It is important to make your home feel welcoming and ready for the potential buyer to feel that they are home.  For some hints go to
http://www.realtor.org/libweb.nsf/pages/fg303#topica and read some of the articles provided.  Or try this basic site http://www.globalspan.net/staging.htm

Remember, when preparing to show your home the two best things that you can do are to 

     DEPERSONALIZE
                  
&
                     
DECLUTTER!

The potential buyer will feel like they are looking at something that they could live in rather than invading someone's personal space.