The Quiet Work Adds Up

Ever get to the end of the year and think, “Did I even do anything?”

That’s me — every year. Except when I actually stop and look, it turns out a lot happened. Quiet things, small decisions, subtle shifts — but together they make a difference. This post is me taking stock, celebrating the work that doesn’t always make noise, and sharing what really moved forward in 2025.

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Product & Design

This year brought new designs, new color stories, and even a brand-new category.

• Introduced new colorways of the Layers Throw, inspired by art and the way colors collide

• Launched Shape Parade Minis, our baby blankets, along with an energetic, playful photoshoot

• Released new colorways of the It Takes a Villa Throw

• Introduced our Celestial Throws — Eclipse and Equinox

• Introduced Happy Habitat Bed Runners, expanding the collection beyond throws for the first time

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Branding & Content

• Rolled out new branding, complete with updated packaging
  

• Published a record 9 blog posts

• Received a nomination on Awwwards for website design, a small but meaningful nod to thoughtful design

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Campaigns, Collaborations & Creative

• Collaborated with Wolfum in response to the California wildfires, with proceeds going directly toward helping her get her business back up and running

• Fell in love with Topanga at a photoshoot, photographed by Lane Miller

• Produced some dreamy shots with Kansas City photographer Jennifer Wetzel 

• Ran our first-ever dorm campaign, inspired by real life — one kid in college, one heading there next year

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Business Behind the Scenes

Some of the most important work this year didn’t show up visually.

• Navigated tariffs with no pricing changes (so far)

• Had a professional review our Google and Meta ads — a long-standing love/hate relationship

• Spent more time (and money) learning and adjusting to constantly changing algorithms and rules

• Kept my composure when UPS increased rates and extended delivery times

Ten years ago, Happy Habitat didn’t need paid ads to be found. Showing up consistently was often enough. Today, visibility means paying to play — and learning a language that’s always changing. This year required patience, resilience, and restraint.

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Values in Action

• Continued offering free carbon-neutral shipping for our customers

• In 2025, this removed 489 kg of carbon emissions

• Purchased 1,000 mailer bags made from 100% recycled materials, now featuring our new branding

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Crowd Favorites

It’s always interesting to see what resonates most.

Throws

• Favorite throw overall: Puzzle in Ochre

• Most-loved color: Ochre (so loved we ran out of yarn mid-December — more on the way soon)

• Most popular new releases:

  1. It Takes a Villa in yellows

  2. Equinox in ochre

  3. Layers in green

Minis

• For Shape Parade Minis, Blue has been the top seller

Bed Runners

• Most popular styles:

  1. Petra in Canyon + Blues

  2. Petra in Neutral

  3. Reverse in Oatmeal

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Stats & Small Truths

• • Meetings: 0

  • Conversations with myself :daily

  • Cappuccinos: 912

  • Decisions made without a committee: all of them

  • Shortcuts taken: none

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What’s Next

Brand new designs are already in the works.

In the coming months, we’ll be sharing new patterns — some of them smaller and more subtle than what we’ve done before. It’s a bit of a shift for us. I tend to go bold and graphic, but lately I’ve been enjoying the quiet confidence of smaller prints and seeing where that takes us.

More soon.

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Closing Thoughts

This year was about doing things thoughtfully — releasing what felt ready, holding steady where it mattered, and choosing progress that aligned with our values.

Thank you for being here, supporting small, intentional work, and making it possible for Happy Habitat to keep going.

-Karrie