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We don’t have to tell you that 2021 was another tumultuous year full of ups and downs. In the spirit of new beginnings, we wanted to focus on the ups as December draws to a close—specifically upgrades. With just a few more weeks left of 2021, I asked my coworkers to tell me about the best upgrade they made to their homes this year. Below are their very shoppable answers, including tons of time-saving kitchen essentials, an eco-friendly bathroom hero, and on-trend decor to start the new year on a fresh note.
Diane Dragan, Global Editorial Operations Director
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Sometimes the world is hard, and you need a little extra support. Literally. My take? Snap up this versatile throw pillow, which instantly elevates any sofa or bed with its soft cotton-velvet texture and offers a firm-enough, feather-filled boost under your arm or back. A few years ago I made the mistake of unifying our collection of mismatched squares with a quartet of inexpensive chenille covers, and they predictably wore down to tatty sadness. For pretty much the same price I upgraded to these covers plus inserts, which are designed with natural materials, chic hidden zippers, and soothing tones. The price is affordable, the quality is fantastic, and they wash beautifully. Pro tip: The colors seem to rotate in and out, so if you find a palette you like I highly recommend purchasing multiples at once.
There’s seldom enough counter space and cabinetry in my smaller-than-Nancy-Meyers’s kitchen, so every appliance and tool is multi-purpose and highly vetted. But following a stay at an Airbnb with an electric kettle, I made space in my heart for one. After trying and returning some clunkers, I fell for this Hamilton Beach model. Whether you drink coffee or tea all day—or just want instantly hot water for your instant ramen noodles—this one-liter size is just right even for a family of four. It takes minutes to heat up, has an auto shut-off feature, and the bubbling sounds while boiling add to my matcha moment of zen. Pure bliss.
Who loves vacuuming? When we had our old rug-sucker—great at picking up dirt, but heavy and clumsy to navigate with a too-short cord—I would have emphatically said no one. But with this Dyson Cordless, let me count the ways. I’m no clean freak, though I splurged on the additional brushes and attachments so it’s equally satisfying to vacuum bare wood floors as it is to tackle thick wool rugs or velvet upholstery. The fast click-change adaptable stick can expand your reach (up to ceiling cobwebs, behind leggy end tables) or get hands-on close (deep in sofa corners, down to dirty car mats). Before, it was exhausting to see dust and willfully ignore it. Now it’s immensely satisfying to grab the unit, zap the filth, and easily dispense of it. To those who walked with old-timey canisters and uprights so this Dyson could run, I thank you.
Allie Weiss, Deputy Digital Editor
This lamp didn’t replace anything, but it filled an empty corner in my living area that was just too dark. I subsisted on one bright floor lamp providing most of the light in the room for many months of working from home, but when it started getting darker this fall I realized I needed more illumination stat (plus, having multiple lamps going at the same time just makes everything feel cozier!). This lamp from Urban Outfitters sits on top of a small IKEA storage unit, and it is just bright enough to transform the lighting landscape in my living room, but I also like how it looks. It’s cute and riffs off of current trends (chunky forms, chrome details), and it is very reasonably priced.
Madeleine Luckel, Design Editor
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I finally bit the bullet this Black Friday and upgraded my bed by getting this luxurious down alternative mattress topper from Parachute. I can honestly say it’s amazing! It makes me feel like I’m sleeping on a cloud. Now the only issue is I think the mattress pad is better than my actual duvet.
Sydney Gore, Digital Design Editor
During the pandemic I felt compelled to try making my home a more sustainable space. After all, every step counts no matter how small, and it’s about making a larger impact in the end. As someone with IBS, I spend a lot of time in the bathroom so it was in my own best interest to start with products for this particular area of my home (I already have my eye on this custom toilet paper holder as seen at the Under / Over exhibition for next year). When there were inventory shortages at the grocery store, I had no choice but to order Plant Paper. It made me wonder why I hadn’t made the sustainable switch sooner! I was first exposed to the brand through Sky Ting’s studio in Tribeca a few years ago, before I even knew that it was an eco-friendly toilet paper, and I could feel the difference with every visit to the bathroom. Plant Paper’s tissue is made from a blend of “soft, organic, fast-growing grasses” and organic bamboo (each purchase even saves trees!). Most importantly, there are no bleaching agents or chemicals used which, to me, is crucial for any product making contact with the most intimate parts of my body. Yes, it’s more expensive, but ultimately better for the environment which is priceless if you ask me. I’ve tried many different alternative toilet papers, but this brand offers the highest quality IMO. Should you want to save a few bucks, registering for a subscription plan might be the best move.
Rachel Wallace, Digital Entertainment Editor
Before my roommates and I upgraded our pots and pans to the sage green Beautiful 10-piece cookware set by Drew Barrymore, we had a bunch of disparate pots and pans—all of which were sort of on their last legs. Having a matching set makes me feel like a real adult, and I love that I was able to incorporate this trendy green color into my kitchen without having to actually make any major changes. Mostly I love having a lid for every pot and the correct size pan for whatever I’m cooking.
Speaking of kitchen upgrades, my roommates and I also got a set of matching dinnerware earlier this year when we moved into a new apartment. We now have open shelving in the kitchen, and our old jumble of plates and cups was just not going to cut it. I really like the minimalistic look of this set from Target. We were able to add some fun vintage glasses and a few blue bowls alongside it for a pop of color, and this set has really held up after a whole lot of use and sessions in the dishwasher.
Zoë Sessums, Digital Design Writer
As a former kitchen product tester, I’ve tried almost every coffee grinder there is. And though I had a decent grinder already, it was feeling old and uninspiring. Sure it ground coffee well, but it was also very messy and extremely loud. I love the Fellow kettles, so when I saw they had a new grinder last year, I lusted after it. At last, I recently made the upgrade, and it is an instant joy. There’s less noise, less mess, and the footprint is so much smaller than my previous grinder. I get excited to make my coffee in the morning! They just released a white option that is incredibly chic.
Rachel Fletcher, Commerce Editor
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This Mustard Made locker revamped an empty, rather dreary corner of my bedroom that had some random boxes waiting to be unpacked and a tiny, not-super-functional side table. Aside from the bed, my bedroom is mostly an afterthought, though I was in the market for something that could host some visually unappealing items like extra linens, all of my electronics, ugly cords, and give me another surface for displaying the fruits of my plant obsession. What I like about this chic industrial cabinet is that it’s not only functional, but also bright, cheerful, and immediately made my bedroom feel more organized and clutter-free. It stores everything I wanted to tuck away, and with room for more. Plus, it took under an hour to assemble, and all I needed was a Phillips head screwdriver.
Audrey Lee, Commerce Writer
It’s hard to choose what I love most about this apron, but I think besides the charming color combinations and thick material, I’m head over heels for the handy pockets. For some background, I bake a fair amount (especially in the winter), and before this design from Dusen Dusen I had been using a very plain and very thin muslin apron whose origins still remain somewhat of a mystery. Though I don’t see myself signing up for a spot on Top Chef anytime soon, now I’m able to easily tuck away spatulas, whisks, and dish towels for later use, and feel slightly more put together in the kitchen when I’ve randomly decided I need a late-night cookie.
