Ask any home buyer to describe what convinced them that this house was the one, and you’ll hear one word come up over and over again: “love.”

Buying a home, after all, is often a highly emotional thing, so when the right place comes along, buyers get giddier than a high schooler heading to prom. Plus, there’s plenty a home seller can learn from this rush of emotions in terms of prettying up their own place to sell like hotcakes, too.

Just check out these stories on what made buyers fall in love with their homes, and how sellers can capture that same magic in their own place.

A knockout front door

“What I first saw is what first made me fall in love with my house: the gorgeous double doors at the entrance. They were the same pretty raspberry color as the foyer, which really made them pop.” –Carol Gee, Atlanta, GA

To capture the magic: “Creative front doors are a great way to add a ‘wow’ factor to your home’s entrance,” says design consultant Barbara Mount of Barbara Mount Designs in Lake Oswego, OR. The easiest fix is to paint the door a bright but complementary color, or stain a wood door to match the porch railing or hardwood floors just inside.

You also might want to consider a door style out of the ordinary. Some of Mount’s suggestions include a Dutch door, double doors with transom windows, or an antique door—in an eye-catching color like red or cheery yellow.

“Any style can offer an opportunity for you to try a paint color that brings a smile to your face as you enter,” she says.

Sky-high ceilings

“I remember the moment I walked into the house. It was like out of my dream. I was sold on the spacious, airy ceilings.” –Amber Turner, Colorado Springs, CO

To capture the magic: The big fix, of course, would be a remodel—by vaulting the ceiling or knocking down a wall. But if that’s out of the question, paint your entry white, ceiling and all, recommends Mount.

“That fluidity of color will make the ceiling appear higher and the rooms more airy,” she says.

Another tip is to hang wall art low to give the illusion of high ceilings and a sense of spaciousness. Or, using the same concept, try hanging a mirror low so that a window can be reflected in it.

“You have instant light and a sense of airiness just by reflecting what appears to be another window,” she says.

Finally, she recommends eliminating window coverings, because they tend to make windows appear smaller, which in turn makes the whole room’s scale seem small.

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