What skin are you using? There's no way to do that from backoffice, you'll need to add this code to a file (depending on your skin)

if( is_default_page() )
{
    echo '<p>My HTML code</p>';
}

please have a look at diy-homeimprovements.co.uk and advice

Help Please...

Edit sidebar.inc.php as follows

<div id="sidebar">
<?php

if( is_default_page() )
{    // This block fill be shown at the very top of the sidebar
     // There's no easy way to display it in the middle!
	echo '<div class="sidebox widget_core_free_html">
			<h1>Friends</h1>
			<p><a href="http://www.scot-industrial-air.co.uk/serviceparts.asp">Compressor Spares</a></p>
			<p><a href="http://www.bathrooms365.com">Cheap bathroom suites</a></p>
		  </div>';
}
	// ------------------------- "Sidebar" CONTAINER EMBEDDED HERE --------------------------
	// Display container contents:
	skin_container( NT_('Sidebar'), array(
* * *