Dwelling: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Home, Body, and Soul

by Melissa Michaels

Feel Well Where You Dwell
 
Our dwellings—both our home and body—are intricately connected. Each has the potential to inspire the other to be its very best! 

Your home is where your life happens. Learn how to create a sanctuary that inspires your well-being, so you can experience a greater sense of peace, comfort, and belonging.

Your body, including your mind and soul, needs daily nourishment to help you feel healthy and happy. You’ll discover simple ways to make self-care a priority in your home.

Melissa Michaels wants to show you how meaningful it can be to live a life that nurtures both your home and body. By making a series of small, intentional choices—from what you bring into your home to how you shape your daily habits and mind-sets—you can create a more rejuvenating environment that equips you to go into the world and accomplish all you set out to do.

Dwelling will help you


learn to better care for your home environment so it takes care of you
make decisions that simplify your life
create more peace in your day
invest in relationships that make you feel positive, challenged, and supported
lean into faith for strength and renewal
When you discover the connection between your home and body and the action steps you can take to improve both, you’ll be on your way to a more balanced and happy life!

   

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Health, Self Help, Personal Development, Womens, Adult

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Melissa Michaels is the author of The Inspired Room (theinspiredroom.net), one of the top decorating blogs on the web for the past eight years. The Inspired Room reaches over 600,000 readers each month and was voted Better Homes and Gardens Readers' Favorite Decorating blog in 2014.

Melissa (along with her home and The Inspired Room) has been featured in top publications and magazines online and in print. Through The Inspired Room blog and her upcoming books (Love the Home You Have, March 2015, The Inspired Room, October 2015), Melissa offers a refreshing perspective on finding contentment in creating an authentically beautiful home, right where you are.

She lives with her husband and family near Seattle, Washington.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of it really is beautiful inside and out! This is not the first book of Melissa’s I have had the pleasure of reading and sharing about, however this one is my favorite of hers!! Looking through the book, there are chapters about inviting (welcoming others), choices , creating a refuge (we all need a place of quiet and safety to go to at times), loveliness (and I do like beautiful things), simplifying (which I am all for!!), gathering together (creating a space for you, your family, and others), nourishing our minds, body, and spirit! Take a look at the book and a few from the inside. I think you will agree, it is beautiful and also encouraging!!

This book isn’t just about homes, but also about bodies, how we live our lives. I read a lot and in many of the homeschool articles/books I read, they write about atmosphere and how it relates to learning. I have to agree, our environments can affect us in many ways. Not only that but I think about what God desires and am I honoring Him through my life in all areas, yes the places we dwell in, home and body!? What is the atmosphere of my heart like? What does it focus on? We may not have pretty things or even things to create a space of beauty. As Melissa says, “We already have everything we need to savor each moment – our soul, heart, mind, senses, two hands, and the people in front of us.” We can choose how to look at things, either through negativity or positivity, either through grumbling or thankfulness, either through falsehoods or what is true. May we not waste our places or our lives, we have a choice every day in how we will act, use our time, and/or focus on.

That is what this book is about and more. You will find encouragement, suggestions, questions to ponder on, inspiring quotes, Scripture, recipes, etc…

[Mel Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really need to declare in the blurb that this book is so based on scripture. I found it deliberately manipulative, started off light, and got heavier and heavier as the book went on, till it was more a book on faith than anything else.

[Jen Judd · Rating 5 out of 5]

dWELLing: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Home, Body, & Soul

I wanted to read this book for two reasons: 1. Melissa Michaels wrote another book that changed the way I viewed my home...and helped me love it very much! And 2. I LOVE a pretty book. dWELLing is a BEAUTIFUL book...beautifully written, and beautifully illustrated with pretty watercolor hand lettering…<3

My favorite chapters were: savoring, foraging, nourishing, and gathering. I love the one word titles of ALL the chapters. I love how Melissa gives practical, ACTUAL ideas to dwell well. She gives personal stories, scripture, and easy, affordable and attainable ideas to “nourish your home, body & soul”...just as her title says.

Her chapter on savoring struck a lot of chords for me. She talks about savoring the season you are in, setting the tone and mood in our home, slowing down and savoring solitude, enjoying all the senses at home, staying present in the moment, creating creature comforts for yourself and family to enjoy, creating a relaxing atmosphere, and how to make every day the best day. I read this chapter twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything...and I will probably refer back to it for some of the scriptures and quotes she shared on these topics too.

