My You've Got Mail inspired writing room

There are three truths universally acknowledged. One, is that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. Two, daisies are the friendliest flower, and three - You’ve Got Mail is the best romantic comedy of all time!

There’s something about it that feels like a warm hug for the soul, and it has been my go-to comfort movie for as long as I can remember. It’s nearly embarrassing how many times I watch it every year, and there is an unwritten rule in our house that should it happen to be aired on the TV, my husband is to resign all hope of changing the channel. Or that I’ll move from the sofa until the credits roll.

I often try to pin down exactly why I adore it so much. It’s not just the sweet love story, or even the love letter to New York City. It’s even more than the delicious tension, quick-witted chatter, and undeniable spark between NY152 and Shopgirl - though that certainly doesn’t hurt! Tom Hanks is one of my all-time favourite leading men, and quite the dish, in that “dependable, would-make-a-wonderful-husband” sort of way. Like someone who’d bring you a cappuccino and fix your dial-up connection without being asked. Meg Ryan is a beautiful leading lady, akin to Doris Day, with that lovely sunshine smile and demeanour. As fate would have it, we even share a birthday!

It’s something far greater than anything standalone though, it’s the world of the film that draws me in again and again. Nora Ephron created such a dreamy backdrop to the story. One I want to crawl right into and live for myself. It’s a snapshot of a perfect moment in time, and a place I’d like to explore. The cosy, bookish cafés, the golden glow of the Upper West Side in Autumn, and of course, Kathleen Kelly’s perfectly imperfect little apartment, filled with books, flowers, soft lighting, and a gentle sense of nostalgia. I even love her simple clothes, her quiet self-assuredness, and her values. She is the kind of woman I wish to be. Uncomplicated, warm, hopeful, and above all, earnest.

It’s so unusual to find a main character who seems to just want a quiet life, one that carries on a beautiful legacy (her mother’s), it’s like Kathleen isn’t necessarily always striving for “more”. She loves, and noticed the little joys in life. She has created for herself a cosy home, a cosy shop full of warmth and community (which of course she wants to keep), surrounds herself with good people, and even makes brave and hard choices without falling completely apart. She believes in romance, she’s a good soul. My goodness - she can’t even say mean things about Joe Fox without feeling terrible guilt!

Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it or because I haven’t been brave? Kathleen Kelly, You’ve Got Mail

For me, You’ve Got Mail is so much more than just a movie. The whole feeling of it, the warmth, the nostalgia, the gentle pace of life, is a reminder to create beauty in the everyday and to surround myself with the things that bring comfort and joy. Kathleen Kelly’s apartment has always embodied that spirit. It’s whimsical, welcoming, and just a little bit romantic. Exactly what I want life to feel like.

In fact, her pretty little apartment, her wardrobe, even her whole character stir up such a deep longing in me - sometimes a hint of melancholy, if I’m honest. The movie represents the life I thought my generation were all heading towards… before technology became so overwhelming. Even the sound of the dial-up internet in the film feels impossibly nostalgic now, but we bullet-trained towards this insane hustle culture we call 2025.

I was 13 years old when the movie came out, and the whole vibe of You’ve Got Mail feels like the adulthood I was promised. The adulthood I wish I had. It also begs the question… is this why so many of us now feel ridiculously nostalgic for the 90s? A reminder of simpler times that we actually remember?

Yet, you must know me by now. Despite being the whimsical and nostalgic sort, I’m never one to dwell too much on sadness, and a firm believer that we can create our own lovely life, the feeling of You’ve Got Mail inspires me so much that I decided to decorate my writing room in honour of Kathleen’s space. A little corner of New York charm, right here at home - a place to write, dream, and maybe, if I’m lucky, hear the faint sound of you’ve got mail as I open my inbox. Except they’re usually just emails from my husband asking for expenses receipts.

For the longest time, I thought the word I was clinging to was vintage. But now I realise, more than anything, what I truly love is cosy, lived-in, collected spaces. Homes that feel like a reflection of the loves of your life, not just a carefully curated aesthetic.

I decorated my room like the You’ve Got Mail apartment

I’m on the cusp of new things here at The Darling Academy, and while it’s taken a little while for us to get round to this project, my husband suggested we spend last weekend finally decorating the spare room which I also use as my writing room. Something to inspire me in this “next chapter”.

I’m remiss to call this room an office because that sounds too formal for something that feels more like a hobby than a job. It also needs to double as a spare room too, so I didn’t want anything too “workspace”.

