You Said It: ‘Don't Panic’ and More Wisdom of the Week

This week everything is about making plans for 2014. We’ve all reflected on the past year, and we’re looking forward to switching things up, getting organized, purging things we don’t need and saving up for home projects. Here’s a sampling of all of the great ways we’re ramping up to tackle things around the house, whether it’s planning for a big downsizing, figuring out what to do with the garden, weaning the kids off the iPad or planning a new built-in bar.

“We’ve compiled some of the best cleaning and organizing guides from Houzz, room by room, to help you start off the year with a clean slate.” — Vanessa Brunner

Start here. If you’re trying to pick a cleaning or organizing project, just bookmark this list and choose one that strikes your fancy and fits your mood.

Full story: Your Total Home Organizing and Decluttering Guide



“Design a garden that makes you feel good.” — Annie Thornton

Winter is a fine time to plan for the garden, and this list is a great one to reference when you don’t know where to start. Definitely worth a bookmark.

Full story: 9 Ideas for Thoughtful Gardening in 2014


“Editing your stuff can be a challenge. Don’t panic. Chances are, what you have is way more than what you want, and after a year in your downsized house, you will have happily forgotten about the things you left behind.” — Becky Dietrich

At first the thought of downsizing can be overwhelming, but Dietrich’s article will calm you down and help you do it. Plus, I love a design drawing with a big fat “OMG!” on it.

Full story: Downsizing Help: Choosing What Furniture to Leave Behind


“It’s not too soon to resolve to make your next home gathering more stylish, more sophisticated and easier by adding a home bar in 2014.” — Mary Jo Bowling

Part of Houzz’s January series, “New project for a new year,” Bowling’s story gets down to the nitty-gritty on how to tackle a home-bar project, including what it entails, how long it will take and how much it will cost. If you’re looking for a solution to a parental problem without hitting the booze, check out Tame the Toy Chaos: Bin Storage for All.

Full story: How to Create a Built-In Home Bar


“Movies, games and apps are enticing, so you’re not likely to pry your kids away from them if all you’re offering is something they see as ‘educational.’” — Laura Gaskill

This story is full of great ideas to pry that Pokémon game out of your kids’ hands and get them excited about more creative play.

Full story: 10 Ideas for Making Screen-Free Play a Reality


“When we bought the house we discovered one of the wall side claw feet was missing and a couple phone books were being used to support the tub … figured it was unlikely I’d ever find a replacement, but amazingly, we managed to find a matching claw foot at an old Toronto plumbing wholesaler called Addison just a few blocks from our house. Turned out they had a small mountain of them stacked in a corner. ‘Take yer pick,’ he said. ‘Five dollars.’ The plumber suggested I bring all the tub’s old pitted and painted claw feet in and he’d have them sandblasted and hot dipped in a brass finish, which we did, and they turned out amazing!” — Houzz user bajanrolf, in the Comments section

I just love this kind of story: 1. Using phone books is a great nutty home fix; 2. Finding the elusive matching foot for a steal, right down the road; 3. The idea to have them dipped in brass. Oh-la-la!

Full story: Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Add Color to Your Tub


“And consider buying a decorative holder for milady’s soap, so it doesn’t slip into the bathwater and cause a nasty accident.” — Fred Albert

While we’re talking claw-foot tubs, I had to include this deliciously wrong and hilarious quote, which only Downton Abbey fans will understand.

Full story: Everything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned From Downton Abbey


“When your work life impedes upon your home life, well, that’s a drag.” — Allison Lind

It’s true; having to look at that pile of tax files or your inbox when you’re trying to relax can ruin a perfectly good movie night. Lind suggests clever ways that your work life and your home life can coexist.

Full story: 8 Ways to Hide Your Home Office


“Leave shoes at the door.” — Laura Gaskill

Gaskill’s ideabook is full of easy things we can do to lessen our carbon footprints, make our lives a little easier and in some cases save major bucks — for instance, my home can be much cleaner, and the only effort I have to make is taking off my shoes at the door. I’m sold.

Full story: 10 Beautifully Simple Ways to Go Greener in the New Year


“The concept house frequently generates surplus power that they have to find ways to use, or they lose it.” — Mitchell Parker

Not quite as simple a way to go green, this amazing concept house is completely off the grid.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Going Completely Off the Grid in Nova Scotia


“Call him the Cary Grant of furniture design.” — Judy Polan

I learned a lot about some Baughman pieces I’d never seen before, and loved reading about how he considered the atmosphere of a space.

Full story: Milo Baughman: The Cary Grant of Furniture Design

Did you note a favorite quotation or comment this week on Houzz? If so, please let us know below.

URL: You Said It: ‘Don't Panic’ and More Wisdom of the Week http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22489.html