Every year, Pantone announces a new Color of the Year based on tracked trends and other factors. This year the color is Tangerine Tango, a vibrant color that can inject immediate interest, energy and warmth in a room.

The color can have an uplifting effect, much like last year's color, Honeysuckle, but with a more gender neutral feel.

So what does this mean to you? You'll be seeing more fabrics, accessories and furnishings incorporating the color into their designs.

If you like it, use it sparingly at first to test the effect it has in your room. For many people, less is more when first using a bold color. Feeling adventurous? Try painting a block of color behind a wall grouping such as black and white photography.

Depending on your room's color palette, slipcovering a few of your accent pillows with fabrics that use the color in solids or patterns can be an easy energy transfusion. Cinch up a fabric "belt" or "cumberbund" as an accent on a solid color pillow. Recover seat cushions on dining room chairs. Incorporate salad plates using the color to add zing to your tablesettings. Add a a pop of the color using accessories that make sense in your room and blend with the style. All are relatively quick, easy and inexpensive ways to rev up your decor.

And if you aren't fond of the color? No problem. The market won't be flooded with it-yet-and it may even grow on you over the next few months. If not, there's always next year's color to look forward to!

If your New Year's Resolutions included getting more organized, you are not alone. It's one of the most popular resolutions, so it's no wonder that January is National organizing Month.

As an organizer, I work with people to help them not only get organized, but find personalized ways to keep them that way. No one method or system will work for everyone. Outside influences have to be taken into consideration as well as a person's lifestyle and time constraints.

Getting organized and being organized is not Mission Impossible. Throwing out everything and starting over isn't the answer. If you are a well meaning friend or family member, your first impulse may be to do some version of a commando raid on what you consider clutter. This can backfire on you. You may not be aware of the significance or importance of papers or objects and you risk the losing the trust of the person you may be trying to help.

For any type of organizing project you will need a plan that is simple, methodical and flexible to meet the need. You don't need to spend a lot of money on systems or equipment until you have assessed what it is you ultimately need to organize, store or contain on a daily and long term basis.

Start with easy to accomplish tasks to prevent being overwhelmed, keeping the big picture in mind. Take short breaks after a major accomplishment but don't lose momentum. Make notes on a legal pad or in a notebook (large enough so it won't get lost in the shuffle) of ideas that come to you as you organize, such as, "need a place to put___ , have too many___, need to use up____", etc.

Don't think of it as drudgery, think of it as a new beginning, a game of discovery or an archeological dig into the bast (even if it's the recent past). Think positively, listen to music or a recorded book while you work and just get started.

(I'm including a link to an article from the Wall Street Journal that is an eye opener for everyone who needs to get their personal papers in order.)

Need help or an Organizing Coach? Contact me by calling or clicking the link at the end of this newsletter.

Now that the holiday decorations are stored away, is your home feeling a little bare? You may have the urge to rush out and take advantage of the home furnishing sales, but first take a deep breath and step away from the sales flyers.

Take stock of what you have first. You may have unrecognized potential in your accessories and furnishings. Check closets and storage areas. You may find things that have been stored for years that you've forgotten. Not possible? I've known of many clients who were surprised with the things they rediscovered.

Once you've taken stock, try these tips:

• Assess what you need and why.
• Don't shop out of boredom or desperation.
• It's a good buy if you can use it in more than one way.
• It's a good buy if you'd love it even if it wasn't a current style.
• It's a good buy if it's exactly what you've been looking for.
• It's possibly a good buy if you would buy it even if it weren't on sale.

Electronics make our lives more productive and fun but the downside is that they are dependent on a reliable power source. Surge protectors offer the protection for multiple plugs but they are usually clunky looking and awkward to position.

The Phillips Surge Protector pictured has a main unit that plugs into an outlet and supports up to 6 appliances. The white cover hides and contains the connections with a simple, sleek design. A surge protector is also available for your TV and its electronics. For more information , please click on the link below.

Here's a multi purpose organizer that could solve a lot of storage issues in a home.

You've promised yourself that you would make crafting and present wrapping easier this year, but you don't have the storage space for more containers. How about using wall space?

The organizer shown uses vertical space that is often overlooked and it can accomodate craft, gardening, sewing and other supplies. It can be repurposed in a laundry room for extra storage; the ribbon rail could be a place to dry hand washables. Think of the ways it could be used in a bathroom!

Click the link below to see more about this style and others.

Many homeowners are turning to remodeling to reshape their home to fit the way they live. Awkward floor plans, dated designs and worn fixtures can give way to functional and stylish spaces that make life easier and more enjoyable while increasing the value of the home.

If remodeling is on your list of home improvements this year, check out Better Homes and Garden's "15 Tips for a Successful Remodeling Project" by clicking on the link below.

We can all use a little imagination and fantasy in our lives and to that end, I'd like to invite you to view a collection of fantasy rooms and buildings that I have put together and add to from time to time. If you aren't familiar with Pinterest, it's a wonderful way to compile ideas of all kinds.

Please click on the link below and see it and all of my design and cuisine boards. You can comment and like any of the "pins" on the various boards and even follow me as I add ideas to them.

If you received a new phone for Christmas or know someone who did and would like to donate your old phone to a good cause, consider Cell Phones for Soldiers.

Please click on the link below to read more on the project and to find out how you may help. The link also has a free cell phone data eraser to use before donating your phone.