I'll admit it: I've been suffering buyer's remorse of late. The previous owners of my home-to-be had finally moved out, and the place was officially mine. I don't know what I expected as I turned the key in the lock of the now-empty house. After all, how attractive can a vacant house look? As I stood in the middle of the living room, staring at the walls, I suddenly realized that this place was in dire need of a fresh coat of paint. Without furniture to distract me, the walls suddenly appeared yellowish, tired and well, depressing. The small holes in the walls left from small nails needed caulking. Ugh. I needed to bring new life to this place, and do it on a first-time buyer's limited budget.

So I hired a painter who, in the course of an eight-hour period, gave me a new home, so to speak. It's truly amazing what a single coat of white paint will do. What once appeared dingy now looked lifelike and ready for move-in.

And a few hundred dollars is all it took. Unless you're moving into a brand-new residence, chances are very, very good that you'll immediately start to pinpoint things you want to change in your home (my list already exceeds a page). Everyone's told you by now that you'll simply have to prioritize - to create a budget and timeline for these improvements. But like every other homeowner, you want instant gratification; you don't want to make concessions. The good news is that you can make several minor modifications as soon as you move in - and many of them won't cost you a cent.

Let's go back to the improvement that does cost money: the paint job. Shop around, ask your Realtor for a reliable painter, and you may land yourself a deal as good as the one I snagged. While another expense is the last thing you need after closing on your home, it's far easier to paint a home's interior before you've moved into it. So if your budget can be stretched a bit, have your home painted. A paint job is among the home improvements that will give you the most bang for your buck. A fresh coat of white paint, in particular, breathes new life into a home. While you may consider custom paint jobs, they're more expensive, and time is often of the essence at this stage of the game. So it's usually best to go with a simple shade of white, which, of course, gives you versatility in your choice of décor.

If your budget can take it, a paint job for your cabinets - both kitchen and bathroom - is an extremely impactful home improvement. Depending upon your resources and the number of cabinets in your home, this doesn't have to be an expensive project, but if you've already had your home's interior painted, you may want to save your cabinets for a rainy day.

And speaking of décor, it counts for more than you'll ever know. Have you ever walked into a modest home in which the owners took such pride that its interior far exceeded its exterior? Many homeowners resign themselves to ho-hum surroundings without realizing that if they merely rearranged their furniture, their homes could take on an entirely new look - an improved look. For an added touch, you could purchase new slipcovers for your sofa and/or living room chairs (watch for sales at local home-decorating retailers), or purchase a relatively inexpensive throw rug for underneath your coffee table.

Lighting, in particular, is key. Rather than keeping your overhead canister lights on, buy yourself a couple of lower-wattage table lamps and/or a torchiere-style floor lamp, which will cast an inviting glow toward your ceiling. What once seemed ordinary will suddenly appear inviting.

Curtains are also important for any room - even if you already have blinds that provide you with privacy. But don't purchase heavy drapes; they can be drab, dark and depressing. Instead, find something relatively sheer that adds warmth without blocking sunlight from your rooms.

Plants, including potted plants, silk plants, ficus trees and hanging baskets, add an inviting element to your home, as well. You don't have to take an extreme approach to bringing the outdoors indoors - filling your room with so much greenery that it rivals a South American rainforest - but a few plants sprinkled here and there create ambience. You may even wish to purchase fresh flowers for your kitchen table, or buy an orchid for the center of your coffee table.

If it's possible, eliminate as much clutter from your rooms as you can. Don't feel as if you're obligated to fill every corner of every room. Excessive clutter is downright depressing. It collects dust, and more important, it creates stress. Simplicity and open space creates a soothing, relaxing environment. At the same time, however, you'll want to place a few personal items throughout your home to personalize it a bit. Frames, of course, are the obvious choice; but anything that conveys your personality - whether it be an unusual piece of artwork or a favorite collection placed on a shelf - is worth displaying. Remember that many interior designers recommend placing items in odd numbers; for example, a group of three candleholders.

If there's any area of your wall space that you wish to mask, find a beautiful piece of framed art (and you don't have to do this expensively - just head to your nearest art museum, pick up a poster-sized artist's replica, and have it framed at your local arts and crafts store - watch for seasonal framing specials) or even a decorative screen to disguise the space.

As you continue to spruce up your home, you'll undoubtedly discover other "shortcuts" that will easily breathe new life into your home. You'll soon realize that you like your furniture and accessories - not to mention your home -- more than you originally thought. Guests will comment on your decorating expertise, and many of them may be under the mistaken impression that you spent far more money to create such an inviting ambience. Go ahead... let them. It's a new homeowner's prerogative.

Published: October 5, 2000

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