The Best Home Items Our Editors Bought This Year

I spent months looking for the perfect swivel chairs this year, and I finally found them at Lowe’s of all places. These are comfortable, hold their shape, and look high-end, so naturally, I’m thrilled with them. In the pursuit of “making my house a home,” I bought two of them for my living room, and even though my husband wishes they were recliners (eye roll), we sit in them almost every night. —Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor

I sleep with a humidifier running all year round, and I’ve always been frustrated with how difficult humidifiers are to clean and how quickly they get moldy and gross. This year, I finally got myself a Canopy humidifier and have never looked back. All of the main parts are dishwasher-safe, which makes it so easy to clean, and it’s made with antimicrobial materials and a filter that keeps things cleaner for longer. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I owe my nightly eight hours to this humidifier. —Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor

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The concept of a washable rug made no sense to me for so long, despite seeing them all over social media. After a very unfortunate series of spills and a mud incident within 24 hours (I have kids, a husband, and a dog…), I went for it and LOVE. Washing is so easy, and when I say our kitchen is high-traffic (see the individuals mentioned earlier), I really mean it. It’s clean AND beautiful! I bought another a few months later. Rugs are an investment, so being able to keep them clean and take them from place to place with you over time is so key! —Megan Kemp, Senior Sales Manager

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I’m so impatient that waiting for my stovetop kettle to boil used to drive me crazy. This year, I finally grabbed an electric one from Amazon, and let me tell you: It lowkey changed my life. It boils water so fast, and now that it’s cold outside, I’m drinking tea nonstop, and I can make a comforting cup in no time. —Lauren Blue, Lifestyle Staff Writer

I live in the heart of the city, surrounded by buildings and neighbors, so privacy is hard to come by. The best purchase I made this year for my townhome (which lacks both natural light and privacy) is these cafe curtains from Rejuvenation. They are made-to-order, so they fit any window size and come in a variety of finishes. I chose the lacquered brass for my kitchen window to add a French café feel, and it’s been the best addition for maintaining privacy while still allowing sunlight. —Cassie Erb, Social Media Manager

I would give my past self two pieces of advice. First, think really hard about buying that white couch. Second, if you still opt for light-colored furniture, listen to your coworkers earlier when they say the Little Green Machine works wonders. Frustrated with spots and stains, I finally gave this a try, and my jaw dropped on the first use. I actually stood there in amazement as I admired how this machine lifted the dirt marks off my white couch with such ease. So, my piece of advice for you is to listen to the hype on this one. —Keely Geist, Senior Social Media Manager

I moved into my first “big girl” apartment in June, and one item I knew I wanted to find was a big, sturdy, works well for pictures, doesn’t-morph-my-body-in-a-weird-way, full body mirror. After some hunting around and refusal to justify spending over $200 (a rude awakening in adulthood is discovering how expensive mirrors are, I guess), I found this one from Ikea, and it is quite frankly my best purchase of the year. It’s really big (I have high ceilings and it fills the space perfectly), doesn’t have a flashy frame, is perfect for outfit photos (that can fit multiple people, BTW), and is under $150. I don’t see a world where I wouldn’t purchase it a thousand times over again. —McKenna Pringle, Branded Content Editorial Assistant

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I wanted to upgrade my WFH set-up this year, and this monitor stand is my MVP. It raises my monitor to make it more ergonomic, has storage underneath for notebooks and other desk necessities, and is super cute. I would love to eventually get an acrylic stand for my laptop as well! —Kaia Grobe, Video Content Editor

A new toaster is about the last thing I want to spend my money on, but let me tell you what! I am obsessed with the Beautiful by Drew Barrymore product line at Walmart. This toaster is giving SMEG vibes at a fraction of the cost. It’s fancy with touch-activated settings and so cute we keep it out on the countertop. —Megan Kemp, Senior Sales Manager

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Embracing my green thumb era, I found this snake plant as a solution to spice up my guest bathroom. Its resilient nature and the included self-watering pot make it incredibly low-maintenance. Plus, it thrives in low light, making it an ideal choice for adding a touch of greenery to any space. —Aryana Johnson, Graphic Designer

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I’m a sucker for a New York-themed print (or anything, for that matter), so when I saw this, I knew I had to have it. Not only is it my favorite purchase of the year, it’s my favorite purchase of all time. The quirkiness of the guest-check theme, paired with the simplicity of the scripted phrase, is the perfect addition to my funky, girl-coded apartment. —Tinsley Crisp, Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer

