One of the most important rooms in your home, the kitchen can make or break a sale. When prospective buyers look at your kitchen, they will pay particular attention to its cleanliness, layout and storage capacity. To broaden its appeal, there are some simple, low-budget merchandising tips you can follow to give your home an edge on the market.

Maximize the Storage
Remove small appliances such as your toaster, blender and coffeemaker from the counter and store them out of sight. And don’t just shove everything into cabinets and drawers -- arrange items neatly because prospective buyers will look inside!

Make productive use of space in cabinets, drawers, pantry and other storage areas. Buyers want to see how much space there is, not how well you’ve filled it.

If your kitchen has lots of windows and natural light, take advantage. If not, use the highest-wattage light bulbs your fixtures can safely handle to brighten your kitchen and provide a sense of abundant space.

Add color and fragrance to your kitchen with a blooming plant or floral arrangement.

Also make sure your sink is well-scrubbed and dishes are put away. Grind a piece of lemon in your garbage disposal to eliminate odors.

Buyers Like Bright Kitchens
Your walls, floors, countertops and cabinets all lend themselves to low-budget improvements that can make an impressive difference in the way your kitchen looks. If your kitchen is dark and dreary, a fresh coat of paint on the walls and ceiling can make a dramatic difference. A brighter, lighter kitchen in a neutral color such as white, off-white or beige appeals to the majority of buyers.

Cabinets need a light look too. Painting with a bright semi-gloss enamel gives old cabinets a fresh, new look. Washing them with an all-purpose cleaner makes cabinets look lighter by getting rid of dirt build-up. Also, consider replacing old knobs and pulls with new ones. It can make a surprising difference.