--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes…" description: "\"You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of the room a certain color to see how the light affects it. Or buy just one yard of an expensi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg" --- # You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of… ![“You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of the room a certain color to see how the light affects it. Or buy just one yard of an expensive fabric to see how you like it in your room.” quote by Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg) > “You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of the room a certain color to see how the light affects it. Or buy just one yard of an expensive fabric to see how you like it in your room.” [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Testing small samples before full commitment reduces risk and informs better decisions. **In simple terms:** Test small before committing fully. Key Takeaway Try before you buy. Themes decision‑making risk management design Mood practical encouraging Type advice instructional When to use this quote - home decorating - fashion - business strategy - DIY projects Key Concepts Iterative testing cost‑effective planning Questions to Reflect On - What small test could you run today? - How do you balance cost and certainty? A Different Perspective Testing may not capture long‑term outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Corner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corner/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistakes/) ## Related quotes > [“If you really want to grow great, you need to avoid costly pleasures and preserve your future treasures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-really-want-to-grow-great-you-need-to-avoid-costly-pleasures/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [In fiction, when you paint yourself into a corner, you can write a pair of suction cups onto the bottoms of your shoes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/in-fiction-when-you-paint-yourself-into-a-corner-you-can-write-a-pair/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The way that I like to fight is I like to paint myself into a corner and so the only way is for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/the-way-that-i-like-to-fight-is-i-like-to-paint-myself-into-a-corner/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [Sometimes I may paint myself into a corner, but you should see the exquisite details and colors. . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-sutter/sometimes-i-may-paint-myself-into-a-corner-but-you-should-see-the/) [Rick Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-sutter/) > [“True ambition is trying to paint yourself out of a corner”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/true-ambition-is-trying-to-paint-yourself-out-of-a-corner/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [Paint yourself into a corner so that you don't have any other option but to continue forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/paint-yourself-into-a-corner-so-that-you-don-t-have-any-other-option/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) > [“For if we think of this existence of the individual as a larger or smaller room, it becomes clear that most people get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/for-if-we-think-of-this-existence-of-the-individual-as-a-larger-or/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [“it is obvious that most people come to know only one corner of their room, one spot near the window, one narrow strip on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/it-is-obvious-that-most-people-come-to-know-only-one-corner-of-their/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [most people come to know only one corner of their room, one spot near the window, one narrow strip on which they keep walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/most-people-come-to-know-only-one-corner-of-their-room-one-spot-near/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [Television is more interesting than people. If it were not we should have people standing in the corner of our room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/television-is-more-interesting-than-people-if-it-were-not-we-should/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [When we started in television, there was that magic box in the corner of the room, and 'Oh my gosh - look what it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/when-we-started-in-television-there-was-that-magic-box-in-the-corner/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [“Over time her inhibitions took shelter in the corner of the room and Easter allowed the music to swallow her,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-l-mcfadden/over-time-her-inhibitions-took-shelter-in-the-corner-of-the-room-and/) [Bernice L. McFadden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-l-mcfadden/) > [As a kid, I always thought the TV was a magic box in the corner of the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gethin-jones/as-a-kid-i-always-thought-the-tv-was-a-magic-box-in-the-corner-of-the/) [Gethin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gethin-jones/) > [“You see, Flavia, silence is sometimes the most costly of commodities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/you-see-flavia-silence-is-sometimes-the-most-costly-of-commodities/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) ## More by Alexandra Stoddard > [Unused rooms are such bad feng shui, really bad energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/unused-rooms-are-such-bad-feng-shui-really-bad-energy/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [I'm an interior designer from the soul. It's not about just putting things in a room. It's much deeper and broader. It's about self-discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/i-m-an-interior-designer-from-the-soul-it-s-not-about-just-putting/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Each of us must become impassioned, finding meaning and self-fulfillment in our own life's journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/each-of-us-must-become-impassioned-finding-meaning-and-self/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Colors are important. People are in clinical depression whether they are on medication or not. Neutrals are another form of medication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/colors-are-important-people-are-in-clinical-depression-whether-they/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect on all our tomorrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/what-we-do-today-right-now-will-have-an-accumulated-effect-on-all-our/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [A home should be an intimate autobiography of the things that you like. One of the things I'm so keen on expressing is that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/a-home-should-be-an-intimate-autobiography-of-the-things-that-you/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Happiness is the first principle of life. Happiness basically means well-being. It is always good and always