First impressions are everything. For a home owner entering the real estate market, it means trimming hedges, changing outdoor fixtures, and perhaps painting the front door the perfect color. Curb appeal is crucial to the successful sale of a home, but what comes next can actually make or break the deal. The entrance way and living room is the best chance to wow a potential buyer once they have crossed the threshold and entered the home.

Today's home buyers are accustomed to seeing rooms with a designers touch -- thanks to TV shows and magazines -- not to mention all the beautifully decorated model homes that are also competing for the attention of your potential buyer. Redesigning the home to ready it for a competitive real estate market is more important than ever. Let the interior of your home make a lasting impression by staging the home just like professionals do.

It is important to give a polished look to a living room by eliminating clutter and sprucing up the interior elements. The flooring and fixtures should of course be updated, but just as important, is making sure the room's purpose is clearly defined. If the living room is also serving as an office space, now is the time to repurpose another room in the home or hide the office away in an armoire. Use furniture to highlight the rooms purpose and remove any extra pieces. A seating area in front of a beautifully dressed window or fireplace can make an inviting focal point and show off desired features of the home.

If you have an entrance way, make it pleasing to the eye and a hint of things to come. All personal items should be removed. A beautiful mirror can be used to enlarge the space visually, and a small table with flowers or other accessory is enough to create a warm welcome.

Older real estate can have the look and feel of a model home by prepping the room and removing extra items while highlighting with a few accessories themed to the room's color scheme and style. Wall color, textiles, and accessories are the three key ingredients to giving your home that fresh appeal. Slipcovers in fresh, new colors can be added to an outdated sofa. A coffee table or other accent pieces can display a few beautiful accessories that engage a buyer and help a buyer imagine living in the home.

When it comes to layering the accessories, less is more. Begin by first removing any items that might cause a buyer to feel like an intruder in your home. This includes personal pictures, political and religious items. Your home is now your investment; you want to get top dollar on that investment and have a number of buyers bidding on the home. Find items like books, art, pottery, pillows and throws to warm up your homes interior. Use glass or highly polished finishes for sparkle and newness. Fresh flowers, plants or fruit will also instantly add life to a room while also adding a punch of color.

By engaging the senses with beautiful accessories, textiles and color, as well as giving a clear purpose to your living room, you create a room that will have home buyers easily imagining themselves living there. Your buyer will be ready to make an offer worthy of your investment.