Funnily enough, my husband and I both knew this room was crying out to be painted yellow. It gets beautiful light, and in colour psychology yellow represents happiness, optimism, friendliness, and creativity. Exactly the right energy for writing, and it perfectly embodies exactly what I hope The Darling Academy feels like when you visit me here online.

We went with a shade called “Smooth Vanilla” for the walls, which is actually a cream in tone, but appears yellow on the walls. It’s really warm and inviting, and feels incredibly feminine.

The best thing about choosing this theme is that it required absolutely nothing but a lick of paint, and a new rug! Everything else I had already purchased, thrifted, and even found on the roadside!

Please enjoy this video tour of the room.

How to decorate like a Nora Ephron movie

If you’re feeling inspired to decorate a space in your home in homage to this beautiful movie, here are the things that I took notes on from hours of You’ve Got Mail research in order to build this look.

Choose a soft, feminine colour palette.

Kathleen’s apartment is created with lots of soft, muted colours in many layers. Think a soft buttermilk yellow, petal pink, pale sage green, power blue, and hints of terracotta. Fabrics and artwork are floral, striped, or plain but textured and most definitely “lived in”.

Add vintage and antique touches.

The furniture is technically “mismatched” but cohesive in style and colour. I chose white furniture with a few curved and feminine details like brass drawer pulls and turned legs, but natural woods in warm tones will also work really well. My lamps are also mismatched and not too modern in style.

Decorate with books.

My writing room is a small bedroom, sadly I couldn’t squeeze in a bookcase, but I have a few little stacks of vintage books here and there - whereas Kathleen’s apartment was filled to the brim with them! If, like me, you cannot afford the space, little vignettes, like a stack of hardbacks under a lamp, work really nicely.

I like to think this room better serves for creating books, rather than reading them, though I’ll do a spot of that too! Especially when the light streams in during the afternoon and creates a beautiful warm pool of sunshine on the day bed. Betty and Violet already love it!

Cosy textiles and layering is your friend.

The day-bed is covered in layers of floral bedding - all thrifted, and deliberately mismatched, and plenty of feather-filled cushions. I leaned heavily on Kathleen’s bed as the inspiration, and as soon as I find the right upholstery fabric (secondhand) I will aim to sew a slip cover for my office chair. I’m hoping a Cath Kidston-esque style will turn up soon.

I also added net curtain to the window, they are “Alvine Spets” from IKEA that I simply hemmed. Kathleen has floor to ceiling net curtains in her Brownstone windows. They diffuse the light perfectly and add such a whimsical look to a window. I have these sheers/nets throughout the house, which I’ve kept floor to ceiling elsewhere, but in this room they needed to be shorter to fit the window. I’m also waiting on the right curtains to pop up when I’m out thrifting, but these things take time!

We also added a wool blend vintage style rug with tones of lilac and cream that complements the yellow walls. I had seen this one from the Ruggable x Bridgerton collaboration which is dreamy, but way out of my price range sadly.

Don’t forget the sentimental details

I have old framed photographs on my desk in thrifted Laura Ashley frames. A picture from our wedding day, and a photo of our sweet old cat Cleo who we still miss terribly. Also a pillar candle on a floral holder, pretty teacups, and a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils!

I adore fresh flowers, but we’ve had one too many accidents with a certain kitten called Violet knocking them over, so faux flowers will have to do in here.

Soft lighting, lamps, and warm white light bulbs. No big lights!

We never never-ever-ever-no-no-never use the overhead “big lights”, to do so is sacrilege (unless you’re trying to find something), it’s low level lamps all the way! It’s actually better for your mood, your health, and your sense of cosy. Buy lamps, and in abundance. You won’t regret it.

When I walk into this room my heart bursts, it feels like the personal expression of me - in decor. A room of my own that I’ve never really had before, having shared with siblings, and then later my husband. I realise too as I look about me that it also feels like a nice reflection of other TV and Movie sets that I also love, Lorelai Gilmore’s house, the Father of the Bride house, and definitely the vibe of Ma Larkin’s kitchen in the original adaptation of The Darling Buds of May.

It’s nice to finally feel really at home in a room. What a blessing a bit of thrifting, some buttery yellow paint, and a loving and supporting husband who lets you follow your heart can be.

I hope you enjoyed this mini tour of my writing room, and remember friends - caviar is a garnish!

With love,