I LOVE her chapter on foraging: “to seek, gather, or hunt for plant matter.” I have ALWAYS been drawn to flowers...artificial ones, sparkly jewelry ones, drawn and painted ones, and real ones growing in the garden, and most recently thanks to a hubby who spoils me, flowers in a vase on my dining room table. I am not the best at gardening...but I LOVE trying, and figuring out which ones do well here in NC, so I just have a few flower pots close to my front and back porches that I try to plant some things in every spring and summer. I also LOVE to get a hanging fern every year...it’s my newest, most favorite thing I do for my porch...I used to think flowers and plants were a waste of money because they only last for a season...BUT, Melissa talks about how gardening inspires self-care. My favorite quote from this chapter is: “When you stop and smell the roses, besides slowing down, you receive a health-and mood-boosting benefit from the plant itself.” I have always loved the “stop and smell the roses” part of the quote...but to think it’s actually beneficial to us is so encouraging to me!

In her chapter on nourishing, she talks about nourishing your body, and your mind, and your soul. I wanted to highlight and underline this entire chapter. There is SO much goodness in this chapter...you HAVE to get this book, especially for this chapter <3 Here is my favorite quote, and the biggest reason I believe in knowing how to nourish yourself in all three of these areas: “Despite all the hard work and love we pour into our dwelling, even a home built on a strong foundation may not be enough to weather every storm.” SO GOOD!

In her chapter on gathering, she talks about how homebodies can be confused with hermits. AND THIS IS SO ME. I LOVE being home...but I also LOVE my people...MY people. She talks about how the people we gather with can influence our well-being just as much as actions we take ourselves to better ourselves...that is good! I also love how she gives ideas on how to gather your family at home...my favorite idea, and one I will be trying VERY soon is: “create a ‘build your own’ party with all the toppings” I am thinking my family will either love an ice cream party or make our own pizza party…

When I was scrolling through facebook, and saw that Melissa Michaels needed a book launch team, I immediately clicked and filled out all my personal information. I wasn’t sure if I would be apart or not, until a few weeks later, I got the book in the mail. I was so excited! It is a beautiful book, hard cover, PERFECT for the coffee table, and packed FULL of AMAZING wisdom. I hope you enjoy it too!!!!

[Rebekah Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please - if you’re going to include your religion and start preaching - include that in the title.

Not everyone is a Christian and it’s rude and thoughtless to act like they are.

[Sarah]

I'm not rating this book at this time because I ended up skimming through a lot of it. There was a lot that I can't apply in an apartment. Honestly, my main reason fro skimming is that I'm tired of all the books and people banging me over the head with their ideas on "toxic" products. I use a lot of natural products and try to be wise, but I'm tired of the word toxic being thrown around until it means nothing and trying to make me feel bad for my toothpaste and shampoo. But some of that I know is just the mood I'm in.
I'll revisit this book at some point because I do like a lot of what she has to say.

[Prairie Sky Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret that I LOVE Melissa Michaels’ books. Creator of the award-winning blog “The Inspired Room”, and author of several must-have books about decorating, de-cluttering, organizing, and simply turning a house into a home, she is my favorite author in the House and Home genre. Her newest book from Harvest House Publishers is, perhaps, her best so far because it takes the idea that our dwellings, both our homes and our bodies, are intricately connected and therefore will reflect and transform each other - for good or for bad! “Dwelling: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Home, Body, & Soul” is a must-read for anyone who has enjoyed Melissa’s previous work, or is simply looking for ways to “Feel well where you dwell”!

“Dwelling” is a lovely, hardcover book that is organized into ten chapters, ranging in topic from Well-Being (Committing to Healthy, Happy Choices) and Sanctuary (Create a Refuge) to Streamlining (Simplify Your Process and Priorities). Each chapter has so much to offer, and I can honestly see myself referring to this book again and again over the years. It is encouraging without being unattainable, and it is down-to-earth enough that anyone is bound to benefit from the wisdom within its pages. In addition to the writing on each page, however, this book is just plain beautiful! The layout is thoughtful and refreshing, with plenty of beautifully calligraphed quotes and Bible verses, inset ‘Dwell Well’ tips, easy-to-reference lists, and so much more. It is clear that a lot of thought went into the design of this beautiful volume.

In conclusion, if you are seeking to “embrace the art of caring for yourself and your surroundings, even in small but meaningful ways”, I highly recommend this powerful little book from Melissa Michaels. It has found a treasured spot on my ‘read often’ shelf, and I am positive it will find a similar space in your heart and home.

This book was provided courtesy of Harvest House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa Michaels believes that our dwelling - both our home and our body are connected and taking care of one can inspire you to take care of the other and taking care of both are equally important. In Dwelling she goes through several ideas to create a more nourishing life for yourself. Some of the reviews I read complained that it was repetitive, but I think in each chapter she was trying to highlight ways to incorporate that chapter's idea into your home life and that could have overlap. I didn't find it repetitive, but I did find some of the chapters seemed to jump around or kind of seemed randomly put together. But, overall I think it was a good book about how to make your dwelling better and better reflect you and your values. I also liked that each chapter had several journaling prompts to help you work out ways to make changes and improve aspects of your life.

