You Said It: ‘Happy Is Such a Good Thing’ and More Quotes of the Week

This week on Houzz, we continued our holiday preparations and looked toward some of the changes we’d like to make in the new year. Whether you’re planning an extensive renovation or a move, looking for a new wall color or planning to swap a few things around after shopping your own house, those dark boring days in January will be a great time to do it. What are your plans for your home in 2015? We writers are planning our stories for 2015 right now — what kinds of topics would you like to see, whether for instruction, advice or inspiration in the new year? Please let us know in the Comments section — your input is very important to us!

“Our froggy door knocker has garnered its share of smiles at our front door, but during the holidays we often hear giggles before we hear knocking. Happy is such a good thing.” — Houzz user JTBaldwin

I love anything that injects a sense of humor into home decor, and Janet Dunn’s ideabook on adding humor to the home is full of fun and personal home touches. I encourage everyone to continue to share their “home happys,” like JTBaldwin did, in the Comments section of Dunn’s ideabook.

Full story: 11 Ways to Have More Fun at Home


“These dreidels are actually pouches filled with gelt. … They’re simple to make.” — Brooke Pratt

Hanukkah begins in just a few days, and if you haven’t even begun to prepare or decorate, no need to fret. Pratt has created a beautiful dessert table, wall decorations and a festive and functional wrapping table that’s easy for even the most reluctant DIYers to copy.

Full story: A Fresh and Fun Hanukkah Dessert Table and Wrapping Station


“The traditional red and green combination can look out of place when it’s hot outside. But by using fresh white pieces, keeping decorations to a minimum and sticking with a limited color palette, you can cool things down for a fresh and chic white Christmas.” — Amanda O’Sullivan

Sometimes those of us in colder climates get so focused on the traditional version of a white Christmas that we don’t even think about the millions of people who enjoy a warm climate during the Yuletide season.

O’Sullivan shows us how to cool things down by focusing on lighter colors. These lessons will switch up your decorations in a fresh way no matter what the weather is like.

Full story: Have a Festive, Sun-Drenched White Christmas


“According to Ellen O’Neill, creative director at Benjamin Moore, the hue represents ‘fresh energy and growth’ and can serve as either ‘the hero or the highlight in any room.’” — Jennifer Ott

The paint companies have declared their 2015 Colors of the Year, and they all seem to be in total disagreement. I like this, because it reinforces the ideas that anything goes and that what really matters is using what makes you happy. But checking out their picks is a great way to explore a new color and see how it works in different rooms and with other colors. Ott did the legwork for us. The color seen here is Benjamin Moore’s pick, Guilford Green.

Full story: Best Ways to Use the Neutral Green Color of 2015

More Colors of the Year:
Blue Paisley (PPG Pittsburgh Paints)
Coral Reef (Sherwin-Williams)
Coastal Surf (Kelly-Moore Paints)
Marsala (Pantone)


“The comments to this article are as entertaining as the article itself, which is very well done.” — The Neil Kelly Company

Wow, the Comments section regarding bathroom trends for 2015 went wild. The author, Natasha Saroca, chose some of the most extreme examples representing the trends, letting us get a peek into the kinds of things only the pros get to see at design shows and conferences. Designers then interpret the trends and new technologies in practical ways to suit their clients’ tastes, budgets and needs. So just have some fun with it, whether you’re just perusing or coming up with funny puns in the Comments section. It’s a big bathroom party over there!

Full story: 14 Bathroom Design Ideas Expected to Be Big in 2015


“It costs nothing to shop our home and refresh it.” — Houzz user Mercy Me

If you are tired of your decor, switch things up by finding treasures hidden in cupboards and closets; rearranging your artwork, tablescapes, bedscapes and shelves; swapping chairs and pillows from room to room; and more. There are plenty of home projects you can do in the new year that will cost nothing but a little sweat equity.

Full story: 12 Ways to Beat the Home Decor Blahs

More: Budget Decorator: Shop Your Home for a New Look


“Removing a wall that separated the kitchen from a back hall staircase improved traffic flow and allowed space for a landing area.” — Jeannie Matteucci

I love this entire kitchen but was most struck by this little ingenious entry area. It’s amazing what a difference one small space can make, and this one starts working the second this family enters the house. The large-scale, bright botanical wallpaper welcomes. Then there’s a brilliant little bench where one can sit like Mr. Rogers and transition into at-home mode, physically and mentally. Charging stations plus hooks for keys, bags, outerwear and leashes are all here to prevent the transition from turning into a clutterfest. The homeowner noted that it made her home feel almost like a different house. It’s amazing what a few square feet can do.

Full story: Kitchen of the Week: New Function, Flow — and Love — in Milwaukee


“You’ve lost power, and experience says it could be a while before you get it back. What do you do now?” — Lisa Frederick

OK, now that we’ve had our fun, it’s time for a more serious topic and a little work. This story from the Houzz archives is a good one to bookmark and reread once or twice a year so that you’re ready when the lights go out. Frederick leads us through how to avoid that run on batteries, what to stock the pantry with, how to plan for keeping water on hand and perishables cool, plus cooking alternatives and other things you may not have thought of, like getting prescriptions picked up and laundry done before a big storm.

Full story: How to Prepare for and Live With a Power Outage

URL: You Said It: ‘Happy Is Such a Good Thing’ and More Quotes of the Week http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25211.html