A Postgrad’s First-Apartment Essentials
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Welcome toHow I Pick My Picks— a kind-of-regular newsletter series in which we check in with the Strategist staff on the stuff they’re using day-to-day, the products they’re testing for stories, and the things their friends and family won’t stop asking them about. Consider it a peek into the always whirring brain of a Strategist writer. Today, we talk to junior writer Bella Druckman.
As a junior writer at the Strategist, I’ve collected a lot of knowledge about random (yet important) items, likebedbug mattress encasements,multivitamins, andpill cases. Being nine months postgrad also means that I’ve developed a niche of my own:college and dorm essentials, includingbackpacks, mattress pads, and shower caddies. As much as I try to forget about my communal showers and late nights finishing essays, the 40-plus college students that I’ve interviewed since joining the Strategistmake sure I stay up-to-date on the things they actually use, likeNorth Face’s Borealis backpackandfairy lightsinstead of the “big light.” And as I’ve built my first “adult” apartment, I’ve actually incorporated lots of things I used to use in my dorm — includingmy spices, original Our Place pans, andfavorite OXO spatula. So, when I say that one of thebest graduation giftsis a good set of spices, you can trust me, because I use a set myself.
Given the range of topics I cover, my weeks vary. One week, I’m interviewing a variety ofroller-skating expertsanddocumenting our extensive coverage of beloved kitchen brand OXO, and the next, I’m combing through our “What I Can’t Live Without” archives for celebrities’ favoritetravel bagsandpairs of underwear. I can only assume that the coming months will lead me to new niches, a welcome change for my friends who’ve heard enough of my bedbug prevention fun facts.
What’s the product that friends and family always ask for your advice on?
Unsurprisingly, everyone asks me about dorm essentials. I’ve compiled my findings from extensive interviews with college students across the country ina guide to outfitting your college dorm, but I still get many questions. Most important — is a mattress topper really necessary? Given how hard and slippery your average dorm mattress is, I’d say it’s absolutely essential.
My favorite one, which I also included in the guide, is athree-inch memory foam topperthat I purchased after spending one night on my twin XL mattress sans topper. It’s plush, easy to roll up when moving, and durable. Since I recently graduated both from school and to a queen-size bed, I passed it on to a friend who just moved into her first dorm.
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Do you have any strongly held opinions that have changed after testing?
Our editors assigned me our Best in Class guide to fans right at the beginning of the summer. Coincidentally, I had also just moved into my first real apartment, which, like many New York apartments, does not have central AC, making my testing all the more effective. As I tried out fans, I realized how important it is to factor in noise level. Though a loud fan will keep you cool, you’ve given yourself a new problem while solving an old one. If you’re hesitant about splurging on the impressively quietDyson, Dreo makes a quiet and effective pedestal fan for half the price.
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What’s the least amount of money you should spend on, for example, a pill case?
As I mentioned earlier, I wroteour guide to the best pill cases, which I researched by interviewing pill takers and chronic-illness advocates in addition to using a variety of cases to hold my own pills. There’s really no minimum price when it comes to pill cases. In general, the lower you go in price, the less “cute” your case will be. There are a few exceptions to this rule that I’ve come across during my research, though. This includes Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla’sheart-shaped seven-day pill case. If I didn’t already have a pill case I liked, I would buy this one, which is $8 and comes in a variety of cheery colors. There’s also one Strategist senior editor’speapod-shaped pill casethat’s the perfect size for a purse.
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What are you currently testing and researching?
I’m currently working on a new Best in Class story dedicated to bath mats — it’s my latest mat-related article since becoming the Strategist’s unofficial mat expert. Every time I test a new mat (whether it’s one for a kitchen, standing desk, you name it), it reinvigorates my belief that a mat should not budge. Your mat, which is there to separate you from the ground, is useless if you have to keep touching the ground to readjust it.
I’m still testing mats to determine my favorite, but I’m impressed byCoyuchi’s Shag Bath Matso far. It’s impossibly plush and will be a welcome treat for my toes come the colder months.
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What’s the last thing you bought?
I’m filling in the gaps in my kitchen and upgrading the tools that no longer suffice after graduating from cooking in a dorm. My most recent purchase isa new pair of tongs from OXO. My old pair had nylon on the ends that was looking particularly nasty after almost four years of use.
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What’s the most expensive product that you own?
Since I’m still building out my first apartment and just getting used to having a paycheck, I only have a few expensive items. The most expensive product I own is the kitchen table that my boyfriend and I bought fromDobbin Street Vintage Co-Opin Greenpoint. It’s a beautiful wood table originally from Heywood-Wakefield that we dutifully protect with placemats and coasters. Everyone compliments it as soon as they enter our place.
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If you had to spend $1,000 at Pottery Barn, what would you buy?
My alma mater is Barnard College, which is definitely not one of the schools that’s overrun with the headboards and bed skirts you might see on dorm TikTok. When I was in college, my primary décor consisted of a cozy rug and some carefully curated posters. (Though I did upgrade my bed witha trusty bed extender.) If I had the chance to redo it all, I’d absolutely head to Pottery Barn.
Beginning with the bed, I’d grab theCozy Sherpa Backrest Pillowwith a white fluffy sherpa cover to try to fend off homework-induced naps. Then I’d get some of theLoveShackFancy sheets, which have caught my eye in the hundreds of dorm-tour videos that I watch in the name of journalism. To complete the beauty-sleep setup, I’d getthis whimsical pajama set. Finishing with décor, which I’d say is almost as important as sleep in the realm of college mental health, I’d getthis floor lamp that includes shelves for storageandthis wool rugthat’s thick enough to keep my feet warm and dark enough to disguise any mysterious stain.
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What are some open tabs on your computer right now? What’s on your list, but you can’t bring yourself to buy it just yet?
Recently, I’ve been obsessed with matching pajama sets. There’s something about feeling put-together while I’m sleeping that appeals to me. My boyfriend and I recently celebrated our anniversary, and he gifted me abuttery pair of Lake pajamas. I’ve been sleeping in them as often as I can and am eyeingthis wide-leg pairfor winter. Other open tabs include atomato corer,Taylor Swift’sFolklorealbum on vinyl,one of the cocktail muddlersfromour guide to the bartending tool, andAvocado’s adjustable organic bed pillow.
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