Some quotes I liked:

"When it comes to our home, it's important to make decisions that nurture us rather than stress us. Even if you have the means to make expensive or extravagant changes in your home or can afford to move to a more lavish neighborhood, you may decide to live more modestly. Someone else may choose to live in a more expensive neighborhood to avoid the traffic to and from work. Two hours gained for their family every day might be worth the additional expense for the peace added to their home." (p. 50)

"But by incorporating this technology into our lives, are we missing out on fully living in the moments? Are we living our best life? Or are we spending our lives trying to look like we do? Does a camera or the use of social media inspire us to create more vivid memories and even better savor each moment? If we don't know what to do without our cell phone in hand, or we've lost touch with what fuels our soul and fills our self-worth, we've lost something that should be precious to us." (p. 94)

[Rebecca Brannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a thought provoking, reflective journey-while also including steps that guided me through an action oriented plan towards my own well-being. I received an advanced copy & have finished the book but will definitely want to read it again. It is full of great content & ideas that I hope to implement now and in the future.

Melissa’s gentle encouraging writing walks you through your own path as she describes her personal highs and lows during the process. Each chapter prompts the reader to journal their own thoughts and ideas & encourages you along the way with simple manageable goals.
If you’ve always pondered the idea of creating a nourishing sanctuary in your own home but were overwhelmed with where to begin-this book is a good place to start. It helps make the decision making process doable.

The many frame-worthy quotes give time to reflect on what you are learning.

Drawing closer to the conclusion of the book I felt as though I had just finished a cup of coffee with an old friend-encouraged and ready to start living healthier and refreshed in my season of life- equipped with the tools needed to create my own healthy dwelling.

[Kristin Esser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I need to read right now. It's basically a book on how to craft a life that you love and are content with. The author encourages you to journal your way through the chapters—finding out for yourself where you are, what you are happy with, what you would like to see change—and then gives you some actionable steps to start making those changes. She inspires you to introduce some new self-care routines, simplify your home, and invest in relationships, just to name a few. What these all have in common is that they are elements that will bring you joy. And that's what this book brought to me—joy. I will probably reread it once a year for that little shot of inspiration that encourages you to make a few tweaks in your home/day/life that reap big rewards.

[Kiersten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa Michaels’ newest book may be my favorite of hers yet. Dwelling: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Home, Body and Soul was a book that I read slowly in order to savor and soak in all the good tidbits. Having recently moved and now living in a small apartment that isn’t real big or lovely, I’ve struggled with finding joy in where I dwell and Melissa’s book was a perfectly-timed read for me. I am grateful for her wisdom, advice and story-telling as I find a way to dwell well in my new home. If you are looking for a simple, easy, non-threatening place to start in changing the way you care for yourself, your family and your home, start here and let Melissa help you along the way.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beware, heavily laced with Christian propaganda. There are many other books out there that guide you on how to clean out your life, without preaching a Christian agenda and being brainwashed by the Bible as the only way to peace.

Before giving any of your money or time to someone peddling a religion that has been responsible for the deaths of millions of lives over thousands of years, consider the alternatives that can actually bring you peace since they are free of ties to all of those that have been killed and abused (remember the Bible says you can beat your wife!) in one man's name.

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I'd noticed the diet talk, Bible verses, and gender essentialism when I first leafed through this book, I wouldn't have bothered to bring it home. Even aside from that, there's nothing particularly new or interesting here.

[Christie Stoneback · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this beautiful book.

Amazingly simple ways to dwell well.

Started the book May 2024 and was intentionally journaling my way through - but got stalled out. Found the audio version 6/11/25 and finished it in 2 days! I plan on continuing the journal aspect, as the points are spot on.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful, refreshing read that I picked up at just the right transitional season in my life.

[Melissa Layne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Plenty of helpful tips on health & home, along with how to simplify in order to maximize time with who matters most.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little book featuring journal activities, common sense for slowing down the pace of life, and making yourself more efficient while less stressed. Some biblical links, although these don't seem to add to or detract from the overall work.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Dwelling and plan to reference it in years to come. In addition to being soft (seriously- the cover is beautiful and feels so special), the content is great. While Melissa is popular for her decorating blog, this book takes a step back to talk about overall wellness. I was asking myself over and over again, “how can I take one small step to increase the peace and wholeness in my home life and in my body?” There are journaling prompts. I would highly recommend this book and also “Love the Home You Have” by Melissa Michaels. I consider her to be my decorating guru, and I feel that she’s our modern-day leader for modern homemakers. Get the book!

