Help with database design for personal project

"It is about 'normalization'. Both lookup tables and strings work. It is more about repeating 'red' in the car table or just adding a number for red (saves place)."

"In the past, I used the string method, but now I am more leaning towards using lookup tables. More DRY sort of."

"One thing to consider is the database size. A small database can be constructed simpler using strings. But by using lookup tables, you save space in a bigger database."

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