Home: How to Love It, Live in It, and Find Joy in It

by India Knight

In this book inspired by her phenomenally popular Substack newsletter, India Knight explores the essence of what makes a home, debunking intimidating ideas about ‘taste’ and trends, offering practical and reassuring advice for every room, and above all celebrating the joy and comfort that comes from being surrounded by things you love.

This is partly a book about a feeling. We all know it, regardless of where we live. Home is when you open the front door and exhale.

In this joyous, practical, wise and entertaining book, inspired by her phenomenally popular Substack newsletter, India Knight explores and celebrates the essence of what makes a home.

Whether it is grand or modest, urban or rural, rented or owned, shared or occupied solo, her mission is to make you sigh with contentment the moment you’re through your front door.

From understanding the best lightbulbs and the most flattering paint colours, or knowing what to make when you’ve asked people to dinner and have forgotten (or maybe never learned) how to cook, Home debunks intimidating ideas about ‘taste’ and celebrates the timeless importance of charm.

Inspiring you to think imaginatively about how to use the things you’ve already got, advising you on what to look out for when buying a sofa, and opening your eyes to the transformative power of a well-chosen picture frame, India will steer you far, far away from trends and Instagram and helps you find, trust – and take pride in – what you like.

Going from the hallway to the bedroom, via the bathroom, the kitchen, the sitting room and all the spaces in between, India shares everything she knows about how to create and find joy in every room. Along the way she shares life lessons, tips and stories of the things and people that have shaped her, and the places she has called home.

So, step over the threshold and come on in.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Food, Ebooks, Self Help

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2025

About the author

India Knight is a British journalist. Her novels have been translated into 28 languages.

Knight, a native French speaker, lived in Brussels until about the time she turned nine. After migrating to the United Kingdom, she was educated in London. She was awarded an exhibition to Trinity College, Cambridge, where she read Modern Languages from 1984-1987, before starting her career in journalism.

In addition to writing for and contributing to major British magazines and newspapers, India Knight writes a prominent weekly column for The Sunday Times. She is also a regular guest on British radio and television.

After writing an article in The Sunday Times about her daughter's special needs - her youngest child has DiGeorge syndrome.

Knight lives in London with her three children.

Reviews

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

see oli üsna hubane lugemine selle kohta, kuidas üks inimene on valinud läheneda oma kodu sisustamisele. ega siin midagi revolutsioonilist ei olnud, ikka alustati sellest, et kõige tähtsam, et sulle endale su kodus meeldib, aga edasi jõuti ikka selleni, et mis kodu see selline on, kus ei ole seinad täis kunsti ja diivanilaual armsaid nipsasju ja aias ei sütti õhtuti valgusketid. teate, see on kõik piltidelt vaadata jne jube armas küll, aga ikkagi ma ei ole kindel. ja üldse polnud juttu sellest, kes ja kui tihti ja kuidas kogu selle ilu pealt ja vahelt tolmu pühib; ja ma siiralt ei saa aru, kuhu need inimesed, kelle diivanilaual on "kuhi hoolikalt valitud raamatuid, mõned erineva kõrgusega küünlajalad ja väike kandik rannast korjatud kivide ja teokarpidega, mida seejuures peab kindlasti olema paaritu arv", telekavaatamise ajaks oma jalad toetavad :D

sekka visati siin igasuguseid nõuandeid kodukoristuse, nahahoolduse ja inimsuhete kohta. tbf, ükski ei tundunud vale või halb.

ja ma nüüd ikkagi vist teen järjekordse katse natuke rohkem kunsti seintele riputada ka, aga nende kandikute ja kivikeste juurde ma tõmban kogu austuse juures piiri, ain't nobody got time (or space) for that :D

[Mariella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been written directly to my inner middle class nester. Part manifesto, part comfort read, it’s a celebration of abundance, joy and styling your home authentically.

