December has arrived, and with it the show notes for Episode 27 of Young House Love Has A Podcast. In this episode we discuss how to pace yourself through home renovations so your enthusiasm doesn’t outstrip your budget, time, or skill. We offer practical starting points, tips for redirecting projects that would be better postponed, and a few quick stories from our own recent projects. John shares an unusual DIY battle wound from work at the beach house, and Sherry highlights fresh twists on holiday decorating. We also round up favorite stocking-stuffer ideas for DIYers and decor lovers, and laugh over some of the oddities that have come out of Shark Tank.
You can download this episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen on your preferred podcast platform. Use this page to follow the links, notes, and photos we mention in the show.
What’s New
- Above is our new bonus-room Christmas tree. We picked it up recently and added a few new ornaments to give the space a cozy, playful vibe.
- We also put together a “cage o’ presents” for the room—it’s a fun way to contain gifts while keeping the area visually interesting.
- At the beach house, John dealt with a patch of poison ivy after tackling an old metal shed on the property line. We spared you an up-close photo of the rash, but here’s a shot of the shed that started it all.
- We pulled out a huge pile of brush while clearing the area—likely the poison-ivy culprit—and found the shed interior to be in rough shape.
Updates
- We revisited the earlier conversation about stairs with white risers in Episode 23 and shared listener feedback on social channels; if you missed that discussion, it’s still worth a listen for different perspectives on the look and maintenance.
- We’re still loving a particular overview book that inspired some of our recent decisions; it’s one of those practical resources that helps you plan before you buy.
What’s Not
- John mentioned a BuzzFeed roundup of memorable Shark Tank products during the episode. Below are several of the items we talked about:
- SquattyPotty (a toilet stool that promotes a better posture for bowel movements)
- HoodiePillow (a travel pillow with a hood)
- CittiKitty (a product aimed at helping train cats to use a toilet)
- Nerdwax (a small paste to keep glasses from sliding down your nose)
- SoapSox (fun bath-time puppets)
- EcoNuts (organic laundry detergent alternatives)
- Unshrinkit (a product to try to restore shrunken sweaters)
- PhoneSoap (a UV sanitizer for phones)
- EVP – Extreme Vehicle Protection (a weatherproof car cover in bag form)
- AFreSheet (disposable sheet layers for beds)
- Pavlok (a wristband that delivers a mild shock to discourage unwanted habits)
- We also suggested you check out EVP in action—if you need a laugh, watching a full-size vehicle zipped into a protective bag is oddly entertaining.
Listener Question
- We referenced our post on why we like a “Phase 1” approach to decorating during the show. Breaking projects into smaller, intentional phases helps you spend wisely and refine the plan as your space evolves.
- For a concrete example, you can view the living room in our first house to see how removing a wood divider opened and improved the space.
- If you’d like to leave a voicemail question for the show, call 571-4-YHLHAP (571-494-5427) and we may feature it on a future episode.
We’re Digging
- DIY stocking-stuffer ideas we recommend: safety goggles, work gloves, shop rags, carpenter pencils with a sharpener, a reliable tape measure or pocket tape, a small work light or flashlight, sanding blocks, a short-handled paintbrush, and a sturdy bucket. These are the kinds of small tools and supplies that always get used.
- For those who love decor, consider easier gifts like 3M Command velcro, OOK picture hangers, a compact level, a scented candle, a stylish frame, seasonal ornaments, a small (or faux) plant, a pretty dish towel, or a handmade ceramic piece. Small, thoughtful items like these elevate a room without requiring a major investment.
Psst — if you remember us mentioning something in a past episode but can’t recall which show notes to open, we have a master list of everything we’ve recommended across previous episodes to help you find it quickly.
Visit westelm.com/yhl to learn about their Design to Impact program. Use code YHL15 at checkout for 15% off your next purchase.
*This post contains affiliate links*