1. Your main focus must be your sanctum sanctorum, i.e., the bedroom. Invest in good bedding, research what kind of mattress will be best for you, and buy sheets and duvets from a store of repute to avoid easy wear and tear. Your bed is where you're likely to be lounging at least 30% of the times, and this calls for good pillows too, not to mention a light with high wattage right above. If you're doing up the room in your favourite colour, go for a complementary or a triad colour scheme so you have more options for accents and other decor.
2. Since your first apartment might be a rental, it is best to avoid heavy pieces of furniture. Buy a standalone couch and learn how to mix and match seating arrangements. Pay for a sturdy coffee table which can double up as a study table or workplace is necessary. Try and get one which has shelves built in to the sides so you can probably keep your magazines and newspapers there. Another bit of furniture is a TV stand or entertainment unit which can be extended at will. An area rug is also important to give the room more structure and differentiate it from the dining area/kitchen. Lastly, buy at least one lamp apart from the overhead lighting and place it in the corner to create a cozy section.
3. Coming to the kitchen, stock up on the basic utensils. Buy sets of cutlery and plates. It is better to pick sets of disposable utensils too, for all the parties you're sure to host. A marble countertop is easiest to clean, so see if you can pitch for one. Ensure the kitchen has enough shelves and cabinets for all the food and condiments. You'll also need a storage unit to keep things like kitchen towels, napkins etc. and things like serving trays which won't be used regularly.
4. Lastly, miscellaneous. Be sure to buy a laundry basket, waste-paper baskets, cleaning equipment, blinds - if curtains are too much of a hassle, keep a cabinet wherein you can store the daily essentials, and a shoe-rack is honestly helpful too.

Whatever look you're going for, it is crucial to have storage spaces for all your gadgets and other expensive items. It is also equally important to have a few extras of everything handy, for unexpected guests or other situations. Don't forget to leave a couple of walls bare to hang all the framed pictures of your new life next to memories of the old!

One theme you can select is the Nature theme. You could go with either a 'plants and flowers' or an animal theme for starters. Paint the walls a calming, fresh shade of green and select a floral stencil. Pick out cribs and cabinets in gorgeous wooden tones of oaks, cedars and pines and liven up the room that much more by getting a rug having colours similar to the mural/stencil on the wall. If you're going with the animals theme, you could swap the green walls for more sunny hues of yellow. A fun idea is to paint the ceiling like a canopy of leaves imitating the forest.

Another idea that'll leave your child enchanted and work even when he/she grows slightly older is the Wanderlust/Travel theme. Paint one of the walls in a way to imitate the globe or you could just choose a mosaic of the world map which will give a stunning look to the whole room. Build a shelf holding all different modes of transportation and the centre table could be a slab of wood or glass atop a converted trunk! Little signboards declaring details such as those found in airports will just add to the entire fantasy.

One idea catching on in recent times is the Fandom theme! Example, Harry Potter: One wall could be the Marauders map while you can make the other walls look like faux unfinished bricks to look like the ancient castle, Hogwarts. Low lamps and chandeliers will lend their old-world glamour to the nursery too! Or if you're into the Star Wars fandom, paint a famous quote right above your baby's bed for him/her to glance at with sleepy eyes right before doing off. Star Wars merchandise and bedding is available in multiple stores and you can pick them to your heart's content to make sure your little ones nursery is just the way you had always envisaged!, for unexpected guests or other situations. Don't forget to leave a couple of walls bare to hang all the framed pictures of your new life next to memories of the old!

Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind while redoing your house if you think there's a chance you might get a pet in the upcoming years:

Flooring: While classic hardwood floors and luxuriant carpets never go out of vogue, having a pet means constantly having to clean up muddy paw-prints, training them to defecate outside and vacuuming all the fur they shed. In this scenario, your best bet is marble, ceramic or laminate flooring which is easy to clean and gives the pets a good grip on the floor when running, even if they're old.

Area Rugs: If you absolutely dislike the look of bare floors and want to cover them up, area rugs are always a good idea. Not only do they protect your hardwood floors from scratches or dents, they also help your pet have a firm grip. You can use these rugs to differentiate play areas from areas which require them to be less exuberant. Pick an area rug with close knit, dark patterns and a multitude of colours so any possible paw print doesn't show easily.

Upholstery: Velvet, Damask and other delicate fabrics seem like a gorgeous way to beautify the living room sofas and chairs but these will get spoilt within days of bringing home a pet. Not only will their nails leave marks, velvet is a magnet for fur and dust. Opt for canvas, micro-fiber or other synthetic upholstery to give a nice, modern look and be wear and tear friendly.

Collectibles: Let us accept that if you have a cat, chances are, it will want to climb atop every surface possible and dogs can knock down crystal figurines on any table with ease. SO what do you do? Invest in a sturdy, high cabinet with glass doors where you can display all your collectibles without it having the risk of being broken and your pet getting hurt.

While the idea of not doing your house exactly might be slightly disheartening, the love, affection and limitless joy a pet can bring into one's life is worth all amount of sacrifices and what wouldn't you do for your furry best friend right?