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Wow... a teenager...
I guess I'd leave a lot of decorating up to the teen. Basic colors and styles in the bedroom, with an agreement you'd go to choose paint or wallpaper or drapes or something like that together at a later date. Personalization is a big thing.
I would also get yourself in the habit of stocking mainly healthy snacks in the house, but a LOT of healthy snacks - teens eat a LOT, usually, and you don't want to start a habit of unhealthy eating in your home. Better to have lots of fruit and such that can be eaten freely.
I'd get a NetNanny type program installed on your home computer, and learn how to use it. Better to have it and not need it than need it but not have it!
If possible, make contacts with teachers in the school your future teen is likely to attend. Attend some events so you get a feel for the enviornment, if PTA meetings are open to the public you can attend them too. Be a familiar face before you meet those people in a business enviornment.
How familiar are you with teens and what they like to do in general? What is *your* teen likely to ask permission to do, and would you grant it? Thinking through things like that in advance can help.
But back to the home, specifically. I'd make sure to have some "comfort" items around that you may imagine would be for a younger child. Fun pillows, soft blankets, and a few stuffed animals. Something for the child to hug. Out in plain view so the teen doesn't have to ask, doesn't have to admit he needs it.
Maybe have picture frames available, for if she has some prized photographs. Or a photo album, in case there are lots of them. You could encourage her to take new photos to put in an album.
Some foster parents I know take long distance service off the phone, just in case. Some provide the teenagers with calling cards prepaid to a certain amount in case there are out-of-area people the teen would like to call.
Others put away expensive trinkets and meaningful pictures, again just in case. They can come back out if the child turns out to be well-behaved, with no anger issues.
Others try to sign the child up for an activity right away, preferably something the child had done in the past. Music, martial arts, crafts, scouting, etc. They believe it helps keep a sense of continuity in the child's life.
Once you know more about an individual teenager, you'll think of more things to do. If the child is over 16, you'll be investigating driving schools and insurance rates. If the child likes to talk (and is trustworthy), you may want to check into separate phone lines. For a sports-oriented child, you may want a sports membership to the Y. Etc.
I wish you luck! Hope you get something useful out of this list!
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