Britain, I was always drawn to the prettiest cottage front gardens. You know the kind – climbing roses framing the doorway, lavender spilling onto the path, weathered pots overflowing with seasonal flowers, and a gate that somehow made you curious about what lay beyond. Those homes weren't necessarily grand, but they always felt warm, welcoming, and full of character.
I've always thought the entrance to a home quietly tells you what's waiting inside. Before you've even crossed the threshold, you've already formed an impression. It hints at the personality of the people who live there and sets the tone for everything that follows. The best ones don't feel overly styled or perfectly manicured – they simply feel inviting.
Perhaps it's because we're finally getting some proper summer weather, but it feels as though we're all beginning to see these spaces differently. Front gardens, porches, and patios are becoming places to linger rather than simply pass through, and it's making me want to give my own entrance a little more attention.
So this week, I've rounded up my favorite curb appeal ideas, along with an edit of the pieces I'd actually buy to add the most curb appeal and make an entrance look effortlessly beautiful. Think timeless planters, elegant outdoor lighting, furniture that earns its place, and the small finishing touches that make arriving home feel just that little bit more special.
After all, if the front of your house is the first chapter of your home, it deserves to tell a good story.
The Edit: Add Instant Curb Appeal
In the Queue
Next week on The Very British Edit, I'm indulging in the return of one of my favorite summer trends: '70s-inspired rattan, wicker, and woven furniture.
Perhaps it's because I'm off to see ABBA Voyage in London this weekend, but I've had the seventies on my mind. Not in the disco-ball-and-flared-trousers sense (although I'm not opposed), but in the warm, laid-back interiors, the decade did so well. Think woven textures, honey-toned rattan, cane furniture, and homes that felt relaxed, sun-drenched, and wonderfully lived in.
It's interesting how certain materials can transport you somewhere else entirely. The moment I see a woven lounge chair, a rattan side table, or a cane lampshade, I'm instantly reminded of long summer holidays, lazy afternoons, and the kind of homes that never seem to take themselves too seriously. There's something wonderfully nostalgic about it all.
That's why these pieces keep finding their way back into our homes. They have an effortless warmth that sleek metals and glossy finishes simply can't replicate. Whether they're indoors or out, woven textures soften a space, catch the light beautifully, and make everything feel just a little more relaxed.
I've always loved decorating with woven materials during the summer months. Rattan and wicker somehow make a room feel lighter without trying too hard, and they're just as happy on a sun-soaked patio as they are in a living room or bedroom. It's the sort of decorating that doesn't shout for attention but quietly makes a home feel more inviting.
Next week, I'll be sharing why this beloved seventies look feels more relevant than ever, the pieces I'd actually buy, and how to embrace the trend without your home looking like a retro time capsule. Think timeless woven furniture, beautiful lighting, and natural textures that bring instant warmth and a little holiday feeling to everyday life.
The best trends aren't the ones that feel new – they're the ones we're genuinely happy to welcome back.
The Very British Edit is a shoppable guide to beautiful living with a distinctly British twist. From heritage patterns to timeless decor inspirations, each edition blends personal insight, design expertise, and a love of craftsmanship. It is stylish, trustworthy, and endlessly inspiring.
