"Home" is defined as relating to the place where one lives. From my personal experience, this relationship is the process of taking an empty room or house and filling it with the items and decor that make you feel inspired, comforted, and uplifted.
The Essentials
Have something to sleep on before you move.
Even if it's just an air mattress or a sleeping bag, by the time that you're spending your first night in your home, a place to get some rest is a necessity.
Mix budget and investment pieces.
As with a wardrobe, there is value in mixing and matching in terms of cost for furniture and decor. For instance, the dining room table you will look at every day is worth more than the in-drawer kitchen organizer. Invest in the first. Save on the second.
Unless you're Ron Swanson, consider Task Rabbit.
Nothing is more exciting in the process of furnishing a home than when the furniture arrives. What's less fun is that the furniture is delivered in to-be-assembled pieces that look more like wood planks than the bookshelf you saw online.
I had never used Task Rabbit before moving into my home, but I would highly recommend it. It's an app and website that allows you to book verified and qualified individuals to help with moving, furniture assembly, wall mounting, etc.
Try out seating before you buy.
My favorite piece in my home is the sectional in the living room, but I didn't buy it sight-unseen (seat-unseated?). If you can, visit furniture stores in person and test out the seating, maybe even with a friend to get a second opinion.
In some cities, there is also the option to rent furniture with services like Feather in NYC, SF, LA & OC. You pay a rental fee each month that goes towards the purchase price of the item, allowing you to try before you buy.
The Fun Stuff
Create a cohesive aesthetic.
Variation between rooms helps you avoid a showroom feel, and some people recommend avoiding buying too many items from one particular furniture store, but it is also important to maintain some cohesion in order to avoid design whiplash between rooms. For me, this manifested itself in a unified color palette, lighting of a similar style, and lots of plants.
Find inspiration everywhere.
Initially, I found myself turning solely to interior design books when planning my space, but then I realized decorating inspiration can be found everywhere. Think about why the ambiance of your favorite restaurant, coffee shop, bookstore, fitness studio, or park makes you happy and try to incorporate those elements in your space.
Be creative with artwork.
Large art prints can be very expensive, so consider doing a gallery wall instead to fill blank space.
One good route is to order downloadable files through sites like Etsy, have the images printed by Walmart, Walgreens, or Snapfish, and buy frames from Target or a craft store like Michael's.
Parting Advice
Set aside certain rooms or spaces for later.
Depending on the size of your space, it can be overwhelming to attempt to furnish and decorate everything at once. Especially if there is a guest room you are debating the best way to utilize, you may want to hold off on furnishing the room until you have landed on a solution you are happy with.
Remind yourself that this takes time.
Starting from ground zero when designing a home can feel like living in a never-ending project, so take it one step at a time and find immense satisfaction in accomplishing each task, even if that's finally getting the washer repaired after a too-large comforter clogged the hose.