Another Noob Here

I am looking to get serious about blogging. I have a blog on Blogger now that I may not continue. I want to start a new one on Word Press and I would like to play around with it first and see if I figure it out. On the front page of Word Press it lists the first step as getting a host.

Is this necessary in the beginning? I would like to design my site first and see what it is going to look like. Then when it is ready I can take it live and get a host.