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MOST RECENT ARTICLES BY:

Erin Schwartz

Writer, the Strategist
@webschwartz
erin.schwartz@voxmedia.com

Erin Schwartz is a Strategist writer who covers home décor, furniture, gardening, and clothing care and DIYs. They previously worked as an editor at Garage magazine and reviewed TV, movies, and books for The Nation.

  1. gifts they might actually want
    24 Stocking Stuffers Under $15 (That You Can Buy on Amazon)Including the best white T-shirt, fancy condiments, and celebrity-approved incense.
  2. gifts they might actually want
    The Best Gifts for Artists, According to ArtistsIncluding art supplies, a massage tool for getting the kinks out, and music to work to.
  3. my week with
    My Week With Z Coils’ Spring-Loaded Orthopedic Sandals“My body feels better after a day in Z-Coils than it does after one in my running shoes.”
  4. gifts they might actually want
    28 Gifts Under $5 (That You Can Buy on Amazon)Including food presents, dog toys, and self-care essentials.
  5. gifts they might actually want
    The Best (Strategist-Approved) Gifts for GardenersFrom a mosquito spray that smells good enough to be worn as cologne to a book known as the “Bible of fermentation.”
  6. gifts they might actually want
    A Gift for Every Type of Dad (at Every Price Point)Including books for his inner philosopher and grill-master gear.
  7. deal of the day
    33 Percent Off the Original Handheld VacuumTiny footprint, powerful suction.
  8. best in class
    The 17 Very Best Bed FramesIncluding platform beds, canopy frames, and upholstered wingback styles — with lots at less than $1,000.
  9. best in class
    The 12 Very Best Men’s Cashmere SweatersIncluding classic cable-knits and less traditional prints.
  10. best in class
    The Very Best Metal Bed FramesIncluding canopies, bright colors, and high clearance for extra storage.
  11. best in class
    The 7 Very Best Clothing Irons“At this point in our civilization, most people who create irons understand that they really need to have a couple functions.”
  12. best in class
    The 12 Very Best Cashmere SweatersFrom wardrobe staples to bright color-blocked sweaters.
  13. best in class
    The 12 Very Best Platform BedsIncluding beds with (or without) headboards, styles that fold up for easy storage, and frames that you can customize to your own liking
  14. best in class
    The Very Best Window CurtainsFrom Italian-villa sheer to blackout curtains that block light and heat.
  15. the strategist 100
    The Strategist Home CatalogueOne-hundred well-designed items for every corner.
  16. best in class
    The Very Best Curtain RodsFrom fancy iron finials to unobtrusive rods with “the smallest rings possible.”
  17. best in class
    The 12 Very Best Shower Curtains“Looking out through this transparent curtain feels like wearing OJ-colored glasses.”
  18. best in class
    The 8 Very Best Carpet Steam CleanersTo keep carpets clean like a professional.
  19. best in class
    The 13 Very Best Houseplant FertilizersFrom all-purpose organics to the seaweed-based fertilizer that carnivorous plants love.
  20. prime day 2023
    Dysons, Mieles, Bissells — They’re All on Sale HereFrom Marie Kondo’s favorite air purifier to a very smart robot vacuum.
  21. best in class
    The 8 Very Best Removable WallpapersPeel, stick, and repeat.
  22. gifts they might actually want
    48 Gifts for Every Type of BossGifts for your impossible-to-shop-for boss, at every price point.
  23. parenting
    The Transgender Family Handbook144 specific suggestions, from trans young people and their loved ones, that parents may find helpful.
  24. recommended by experts
    A Shopping Guide for Trans Kids and Teens, According to Trans FamiliesNon-gendered tees for kids, brow gel for facial hair, and the underwear brand everyone loves.
  25. strategist chats
    How Our Editors Found 41 Impassioned Noguchi OwnersBehind our status lamp investigation.
  26. best in class
    The 9 Very Best Clothes SteamersFrom a travel steamer the size of a Hydro Flask to the workhorse standing unit found in every costume shop and department store.
  27. in situ
    Steal My Noguchi41 Akari lamps of all shapes and sizes as seen glowing in their passionate owners’ homes.
  28. best in class
    The Very Best Plant Misters“No one wants to get carpal tunnel from spraying plants.”
  29. best in class
    The 11 Very Best Garden Shears, Loppers, and Pruners“The cleaner the cut, the quicker a plant heals.”
  30. best in class
    The 7 Very Best Humidifiers“It pushes out the right amount of humidity to keep my nose and eyes moisturized at night, and I can easily keep it clean.”
  31. gifts they might actually want
    The Best Gifts for Mom (That Do Good, Too)Including a high-fashion macaroni necklace that benefits Building Black Bed-Stuy and a Risograph print to support trans kids.
  32. best in class
    The Very Best Flush-Mounted Ceiling LightsNo boob lights anywhere.
  33. best in class
    The Very Best NightlightsWhether you’re looking for the Swiss Army knife of nightlights or just want a glowy croissant.
  34. best in class
    The 11 Very Best Bedside LightsIncluding a mid-century brass-and-wood sconce and a German resin mushroom.
  35. gifts they might actually want
    The Best Gifts for Teachers, According to TeachersFrom a laminator to a mushroom-growing kit — and lots of (actually useful) gift cards.
  36. best in class
    The Very Best Compost BinsFrom an easy-to-clean countertop option to a system that can handle “the crazy Frankenstein stuff in the back of your fridge.”
  37. best in class
    The 13 Best Garden LightsIncluding a paper lantern made out of weatherproof Tyvek fabric and fence lights with a party mode.
  38. strategist hive mind
    51 Etsy Shopping TipsAn accumulation of proclamations and well-sourced recommendations from the Strategist staff.
  39. best in class
    The 8 Very Best Ceiling FansFrom an inexpensive, fits-everyone option to “the Prius of ceiling fans.”
  40. best in class
    The 10 Very Best Outdoor Ceiling FansFrom sleek and modern to statement fans with giant leaf-shaped blades.
  41. best in class
    The Very Best LED LightbulbsThe most reliable options from a technology in transition.
  42. best in class
    The 13 Very Best Clothes-Drying Racks“I’ve been photographed with this drying rack. I love this drying rack.”
  43. best in class
    The 13 Very Best DoorknobsFor a home refresh that’s quicker and cheaper than painting.
  44. best in class
    The Very Best Waterproofers for Shoes and BootsFrom the “the crème de la crème of shoe care” to the wax that will “weatherproof the hell out of those Blundstones.”
  45. best in class
    The Very Best Products for Cleaning Sneakers“This solution works well on mostly all materials — leather, suede, nubuck — and gets the job done.”
  46. this thing’s incredible
    Skateboarder Dickies Are the Only Pants I Want to WearPants so good I’d learn how to do an ollie.
  47. best in class
    The Very Best Washable RugsFor households with toddlers, pets, gardeners, messy chefs, and more.
  48. best in class
    The 14 Very Best Bar Carts“If we can integrate the bar cart into the rest of our lives, that’s definitely the way to do it.”
  49. best in class
    The 7 Very Best Compost TumblersIncluding a “surprisingly weather-resistant” affordable tumbler and “the Boeing 747 of compost bins.”
  50. best in class
    The 10 Very Best Sewing MachinesFrom an “incredibly powerful” antique option to the machine the founder of Loeffler Randall used to sew 1,200 cloth face masks.
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