While I am typically on team no big light, I switched a few light fixtures in my home this year and actually wanted to put them to use. As you can imagine, at their full brightness, those light fixtures were only used when absolutely necessary. These dimmer switches allow us to work with our big lights to create the perfect ambiance. They were relatively easy to install (I did it myself after watching a couple of YouTube tutorials!) and have made a huge impact. —Garri Chaverst, Senior Managing Editor

LA has notoriously hard water, which I can tell because my hair and skin are so much softer after a shower on vacation (anywhere), and I get gross pink residue in my shower within days of washing it. This year, I splurged on a high-quality filtered showerhead after years of using a cheap filter from Amazon, and it quite literally changed my life, not to be dramatic. First of all, the showerhead itself has that perfect spa-like shower pressure—as if you’re at a really fancy hotel—where it feels like you’re getting plenty of water but doesn’t hurt (you know the kind that hurts). My skin and hair are immediately so much softer and noticeably healthier, and I don’t get the same gross residue in my shower so I know it’s working. I love this filtered showerhead so much, I bought another one for our guest bathroom (you’re welcome, visiting family members). —Josie Santi, Sr. Wellness Editor & Podcast Host

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I’ve been seeing these light bars all over TikTok for months, and after finally pulling the trigger on them a few weeks ago, I can confidently say that it’s one of my favorite features of my apartment. They’re fairly affordable and foolproof to install—just stick them behind your TV or monitor to add a moody glow to your living room or elevate your home office. —Ashley Selleke, Branded Content Managing Editor

Say hello to the single purchase that made me actually enjoy sitting on my deck over the summer. We bought two of these rocking chairs and they totally transformed our outdoor space. Our previous sofa was fine, but you couldn’t really sink into it. These rocking chairs are extra wide and recline at the perfect lounging angle. I spent many an hour with a drink and my Kindle in this chair when it was warmer, and I can’t wait to do the same again next year. —Garri Chaverst, Senior Managing Editor

I’m going to be so honest: I absolutely cannot afford most washable rugs (I’m talking about you, Ruggable). BUT I so desperately needed one this year, thanks to my sweet six-month-old who drools everywhere. When I came across this rug, I had to refresh the page to make sure the price was right. At under $200 for an 8×10, I added this to my cart so fast and prayed the quality would be OK. To my surprise, this rug is insanely soft, beautifully made, and looks gorgeous in my living room. It’s truly my best find of the year. —Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor

I’ve had an oversized floor mirror on my Pinterest board for years, and I finally pulled the trigger on this black ornate mirror at the beginning of the year. Eleven months later, and it’s still my favorite home purchase of the year. It looks stunning in our entryway and elevates my entire living space so well. Plus, it’s the perfect spot for double-checking my outfit before I walk out the door (and taking cute OOTDs, ofc). —Steph Alleva Cornell, Branded Content Editor

I really wanted a big, comfy chair for my apartment, and this chair from Drew Barrymore’s Walmart collection ended up being exactly what I was looking for. It’s the perfect chair to read in, and I’ve even curled up and taken a nap on it multiple times. It was also very affordable compared to other chairs I was looking at, and it was super easy to assemble. —Caitlin Schneider, Graphic Designer

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Were these necessary? No. But do they make my afternoon sparkling water a little more fun to drink? Absolutely, yes. I purchased a couple of packs of these and use them basically every day. Because they’re glass, they can also easily go into the dishwasher after use. —Garri Chaverst, Senior Managing Editor

This isn’t exactly the same as the three-tiered stand that I thrifted this year, but it’s close enough. I absolutely love my cute little vintage  stand for throwing my keys and wallet, storing my perfume and jewelry, and holding other little essentials. It’s the catch-all home item that I never thought I needed, but now can’t imagine my life without. If you’re looking for a creative way to hold your trinkets, this is it. —Emma Ginsberg, Associate Editor

Living in an apartment with three girls can get a bit messy, but three girls with long hair (myself included)? Yeah, it kinda gets everywhere. This cordless handheld vacuum has been a LIFESAVER in keeping things clean around the apartment, and there’s no rollers for your hair to get stuck in like a traditional vacuum. Hair tumbleweeds, begone! —Jenna Piotrowicz, Editorial Assistant

I live in a very beige—and slightly… let’s call it quirky—basement apartment. So adding a pop of color and character (and covering up the rust on the white fridge) was essential to making it feel like home. This peel-and-stick wallpaper was easy to use to cover the fridge and add a fun accent to some of my bookshelves! An easy and affordable way to customize your space. —Abi Moseman, Assistant Social Editor

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In my continued efforts to upgrade my WFH space, I got these great pin boards! I love the linen material and the white frame. I wanted to feel inspired by my space, and being able to pin beautiful things on my pin board helps me stay motivated and inspired. —Kaia Grobe, Video Content Editor