Paper clutter is one of those household nuisances that seems to multiply overnight. Receipts, school worksheets, bills, party invitations, coupons—suddenly there is a stack in every room. In this update we share the practical systems we use to keep paper under control and where each type of paper lives in our home. We also recap a tile project that hit a snag at the beach house (and how we recovered), offer a simple psychology-backed pricing tip for selling items online, explain an easy trick to keep frame galleries straight, and mention a trending paint color worth noting for 2018.

You can listen to our episode on your favorite podcast platform. Use the episode notes on this page for links, photos, and resources we referenced. If your reader hides audio players, open the post in a browser to access the player and full show notes.

What’s New

We ended up swapping the black tiles for blue ones in this area.

• We had a behind-the-scenes tile and drain issue at the beach house that didn’t go smoothly. The photo above was taken the morning after the problem when we removed a few tiles that were placed poorly in the dark and reset them properly in daylight.
• The thinset in the photo looks darker where we pried up a 20″ area around the drain. We initially used white thinset, then mixed gray thinset to reset the tiles higher so they’d sit level with the drain. Once we grout the area, those color differences will disappear.
• If you look closely, one of the star tiles in the top-left position appears slightly too high. It was much harder to spot while staring at tile for hours, but since we haven’t grouted yet it’s an easy fix: pop the tile and reset it properly.
• Despite the rough patch, the drain ended up flush and functioning well. We still need to grout the full area, but the main issues were resolved.

This is another view of the tile once we made adjustments.

Quick Tip

• When pricing items for resale, consider the psychology of round numbers versus precise prices. Research and popular discussions suggest that using precise, non-round prices can make a listing read as more thoughtfully priced and sometimes lead to faster sales or higher final offers. Conversely, round numbers can imply simplicity and speed. Think about your goal—fast sale or maximizing returns—and choose your price style accordingly.
• If you’re curious about the research behind this pricing behavior, look into studies and coverage on consumer decision-making and pricing tactics for additional context.

What’s Not

• There’s been a lot of attention around paint color trends for 2018, including a notable brand announcing its first-ever Color of the Year. If you’re considering a refresh, it’s worth browsing current trend reports and comparing them with your own lighting and décor before committing.

Listener Question: Paper Clutter

The artwork above is a favorite print, and the foyer chandelier anchors the entry—visual anchors can help keep paper sorting areas feeling tidy and intentional.

• One simple habit we use is a “deal-with-it weekly” tray: school papers, notes, invitations, and other short-term items go into a tray near the printer where they wait for a weekly sorting session. This prevents loose papers from scattering throughout the house and creates a predictable cadence for decision-making.
• For receipts and invoices we need to keep, we use a dedicated drawer where items are dropped immediately. Each month, while updating our bookkeeping, we sort through that drawer and file documents into a labeled accordion folder divided by month and year. This keeps tax-time prep painless and avoids last-minute scrambles.
• To reduce incoming physical mail and offers, consider tools that unsubscribe you from junk mail and digital coupon apps that replace paper coupons. Moving toward digital versions where possible reduces the volume of paper you must manage.

We’re Digging

• To keep gallery walls aligned, we use small, adhesive velcro-style strips behind frames. They come in multiple sizes; a multipack gives flexibility and you can cut larger strips vertically to get two usable pieces for narrow frames.
• For a great night out, check local listings for highly recommended films before they leave theaters or appear on streaming services—a well-chosen movie can be the perfect date night.

If you’re ever trying to find something we’ve mentioned in past episodes but can’t remember which show notes contain it, we maintain a master list of recommended items and resources from previous episodes to help you locate older mentions quickly.

Finally, thank you to our episode sponsor. We appreciate the support that helps sustain the show and occasionally brings new ideas for living room updates and refreshed interiors.

Thanks for listening and for following along with our projects and tips. We hope these practical organizing approaches make paper less of a chore and more of a two-minute habit.

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