“Your front entrance is so important when making that ‘first impression,’ because it’s really the ‘face’ of your home,” says Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and home improvement expert. “It’s smart to keep the entryway in top shape whether you’re selling your house or staying in it for years to come.”

The following are 10 easy improvements from Manfredini and Ace to help give your home a facelift, projects that use products available at your local hardware store:

 1. Repair the Walkway: Patch cracks and replace loose bricks and pavers. Rent a power washer or purchase a chemical treatment to clean up embedded stains in concrete, stone or asphalt.

2. Illuminate the Path: Lighting helps ensure guests arrive safely and also acts as a theft deterrent. Clean light fixtures and replace burnt-out bulbs with energy-saving CFL bulbs, replace outdated fixtures and add landscape lighting to brighten walkways and shrubbery.

3. Use Foliage and Shrubbery: Strategically-placed plants can conceal any unattractive aspects of your house or surroundings. Place large pots or hanging baskets around the stoop or porch. Bushes or hedges hide air conditioning units or propane tanks, and flower beds and window boxes will stylize a stark facade.

4. Prune and Mulch: Prune dead branches, trim back overgrown shrubbery or remove obstructive plantings. Spread mulch or bark around trees, shrubs and flowers for a weed-free, well-kept look.

5. Decorate Your Door: Restore the luster of your door by polishing the hinges and knobs. Paint or stain the door with a color that stands out yet complements the trim and siding. Hang a pretty wreath to finish the look. If your front door is weak or unattractive, invest in a replacement door or storm door for security and energy efficiency.

6. Focus on Windows: Fix broken windows and torn screens and paint sashes, trim and shutters in a neutral color. Add window treatments and keep the glass crystal clear.

7. Accessorize: Choose a few lawn and garden ornaments. Match a decorative handle, door knocker or kickplate with shiny new house numbers and a mailbox.

8 Feature Furniture: Spray a fresh coat of paint on furniture and replace the cushions. Fill an empty spot on the porch or stoop with a quaint bench or porch swing.

9. Keep it Clean: Sweep the sidewalk and stoop, clear away cobwebs, tighten wobbly railings and repaint posts and supports.

10. The Finishing Touch: Put out a clean, new welcome mat. Make sure the doorbell works and you’re all set to greet visiting friends and family members.

For more information on home improvement projects, visit your local Ace Hardware store or log on to www.acehardware.com and click on the Answers@Ace icon. Web surfers can also submit home improvement questions directly to Manfredini by visiting “The Helpful Hardware Man’s Corner” on www.acehardware.com. Whenever possible, Manfredini will respond with personalized advice within 48 hours.