Issue #154: 25 Small Home Swaps that Make a Huge Difference

Low-effort changes, whether you rent or own.

📚 The God of the Woords by Liz Moore: Fourteen years ago, the son of a wealthy summer camp owner in the Adirondacks went missing. When his little sister’s bunk is discovered empty in the ‘70s, a trove of family secrets is unearthed, bouncing between camp and home drama in this artfully woven novel.

📺 “The Lady in the Lake” on AppleTV+: This new show stars Moses Ingram (“Cleo”) and Natalie Portman (“Maddie”) as mothers enduring parallel, but distinctly different, experiences of misogyny and prejudice in 1960s Baltimore. Their lives converge after a young Jewish girl goes missing on Thanksgiving, forever changing Maddie’s life and inspiring her to pursue her career as an investigative reporter. The show doesn’t shy away from darkness—I actually had to pause it a few times while watching the first episode, but it’s beautifully shot and well thought-out. I also listened to Sophia Bush’s interview with Natalie Portman on “Work in Progress,” after seeing it recommended on

the grand weekly

, which provides some interesting context on the making of the show.

💿 ‘Charm’ album, by Clairo: On the plane back from Reno, I put on this new album, from Lorde collaborator Clairo, and let myself sink into its synthy pop. It sounds like many sad girl pop albums, in that it’s a soundtrack for moody journal entries, but stands out for its unexpected chord changes, like in the middle of “Second Nature.” It also sometimes feels like slowed-down Hall & Oates’ melodies, and I can confirm that it doubles as an excellent coffee shop soundtrack, from my current perch.

P.S. See you tonight at Morning Person Book Club at 5 PT, where we’re discussing my novel, You’re Safe Here! Link to join at the bottom of the post!

I loved my house the moment I stepped into it last summer, but the thing that really sealed the deal for me and made me feel like, “This is a house I can make my home” were the closet tiles. In one of the bedrooms, the previous owners had installed bright, marigold tiles into the floor. It was a small, insignificant detail that told me they loved their home, and was an indication of the care they put into it. I took it as a sign for my capacity to love it—one that’s proven true.

In adapting the house into my own home, I slowly added in my own version of the marigold tiles, making intentional purchases and swapping hardware to create cozy, livable spaces. Each time, I noted changes that made the biggest impact with the smallest effort—ultimately compiling them into this post. Below, I’ve shared 25 game-changing, intentional updates I made to my own home, most of which can be applied to a rental.

This is a massive email, full of tips, so you may need to read it in your browser or expand it in your email to see the full thing!