From the practical (choosing a mattress, buying lightbulbs) to the charming (how to style a bedside table, what to read on the loo). Along the way, is scattered nuggets of wisdom and life advice - (p.158): “You’re in bed with (one hopes) someone you love: have a chat, have a snog, have sex, lie there in companionable silence - anything really, that isn’t demoralising evidence of you both finding each other less interesting than whatever random nonsense is on your screens.” and p. 248 “There is never just one mouse. Sorry.”

I may be 10-15 years too early for this book, but I enjoyed the musings on every page and look forward to returning back to it in the future for inspiration!!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I treasure India Knight books. Her volumes on beauty for older women, for the challenges of midlife and now how to make a home are all books to return to. She is like a wise friend. Every chapter held nuggets of advice for a different room, sometimes making me think of a new way to create a piece of furniture or to hang pictures.

[Kayla Hunnisett · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the sound of India Knight waxing poetic about warm lighting, exalting sentimental decorating and ruthlessly criticizing the color grey, you'll adore this book. Not one for the beige queens.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit rambly but in a cosy way. Only wish there were more pictures of India's house :(

[Sara Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would be wrong to pick up a book titled Home: how to love it, live in it and enjoy it written by a woman who is so very confident in her own taste only to complain that sometimes it comes across as just a tiny bit bossy - so that is absolutely not the review I am leaving, and I will just say that India Knight’s home sounds like a perfectly lovely place to be.

[Beth Bonini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very dear friend gave this to me for my birthday. Of all of my friends, she has been my biggest source of tips and inspiration in terms of house decor. We have very similar taste and aesthetics and values about what makes a beautiful and comfortable home. When she gifted me with this book, she said, “You already know all of this and believe all of this, but you will enjoy reading it.” She was absolutely right.

There are probably many women our age - the same age as author India Knight - who have been reading Knight’s advice and enjoying her voice for many years. So for me, this book was “preaching to the choir” territory. Knight has a very strong point of view about what makes a beautiful and comfortable house and her book is a combination of practical and shopping tips and then the more ineffable qualities like “charm” and “storytelling.” In essence, her belief is that houses should reflect their owners’ taste, interests and personality. It should be a non-controversial point of view, but perhaps there are a lot of people who are led more by trends and the opinions of anointed others.

In addition to making detailed notes about every room in the house, Knight sprinkles recipes, photographs and some very subjective lists throughout the book. She offers a paint chart of all of her favourite pinks and very detailed information on lighting. I found all of this very enjoyable. I think there is some very good advice here for younger people just starting out on home-creation, but even if it’s all old-hat to you, this book has oodles of charm and plenty of POV and storytelling. I am sure that I will dip in and out of it many times over the years because it has that “comfort read” quality.

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the home design philosophy India Knight describes here. Essentially, she encourages you to have things and colours you love, regardless of whether they're "on trend" or whether conventional wisdom says they will work – but then she goes a step further and gives tips for how you can, actually, make them work. I don't always agree with her detailed examples, but I think the principle is good.

There are also some wickedly funny passages of the kind I had to send to a friend with notes like CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS IS A HOME DESIGN BOOK??? You'll recognise them if you see them.

She does write throughout from the perspective of a comfortably off middle-class heterosexually married woman; some of her more specific assumptions and recommendations – hosting ideas and favourite brands, for instance – may not work if, like me, that does not describe your circumstances. Again, the principles mostly still work. Towards the end there are also some lists of tips that feel like padding, although at 273 pages I don't really feel that any was needed. They may have been designed to advertise her Substack; if so, they had the opposite effect on me. But for these minor issues, I would have given this 5 stars.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a lovely read to snuggle up by the fire to. In this book India looks at ways to decorate and style your home so that not only does it look beautiful but it feels cosy, tells your story and embraces your personality making your home authentic to you and welcoming to guests. 💖 It's a really interesting read and there is a lot of great tips! It made me laugh because India absolutely hates grey homes ... And mine is basically all grey 😂. However I totally understand grey isn't for everyone, I'm not a colourful person and neutrals make me feel really calm but it can be very basic and boring. That is infact the reason I wanted to read this book because I've been in my new house a few years now and it's ready for some touches to make us feel more "at home." The good news is there are ways to turn a house into a home (even a grey one 😂) with a few little details and India herself has tips for neutral homes with the "plain but not boring" ideas. Personal touches, texture, playing with different shades of the colour palette your working with, adding momentos, art, photos. Ooo I love it. A very cute read and I love the vibes... Even if India hates my style 🤣🤣🤣.

