This Indian creator’s ‘dopamine decor’ home is the best use of adult money

Now Mody lives with Ari, the walls are decked out in pastels and there is pug art everywhere. The plates, cutlery, rugs, lamps—even the wall sockets—are all cute. The apartment reflects her own taste—there are no grey sofas. “The whole idea was that I was separating from a 10-year marriage. And that’s a loss, right? So I just wanted to be in a space that made me happy.” She is currently working on a book about dopamine decor with Ten Speed Press. “In it, there are checklists on how to do everything. If I had to paint a wall in my sleep, I know exactly the supplies I’ll need. I’ve painted so many walls on my own. The first time you try to put up wallpaper, you’re in tears—I was in tears. My wallpaper kept sticking back on itself, but now I can probably do that in my sleep too. I’m exaggerating, but I’m good at it.”

Mody’s kitchen before renovations.

Mody’s kitchen after renovations.

And Mody is good at it. Since 2020, her income has grown fivefold, and her current Portland house is owned solely by her. “The next plan is to buy a car, and once I start driving, travelling and exploring, I think I’m going to feel even more empowered.” In the meantime, she’s excited for her book release in August, taking on more interior design projects, potentially working with brands like Anthropologie, and even creating her own home decor line. That said, she has no plans to pause content creation. “It helps me be with Ari. I don’t have to leave home. It’s the perfect scenario.” This is a woman whose money is spent intentionally—on joy, independence and a life that’s her own. Her home, her rules, her happiness. And that’s what adulting looks like, according to Maitri Mody.