Why Dwelling Is the Most Important Book I've Ever Written

TThis week we had a few unexpected snow days. Snow is rare in Seattle, and when it arrives I love nothing more than curling up on the couch with a fuzzy blanket and slippers, watching the flakes fall outside.

As a devoted homebody, I enjoy the comforts of home in every season. Being home on a snowy day—especially when it’s an unusual event—reminds me how deeply our living environment affects our well-being.

Have we created a space that lifts our spirits even during life’s storms? Do our rooms feel warm and safe regardless of what’s happening outside our door? Is our home a place we eagerly return to, or a place that leaves us feeling stressed, unhappy, or discontent?

What small daily choices do we make to cultivate a more positive emotional state, even when we aren’t at our best? Do the decisions we make in our home support our physical health—and offer what we need to thrive each day?

For the past twelve years, everything I’ve shared on The Inspired Room and in my books has been about far more than identifying your design style or organizing possessions. I love talking about design, but what truly motivates me is the why—the result of putting your heart into creating a haven, a sanctuary from the world.

When I conceived my book Dwelling, I focused on what it takes to actually feel well where we live. That message has resonated with me for decades. I believe that when we learn to feel well in our homes, it changes everything. Our dwellings—our homes and our bodies, including mind and spirit—are deeply connected. What we bring into our home affects every aspect of our lives.

Although I share personal stories in Dwelling, the book isn’t about me. It’s an invitation to explore how we can improve how we feel in our bodies, lives, and homes. My experiences with anxiety or thyroid issues may not match yours, and I don’t presume to have all the answers. What I’ve learned by opening my home and sharing my journey is that we are more alike than different—and there are always small, meaningful steps we can take to feel a little better and help those around us do the same.

Dwelling is about hope, mindfulness, and the joy of transforming a house into a nurturing, healing, and sacred place. It highlights how daily choices shape our overall well-being and encourages feeling empowered to improve the world around us by tending to the places where we spend our lives.

Thank you for your kindness and support over the years and through so many book launches. It means the world to know you’re reading and that our paths can cross in so many ways.