Winter Home Projects: Beating the Blues and Organizing Memories

Winter Home Projects: Beating the Blues and Organizing Memories

Author: Dan Hansen/RepcoLite Paints January 31, 2026 Duration: 39:29

In this episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, the conversation continues around organizing memories—this time shifting from digital clutter to physical photographs, with practical advice on how to curate, preserve, and store them without feeling overwhelmed.

The show also explores the very real impact of the winter blues and why colder months can actually be an ideal time to tackle small home projects. We dig into the psychology behind why getting things done—especially around the home—can help improve mood, motivation, and a sense of control during the winter season.

You’ll also hear practical tips for building a simple but smart emergency kit for an older vehicle, along with guidance on interior painting during winter. From managing humidity and temperature to working around forced-air heat and ventilation, the episode breaks down how to get professional-level results indoors—even in the middle of winter.

Episode Timeline

  1. 00:00 Introduction & episode overview
  2. 00:47 Building a simple emergency car kit
  3. 08:20 Understanding and coping with the winter blues
  4. 12:09 Why home projects help your mental health
  5. 16:13 Small projects with surprisingly big impact
  6. 18:16 Behavioral activation: doing first, feeling better later
  7. 19:17 Interior painting in winter—what really matters
  8. 20:17 Common winter painting concerns (and why they’re manageable)
  9. 20:33 Why winter is actually a great time for indoor projects
  10. 21:17 Easier access to pros and resources in winter
  11. 22:12 Humidity, dry time, and paint performance
  12. 23:38 Temperature considerations when painting indoors
  13. 25:16 Forced-air heat and ceiling painting tips
  14. 26:41 Ventilation concerns and simple solutions
  15. 27:35 Winter painting tips recap
  16. 28:37 Organizing physical photographs
  17. 31:29 Step-by-step photo organization and digitizing
  18. 35:03 Creating a “greatest hits” photo collection
  19. 36:15 Long-term storage and backup strategies
  20. 38:26 Next week: organizing kids’ artwork


Home In Progress is a weekly conversation hosted by Dan Hansen from RepcoLite Paints, born from the belief that a home is never truly finished. It’s a constant, often charming, series of projects and adjustments. This podcast digs into that reality, covering everything from choosing the right paint sheen and troubleshooting a stubborn plumbing issue to planning a garden layout or refreshing a room with a new design perspective. The tone is practical and approachable, blending useful advice with a genuine sense of humor about the inevitable mishaps that come with DIY. You’ll hear specific tips on materials and techniques, discussions on balancing aesthetics with function, and honest talk about what it really takes to maintain and improve your space. Each episode aims to leave you with a tangible takeaway, whether it’s the confidence to tackle a small repair or inspiration for a larger weekend project. It’s for anyone who views their home as a living project-a place of leisure, creativity, and continuous learning. Listen for a mix of straightforward education and relatable stories that make the process of caring for a house feel less like a chore and more like a rewarding part of life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Home In Progress
Podcast Episodes
5 Can't-Lose Home Improvement Projects for Your Forever Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:54
Episode SummaryThis week on Home In Progress, Dan opens with something a little different -- a look at the animal kingdom's most surprising builders and tool users, and what any of us can take from that. Then he gets int…
Dead Animal Smells, Art Deco, and the Secret Life of Paint Finish [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:15
Episode Date: 05/09/26 Episode Number: 458Episode SummaryThis week on Home In Progress, Dan tackles one of the most dreaded things a homeowner can face — the smell of a dead animal somewhere in the house — and walks you…
Household Odor Removal Tips and the Timeless Style of Art Deco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:08
In this episode of Home in Progress, Dan Hansen starts with a look at why smells have such a powerful effect on the way we experience a home. Unlike sights and sounds, odors connect quickly to the emotional and memory ce…
Do Air Ducts Really Cause Dust? Plus Painting Tips from the Pros [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:08
In this rerun episode of Home in Progress, sponsored by RepcoLite Paints and Benjamin Moore, Dan Hansen opens with a personal update about his golden retriever, Maggie, whose health emergency led to a change in this week…
Why Your House Gets Dusty So Fast and How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:14
In this best-of episode of Home in Progress by RepcoLite Paints, sponsored by Benjamin Moore, Dan Hansen covers two popular home improvement topics: how to reduce dust in your house and how to paint kitchen cabinets. In…
How Timing, Paint Quality, and Design Choices Change Your Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:14
Host Dan Hansen opens the episode by noting a technical mistake in the original on-air broadcast, which led to the spring painting segment being repeated—then leans into it with a quick apology and a story about how cont…