Have you ever examined the way you make decisions? Research and popular psychology describe two common styles: maximizers, who seek the best possible option, and satisficers, who choose an option that meets their needs and move on. It’s funny for us because Sherry and I each lean toward a different approach, and that dynamic shapes everything from how we buy furniture to the way we planned our first international family trip. In this update we share what we’ve learned about both decision-making styles, offer five no-cost ways to refresh a room, highlight a kid-friendly kitchen activity we love, reveal the final outcome of our Color of the Year predictions, and tell a brief story about how far people will go for good bread.
You can also find this episode on your favorite podcast app including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, and Spotify.
What’s New
- If you’re curious about maximizers versus satisficers, there are several accessible write-ups that explain the differences and practical implications for everyday life.
- If you want a laugh and a behind-the-scenes moment, our maximizing tendencies were on display in Episode #156 when we discussed reducing renovation stress during a bathroom update.
- We’re planning our first international family trip to Costa Rica after Christmas, focusing on the Manuel Antonio National Park region. If you have any local tips or must-see activities for that area, we’d love suggestions.
Updates
- Pantone’s official selection named Classic Blue as Color of the Year 2020, and we reflected on that choice and how color trends play out in homes.
- For a replay of our original Color of the Year guesses, check Episodes #147, #149, and #151 where we tracked our predictions and reactions.
- Last week’s episode explored holiday traditions from around the world—if you missed it, Episode #158 covers a lot of fun customs and personal stories.
- We also mentioned the curious story about the “German pickle” ornament and shared a lighthearted video about pronouncing Newfoundland that made us smile and helped us practice the name.
Zero Budget Ways To Update Your Spaces
- Here are five simple, cost-free ways to change the look and feel of a room without spending money. Small adjustments can make a big difference.
1. Take things out
- Removing items and simplifying a space can instantly shift your attention to what remains. Clearing surfaces and reducing clutter creates breathing room and can make a room feel fresh without buying anything new.
2. Rearrange or reorganize existing furniture or items within a room
- Try new furniture arrangements or swap art, pillows, and plants between rooms. A different layout might improve flow and function and will give your space a renewed energy.
- For example, we rearranged our beach house backyard furniture to create a new conversation area without purchasing any pieces. It took about an hour of experimenting, but the result felt like a small makeover.
- We also shifted dressers to serve as nightstands in our bedroom, which improved both function and balance; the mirror above one dresser echoes the window across the room in a way that simply felt right.
3. Shop your house
- Borrow items from other rooms before buying new ones. Moving a rug, lamp, or piece of art can dramatically change a space. One painting we moved from an office to the bedroom made both rooms feel better instantly, and a spare mirror improved a desk view by reflecting light from the window.
4. Use leftover supplies or materials
- Look through your craft closet or paint stash for materials you can repurpose. Small projects—like painting the back of a bookcase, updating a small piece of furniture, or sewing a new pillow cover—can have a big impact.
- We’ve used products like Ardex to refresh surfaces in surprising ways, including updating laminate counters and creating a concrete-style coffee table top, all using materials we already had or could source affordably.
5. Add greenery
- Clip a branch, bloom, or greenery from your yard and place it in a vessel you already own—a pitcher, vase, or even a drinking glass. Fresh botanicals instantly add life and a sense of newness without spending a cent.
- If you missed the episode that inspired this theme, it came from a conversation with personal finance expert Tanja Hester in Episode #157. She shared how pausing home spending helped her reach an important financial goal, and that idea sparked our “zero budget refresh” discussion.
We’re Digging
- One small organizational win: our foyer toy and game closet. We moved games to the top shelf to keep pieces together and prevent early adoption of Monopoly money for unrelated activities. It’s a simple habit change that saves time and frustration.
- Here are a few family-friendly games we’ve been enjoying with our kids (ages 5 and 9): Sequence, Ticket to Ride, Low Down, Uno Flip, Exploding Kittens, Bears vs. Babies, Tenzi, and Set. These are easy to teach and great for mixed-age play.
- We recently tried the Foodstirs pancake art kit and had a blast—my chihuahua-shaped pancake and our daughter’s smiling pancake were highlights. We’re asking for a couple more Foodstirs kids’ baking kits as holiday gifts because they encourage creativity in the kitchen.
- If you prefer mix-and-match, Foodstirs also offers organic baking mixes that are handy to keep on the shelf for easy family baking sessions.
If you want to find a past recommendation we mentioned on the podcast, we keep a master list of things we’ve been digging in previous episodes as well as a Book Club page with our reading picks.
A final thanks to SnapPower for sponsoring this episode. They make simple, easy-to-install nightlights and guide lights; the sponsor helped support our show and we appreciate it.
Thanks for listening and reading — we appreciate you following along.
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