[Kate Schutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

India Knight is witty and intelligent and this book is easy to read, light and fun. I could have done without her lists of recommendations, particularly because they were primarily objects and things to buy and also almost all British, so not available in Canada. I had also wished for more actual design advice, although there was some. The illustrations are gorgeous but I wanted labeled photographs of her home with before and after shots and all the things that make interior design magazines dreamy.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so love everything about India Knight. Wise, humble, never preachy, just wanting to help, impart wisdom, and give permission to create the home that works for you.
I’m sure we could be friends which is good as she reminds me of actual dear friend Gabi… just seeing if she’s reading my reviews - Gabi or India - both good ;)

[Jess Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is so sweet and genuinely helpful. I completely share India’s philosophy on homes and this was a joy to read; I love to take these things seriously and joyously.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lot of fun

[Jane Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cosy read with some genuinely helpful tips, definitely aimed at the middle class but written with some self awareness of that.

[Beatriz Viana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I needed and did not know I needed

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Lots of hints and tips for making your home feel homely and cosy, but definitely not if you're on a small budget. However, it could be used as a base for ideas.

[Caroline Duggan · Rating 3 out of 5]

India Knight is great company - I enjoyed spending time with her reading this book. May she write many many more.

[Molly Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

delightfully aspirational middle class field guide

[Milly Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this!

[Keaton Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

English home inspo

[Todayiamadaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely and bit rambly, much like the sort of home this book envisages.

[stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made a new dear friend her name is India and she’s helping me move into my new flat in London

[Seaside Sparkles · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Some thoughtful and interesting ideas on the home style and culture. The book did inspire me and I’m now choosing which room to paint pink!

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good no-nonsense voice, list of addresses, advices, recipes… and best books to read in the loo 😁

[Ruby Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue me but I loved this. Feel like it’s the book of all the things your mum didn’t teach you and how to make a house a home. Very occasionally goes into a lot of depth on certain items so just save those chapters for if you are ever purchasing said thing etc

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to see inside India Knights home

[Katy Chessum-Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that Home has changed my life might be a teeny bit dramatic, however her wise advice and guidance on how to decorate and really enjoy *living* in your home has given me such a boost! We moved house a year ago and I've put off tackling the decorating because I had no idea where to start (renting for over 15 years and only just becoming a home-owner meant it had never come up before!). India's book gives practical advice on the foundations of decorating, like textures and colours, but also how to arrange your furniture to bring out the best in your house (and to enjoy living in your home, rather than a show home). I loved reading this and it made me realise that I have been buying lovely things over the years (like paintings, glassware, rugs and vases), I just need to pull it all together.

[Ruby Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relaxing guide to all sorts of things, and a bit of an antidote to seeing a barrage of picture perfect interiors on Instagram and what-have-you. Visitors don't want to see a space that's perfect, they want to see the special bits that make it YOURS.

I finished up the book feeling all at once: affirmed in my home's imperfect nature, slightly encouraged to give gardening another crack, and lazily inspired to add some extra homey touches when having guests over.

Filled with recommendations of places to buy useful gorgeous and useful things, alas the links are mostly just for UK readers.

[Elli Flitton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I’d read a bit of this here and there but I couldn’t put it down!! Really good advice, and really funny which I wasn’t expecting! Made me appreciate my home and all my bits and bobs even more 💖 the explanation of which lightbulbs to get to avoid horrid white light was especially appreciated 🫶🏼 I’ve already bought another copy to gift to a friend 😻

[Elspeth]

Taught me some useful things and some good ideas.
I think particularly good as written by a maximalist and good at encouraging relaxing into 'stuff'.
Did wind me up at times though.

- Interesting on scales eg for lightbulb brightness, sheet thread count etc.
- Think about having mix of straight and rounded edges - our lounge is too angular and needs more softness....