Can the colors, furnishings, and accessories we choose for our home actually make us feel measurably happier? In this episode we explore the science of joy and how specific design choices can influence daily moods. We share simple strategies for making chores and less-loved tasks feel more pleasant, point out small ways we’ve already added moments of joy to our house, and highlight a few areas that could use improvement. We also reflect on the lesson learned from holding on to a piece of furniture too long—and a spectacularly imperfect dollhouse project.

What’s New

• The Instagram photo above prompted a lot of questions about our new coffee table. It’s an X-base table with small nooks at each end that hold two white poufs from upstairs—an unexpectedly handy feature for a family room.
• From the other side of the room you can see the table’s shape and how the poufs tuck underneath. The finish isn’t flawless, but it works well for our household and has already replaced a tired ottoman.

• For context, we’d had a large leather storage ottoman for eight or nine years. It served us well, but the faux leather eventually started peeling and leaving small bits—what we jokily called ottoman confetti—around the house.

• We couldn’t find great photos of the ottoman’s decline, but a candid iPhone shot shows bare spots along the top where the material had worn away. Replacing that piece felt like a small but meaningful upgrade to daily life.

• Sherry also reminded us about the guest-room headboard, which is actually the back of a wicker headboard we found secondhand. Little repurposing moments like that are practical and add personality—readers will find more details in our second book.

That’s Embarrassing

• We tackled an ambitious dollhouse kit called the Sweet Shop. The project involved dozens of tiny parts and lots of patience. Some elements, like paper fan blades meant to become a ceiling fan, never came together as planned.

• Despite the flaws, our daughter loves the finished toy. It doesn’t match the box photo, but it’s full of charm and memory-making value. We cover our dollhouse adventures in several podcast episodes and a blog post about the first makeover.

“Joyful” Decor Discussion

• Sherry recently finished a book about how ordinary things can spark extraordinary happiness, and the ideas in it inspired many of our recent choices. The premise is simple: elements that surprise, delight, or comfort us can lift daily mood.

• Examples we discussed include a fabric-covered accent wall in our daughter’s closet and removable wallpaper murals we installed at a rental property. Both bring color, pattern, and a touch of whimsy without major renovation.

• We also noticed a surprising number of round shapes and circles in our living room—little visual motifs that add cohesion and a sense of play. Small lighting moments help too: string lights in the backyard create an instant celebratory mood, and a few salt-lamp nightlights add soft glow throughout the house.

We’re Digging

• Sherry found a shiny brass grasshopper figurine that makes us smile, and we’ve kept small, unexpected items around the house to prompt delight. We also recently bought a painting from a listener who painted while listening to one of our episodes—another example of how objects can connect us to people and moments.

• We rounded up a few whimsical items that can spark joy in small doses—curious accents, playful patterns, or a tactile object you enjoy handling. These little additions don’t require a big budget but can change how a room feels.
• We also revisited an old episode where we first discussed paving our driveway, a reminder that even practical projects can feel joyful when they solve everyday hassles. Recently, mild weather made the updated driveway especially pleasant.

• Finally, if you’re curious about new toys that feel like projects, we assembled a portable basketball hoop that came with many parts—it took patience, but the kids are thrilled.

If you’re looking for topics we’ve explored in past episodes, we keep a master list of everything we’ve been digging into on the podcast. You can also find books we recommend on our Book Club page.

A note of thanks to Annie Selke for sponsoring this episode. They ran a holiday sale that offered sitewide discounts for followers—little promotions like that helped us refresh pieces around the house.

Thanks for listening, everyone!

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