1. Paint Cans (aka The Secret Code to Touch-Ups and Nightmares)
Sure, that leftover avocado green from your “Bold Choices” era looks ancient. But it’s still in your living-room. And yes, paint older than five years can go, but hold on! That can holds more than wet color syrup—it’s brimming with details you’ll desperately need. The brand, sheen, and the all-important mix label make matching touch-ups a real possibility, even if your paint store’s supply has gone extinct (See the sad story of Kelly-Moore). And hey, not all paint colors live forever: ever tried to match “Kelly-Moore Moonless Night” without a reference? This mix-label is gold and helps to solve the misery of three trips to the hardware store for paint chips and disappointment. Pro tip: write on the can where you used the paint and the date right on top. Future you (and your walls) will thank you. Better- take a picture of the label and can.
2. Contracts and Contacts for Service Work
Did a pro fix your sump pump, build your dream deck, or secretly install haunted attic insulation? Keep those contracts and the contact details! Not only is there often a warranty, but the company may have moved, merged, or vanished into thin air just when you need an emergency fix. Save yourself the drama by storing paperwork (or a crisp digital copy in dwellingmonster.com). No more awkward guessing games if things go sideways.
3. Receipts for Big Home Stuff
You know those manuals that migrate to where all your matching socks moved to when you need them? If you keep your large purchase receipts (think kitchen gadgets, garage doors, and all the fancy upgrades) you’ll always have the model number, date, and proof you actually bought that thing. The good thing is that manuals are mostly findable online now; so long as you know the part number. Bonus: it’s extra handy for warranty repairs, insurance claims, resale, and those wild goose chases for replacement parts. Snap a photo and you’re a certified responsible adult—at least until your next appliance rebellion.
4. DIY Documentation (A Love Letter to Future You)
That perfect flooring you picked out last spring? Unless you’re the world’s foremost memory champion, write down the brand, style, and color (and where you actually bought it). If you only took a blurry photo of a box, you’ll be squinting at pixels next time you need to match. Keep those receipts, product labels, or pictures organized with the project date. Your home will look great, your future projects will be a breeze, and—bonus!—you won’t buy fifteen “almost right” shades trying to match the mystery tile when one breaks and you want to replace it. (Or worse, having to replace everything to make it match because your that type of person that NEEDS it all to match).
Why Bother with all the paperwork DWELLING Monster Makes It Easy
The best news: keeping track of your home’s hidden treasures above doesn’t have to mean an endless parade of binders, spreadsheets, or dusty drawers. DWELLING Monster keeps all your receipts, paint codes, contacts, manuals, and notes safe and way easier to find than digging in the dark crawlspace (that you know has something living in the back corner). Next time disaster strikes or inspiration hits, everything you need is at your fingertips—no frantic hunts required (though seriously: you should look into that creature in the crawlspace. Its getting more angry).
Time to rescue your future self from homeownership headaches. Keep these easy-to-forget essentials—and let DWELLING Monster do the remembering for you.
Ready? Get organizing, get DWELLING Monster, and let’s make home improvement way more fun (and way less chaotic)!
