6 Easy Styling Secrets That Work Like Magic

Even if hiring a professional stager is beyond your budget, know that many offer one-hour consultations at reasonable rates and can be particularly helpful tackling challenging issues specific to your space. The first, and most basic, step is to clear the clutter and deep clean floors, baseboards, walls, window sills, windows, bookshelves, and lighting fixtures. Cobwebs in the corner and dingy door handles make a home look neglected.

"Streamline" the space, removing excess furniture and any potentially distracting functional pieces from every room. "No clocks or printers, things like that," Goodrich said. Make sure remaining pieces are not too close to the windows so potential buyers can see the views. "It also makes the space look bigger," he said, which is always a plus.

A fresh coat of paint is a sure-fire way to add oomph to any interior, Goodrich said. If a complete refresh isn't possible, consider painting a single wall in a striking shade for impact. "An accent wall in an unexpected color can bring in a lot of interest and excitement," he said.

Laura Pacchini, who has more than 10 years of interior design and staging experience, takes the painting concept one step further — often recommending that sellers to rent original artwork from a gallery or website for a dramatic statement. "Even taking a large canvas and painting it a single color can do wonders to pull the look of a room together," she said.

Another soft spot? New pillows. Pacchini said replacing faded, flattened pillows with inexpensive ones in bright hues or patterns provides an instant visual boost. One buyer was so enthralled by the Ikea pillows she placed on some outdoor furniture, she said, he asked to buy them on the spot.

New bath and hand towels are a must for every bathroom, said Pacchini, who favors simple, white plush versions for their spa-like appeal. Adding a monogram adds an even splashier touch. "Fresh towels make people think, 'I want to take a shower here,'" she said.

Go green! Adding a healthy plant breathes new life into a room. Pacchini prefers orchids because they are low-maintenance, long lasting, and have sculptural appeal. "Go to Trader Joe's and pull them out of their icky little plastic containers and put them in a terra-cotta pot and they look beautiful," she said. Whatever you choose, make sure the leaves stay dust-free. "Nobody notices a clean plant, but they can always spot one that isn't."

Last, but not least, Goodrich said adding contrast is a wonderful way to inject some personality. "I have never seen staging look so uniform, there's a very highly defined look now, and buyers are conditioned to see this modern, minimalist look," he said. "I like to counter that with something unexpected and adding some kind of twist. For example, a modern chandelier presents a great contrast to classic architecture, and a traditional, over-the-top classic chandelier can look fabulous against concrete."