a choice... We need to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/happiness-is-the-first-principle-of-life-happiness-basically-means/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [I love people and care about them, and I felt I had a gift to cheer people up. If I could get into their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/i-love-people-and-care-about-them-and-i-felt-i-had-a-gift-to-cheer/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Being a mother and grandmother is the best of the best in my life. My grandchildren multiply the joy my daughters bring me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/being-a-mother-and-grandmother-is-the-best-of-the-best-in-my-life-my/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Don't feel you have to buy something to sit in or at. Buy something you are emotionally attached to and build your design around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/don-t-feel-you-have-to-buy-something-to-sit-in-or-at-buy-something/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Unhappy people make me feel like I've done something wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/unhappy-people-make-me-feel-like-i-ve-done-something-wrong/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [Put a picture of yourself as a child in view somewhere, to remind yourself to be playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/put-a-picture-of-yourself-as-a-child-in-view-somewhere-to-remind/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“The only life worth living is the one we take responsibility for choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/the-only-life-worth-living-is-the-one-we-take-responsibility-for/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [We have to establish time boundaries and learn how to say no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/we-have-to-establish-time-boundaries-and-learn-how-to-say-no/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) > [“An inspired letter can be as riveting as a stare. It can move us to tears, spur us to action, provoke us, uplift us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/an-inspired-letter-can-be-as-riveting-as-a-stare-it-can-move-us-to/) [Alexandra Stoddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) [Explore all 84 Alexandra Stoddard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/) ## More Affects quotes > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-b-rangel/i-think-that-as-americans-we-should-never-forget-that-when-we-tamper/) [Charles B. Rangel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-b-rangel/) > [Spina bifida affects every single aspect of your life, from your child's self-esteem to your ability to sleep at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-ari-parker/spina-bifida-affects-every-single-aspect-of-your-life-from-your-child/) [Nicole Ari Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-ari-parker/) > [“Mood evidently affects the operation of System 1: when we are uncomfortable and unhappy, we lose touch with our intuition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/mood-evidently-affects-the-operation-of-system-1-when-we-are/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [Education affects every major challenge we face in society. It creates economic growth, paves the way for peace and stability and helps erase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/education-affects-every-major-challenge-we-face-in-society-it-creates/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [The so-called skills gap is really a gap in education, and that affects all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/the-so-called-skills-gap-is-really-a-gap-in-education-and-that/) [Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/) > [Your environment affects you wherever you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/your-environment-affects-you-wherever-you-are/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [With health, it affects a whole lot of different areas of your body. When it comes to helping, I love kids, so whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ciara/with-health-it-affects-a-whole-lot-of-different-areas-of-your-body/) [Ciara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ciara/) > [I do know that I think children should be vaccinated because that affects the health of all the other children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-peet/i-do-know-that-i-think-children-should-be-vaccinated-because-that/) [Amanda Peet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-peet/) > [People always tell me the next stage of my career means moving to New York, but I never will. I don't care how that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/people-always-tell-me-the-next-stage-of-my-career-means-moving-to-new/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [“that each affects the other and tho other affects the next, and the world is full of stories, but the stories are all one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/that-each-affects-the-other-and-tho-other-affects-the-next-and-the/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What happens in one region affects people across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reuven-rivlin/what-happens-in-one-region-affects-people-across-the-world/) [Reuven Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reuven-rivlin/) > [Every role affects you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-benoist/every-role-affects-you/) [Melissa Benoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-benoist/) > [Developing a good, healthy culture is extremely important at a startup. Culture reflects the essence of a startup's operation because it directly affects the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/developing-a-good-healthy-culture-is-extremely-important-at-a-startup/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) Browse all 240 Affects quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of the room a certain color to see how the light affects it. Or buy just one yard of an expensive fabric to see how you like it in your room.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexandra Stoddard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes-paint-a-corner-of-the-room-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affects" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes-paint-a-corner-of-the-room-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9b/alexandra-stoddard-8141_affects_you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes_886526.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes. Paint a corner of the room a certain color to see how the light…” — Alexandra Stoddard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexandra Stoddard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-stoddard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can sometimes avoid costly mistakes....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes-paint-a-corner-of-the-room-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-stoddard/you-can-sometimes-avoid-costly-mistakes-paint-a-corner-of-the-room-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```