[Deborah Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love Melissa Michaels tips and practical ideas for adding special moments and touches to our days and our homes.

Dwelling is a book about not only our homes, but our bodies that we dwell in and live in everyday. Melissa wisely points us toward creating a home sanctuary we can thrive in, dwell in, feel well in. She shows us ways to simplify and add order and peace to our rhythm of life.

Sitting down and turning the pages of this book refreshes me!

I received a copy to review and all opinions are 100% my own.

[Brooke Walburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Michaels is a fabulous woman inside and out, and this new book is proof of that again! I love all of her books because they are always such an encouragement to me. Dwelling is no different! Full of personal stories, practical tips, and beautiful graphics/quotes, this is a must read. I particularly enjoyed this book because she really opened up about her faith and how we can incorporate that into everything we do (i.e. what we bring into our homes, nourish our bodies with, how we spend our time, etc). A great read if you want to refresh your soul this spring!

[Terry Felix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room has long been one of my go-to’s for home decorating inspiration. Her new book Dwelling provides so much more. This is not primarily a book of decorating ideas but rather a beautifully written resource filled with practical tips and personal stories that help guide the reader to think about how to “dwell well”. It is packed with inspiration and tools to shape a workable plan to keep body, soul, and home well-nourished. The book itself is quite lovely... I recommend a hard copy.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author writes this book specifically for women, mentioning makeup and other female-only topics. The author also spends a lot of time speaking about religion and if you are not Christian you may find this off-putting.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This was a pretty book that encouraged you to make the most of your life and home.

[Linnea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Repetitive to other books I’ve read and heavy on scripture which turns me off completely.

[Natalie Shawver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love me a good self-care book. Ones that suggest things for me to do (like get fresh air everyday no matter what) and try (clear the clutter from my kitchen counters so I'm not anxious). But for whatever reason, I've never been the biggest fan of those that want me to journal specific prompts (says the writer) or unloads their burdens on me, said reader.

When I opened Dwelling, I thought for sure this was going to be a book I connected with. The author was diagnosed with a thyroid condition in her late 30s (just like me) and has a strong faith (something I try to have). She broke down the chapters by seasons of life/portions of your day ... but for whatever reason, I just couldn't get into this one. Much of the time it seemed like she was talking "at" the reader and much of it just would never change my perception of life. For example, journaling about why hosting a dinner party would bring me joy probably wouldn't make me host one. I already know I enjoy hosting pasta meals ... so why do I need to journal about that? Perhaps I missed the point entirely, but it just didn't jive.

The one aspect of the book I did appreciate, however, was Michaels juxtaposition between our dwellings (both our home and body). If your home is carefree and organized, her argument is that so, too, will your mind/body be (and hopefully vice versa). It's about making simple, intentional choices to ensure both your home and body dwell together. "Feel well where you dwell," is the slogan ... and I can get down with that. Just a little to fluffy for my liking and nothing I haven't really heard much of before.

[Sara Budarz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a book that was easy to listen to while I ran some errands and for that, this hit the mark. But the content was underwhelming. It just said the same thing every blog/book/inspirational quote on Instagram says (take time for yourself, you're worth it - etc.), which is fine.

But the added nonsense about all of the things her naturopath recommends and she then peddles to the readers made me roll my eyes. I suppose I have a low tolerance for made-up illnesses and food sensitivities and all of the "cures" people love telling you about.

Skip.

[Stacey Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book carries some interesting ideas. It encourages you to take the ordinary and make just a little better. It gets you to embrace what season of life you are in and make it the best that you can. Life is not always perfect. There are going to be some hard times in it but you will get through it. It encouragement that everyone needs at sometimes in his life..

If I ever encounter a rough patch in my life, I will go back and read this book as a reference.

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dwelling: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Home, Body and Soul

This book is perfect for any woman who is wanting to fulfill her purpose for each season of her life. This book offers thoughtful questions to ponder and come to understand themselves, their purpose, dream, goals and confidence. Melissa Michaels writes in an easy considerate style. The reader will come to know themselves, heart, body and soul

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, Melissa Michaels knows how to encourage me to do more without ever making me feel guilty for not doing enough. As for Dwelling, this book was full of so much practical advice for home and self care but I particularly loved the inclusion of journal prompts and self care ideas. A great resource and tool for digging into how best to care for your home dwelling and body dwelling.

[Karla Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tool for growth

This book offers so many prompts and questions to help you really stop and think about who you are, what you want, and how you might look at life in a way that allows both progression into something more, while being content with what you have. It is an incredible tool for those of us who really want to live our lives well.

[Cassian Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of excellent and simple ideas to get started in dwelling well! I especially liked that she talked about paying attention to what your body needs, and that she talked about choosing activities and making time for what is life-giving.