Dress up your windows.

Windows in a new home can often look cold and uninviting, especially at night. You should wait until you have fully thought out your interior plan before you decorate your windows. In the meantime, there are things you can do to avoid the "tacked-up sheet" syndrome that many new homes contend with.

If you don't already have blinds for privacy, pick up some inexpensive vinyl ones. They install in minutes and are an easy do-it-yourself job. To soften your windows without having to install curtain hardware, add small cup hooks at the corner of each window, and simply swag a pretty piece of fabric over the top as a valance, held by the hooks. The cup hooks can easily be removed later.