10 Secrets from Home Stagers

You've scrubbed and cleaned and dusted your house to perfection—but how does it sound? If you live in a busy area with lots of noise, consider throwing on some soft music, suggests Makk. By drowning out distracting sounds—think traffic, trains or even children playing—you keep people in the moment and in the space. And while the smell of your home might give you warm and fuzzy feelings, it's best to play it safe with a couple unoppressive scented candles (choose complementary scents, like pine or linen, with a max of one per room), a few well-placed lilac and lavender plants, or by simmering orange and lemon peels with water for an all-over fresh smell.