Congratulations! You're a new home owner. The shift from renting to owning your own home is a significant milestone, filled with tremendous excitement as well as more than a little trepidation. Whether a modest purchase or a big investment, the new home should reflect the homeowner's personal taste and style while achieving practical goals as well. Anxious to turn our investments into a 'home' many of us are tempted to rush through the decorating process. This can be a most costly and time consuming mistake. Before jumping into any new home renovation project, invest in a couple of slow walks through the inside and outside of your home. This will help you determine a home renovation 'game plan' that best fits into your budget without losing site of your goals.

Realistically, for most new home owners, the purchase of a home dramatically limits ones resources. However, with a strategy in place, you can begin the process of kick starting your ideal home plan by carefully investing in the right projects and purchases so that your dream eventually becomes reality. Here are some initial ideas for the new home owner to get you started on your path.

Refresh Those Walls
If you're not moving into a new housing development, your walls may be screaming out for a few coats of fresh paint (speak to a professional about which paints are best suited for bathrooms, kitchen and other living spaces). The wall colors you choose will act as a canvas for the rest of your home, so choose wisely. Unless you want your wall color to be the statement in your room, opt for neutral tones, the classic favorite of many interior designers. Painting is a relatively inexpensive interior project, especially if you're handy and can do the painting yourself. Don't neglect the ceilings! The right ceiling paint can add an expansive and airy quality to your room that might otherwise be lost.

Light Up the Home
A well chosen light fixture adds elegance, style and finish to a room while providing excellent lighting. There are literally thousands of lighting options available on the market today. Invest the time in purchasing a well made light fixture by a reliable manufacturer so that you can enjoy your purchase for years to come.

Treat Your Windows Right
Another affordable decorating project that adds beauty and polish to any room is the window treatments. Ensure that whatever window treatment you choose, it is designed to keep heat in during the winter and keep heat out in the summer. Look for fabrics and materials that are treated so that they don't fade or lose color in the sun. One practical, very mod option right now, is Venetian blinds. With clean lines and a smooth fit, they add an elegant look to any room without being overstated.

Polish the Floor
There is nothing more marring than a dirty and worn carpet to ruin an otherwise lovely space. A bigger investment in research, time and money, flooring is still an investment worth making. From carpeting to tiles, hardwood to haute couture linoleum (it really exists) the options are endless. If you find, like many new homeowners, that the flooring in your home is acceptable but not earth shattering (and quite frankly a floor renovation project may not be in the budget) then opt for a gorgeous floor rug or carpet. These can create a cozy feeling in a family room or bedroom, and have the added benefit of being easily changed for a new, refreshing look.

These ideas for the new homeowner can be used as your decorating primers. With these basics in place, you are on your way to realizing your goals of turning a new house into a home. Best of luck in your new home!