Here are some tricks you can enlist to make your ceilings feel higher.
First - if you are putting up window treatments mount them all the way to the ceiling (also think of using stripes, it elongates the room).
Second - when you paint, keep the ceiling white. Stripes (subtle or otherwise) in the paint will make the ceiling feel higher if you are not interested in stripes on your window treatments.
Third - try putting up large pieces of art instead of smaller pieces scattered about. –or if you have lots of smaller pieces group them together to make a large grouping.

Congratulations on your new home!