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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
    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.”
  2. decor
    The 16 Very Best Desk LampsFrom industrial task lamps to a portable light that “looks like candy for your desk.”
  3. bedding
    The 18 Very Best QuiltsFrom heirloom patchwork to luxe Egyptian cotton.
  4. 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.
  5. kitchen
    The Very Best Indoor-Garden Kits“I was blown away by the variety of vegetables (and sheer volume of food) we could grow.”
  6. cleaning
    The 8 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.
  7. decor
    The 13 Very Best Removable WallpapersPeel, stick, and repeat.
  8. home
    The 10 Very Best Sleeper SofasIncluding compact sleeper chairs and pullout options.
  9. decor
    The Very Best Washable RugsFor households with toddlers, pets, gardeners, messy chefs, and more.
  10. deal of the day
    An ‘Extra Closet’ for $44For the clothes you throw on the clothes chair.
  11. decor
    The 11 Very Best Bedside LightsIncluding a mid-century brass-and-wood sconce and a German resin mushroom.
  12. organization
    The 12 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.”
  13. best in class
    The 12 Very Best CouchesI sat on 57 couches to bring you this report.
  14. furniture
    The 18 Very Best Dining ChairsIncluding a petproof velvet seat and the historic café chair that gets thrown around at improv theaters.
  15. women’s apparel
    The 13 Very Best Cashmere SweatersFrom wardrobe staples to bright color-blocked sweaters.
  16. home
    The 17 Very Best DoorknobsFor a home refresh that’s quicker and cheaper than painting.
  17. shoes
    The Very Best Products for Cleaning SneakersThe most important thing is a formula that works on all materials.
  18. best in class
    The 12 Very Best Shower Curtains“Looking out through this transparent curtain feels like wearing OJ-colored glasses.”
  19. best in class
    The 13 Very Best Houseplant FertilizersFrom all-purpose organics to the seaweed-based fertilizer that carnivorous plants love.
  20. valentine’s day 2024
    Valentine’s Day Gifts for Every Type of ManHigh-tech recovery gear, a romantic camp chair, and a chefs’ favorite chef’s knife.
  21. best in class
    The Very Best Plant Misters“No one wants to get carpal tunnel from spraying plants.”
  22. valentine’s day 2024
    All of the Best Valentine’s Day Gift IdeasIncluding a heart-shaped waffle-maker and a fidget cube for husbands.
  23. best in class
    The Very Best Window CurtainsFrom Italian-villa sheer to blackout curtains that block light and heat.
  24. best in class
    The Very Best Curtain RodsFrom fancy iron finials to unobtrusive rods with “the smallest rings possible.”
  25. best in class
    The 11 Very Best Garden Shears, Loppers, and Pruners“The cleaner the cut, the quicker a plant heals.”
  26. 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.”
  27. gifts they might actually want
    36 Gifts Under $5 (That You Can Buy on Amazon)Including food presents, dog toys, and self-care essentials.
  28. 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.”
  29. 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.
  30. fact vs. fiction
    Historians Vibe-Check The Gilded AgePeggy Scott, newspaperwoman? “You do find autonomous women like that.” Russell’s striking workers? “Fanciful in pretty much every respect.”
  31. deal of the day
    A Very Giftable Pendleton Wool Blanket Is 20 Percent OffMade in Oregon, 100 percent wool.
  32. timmy wéek
    It’s Timothée Chalamet’s Red Carpet to LoseFrom Haider Ackermann silk to Tom Ford leather, his fashion evolution was part of a pivotal moment in men’s clothing.
  33. gifts they might actually want
    36 Stocking Stuffers Under $15 (That You Can Buy on Amazon)Including the best white T-shirt, fancy condiments, and celebrity-approved incense.
  34. holiday gift issue 2023
    What I Got My 96-Year-Old Grandmother“She gives them to everyone who visits, and she’ll also slip one into greeting cards.”
  35. cyber monday 2023
    The Best Cyber Monday Furniture and Home Deals, From Anthropologie to UmbraIncluding a Togo sofa on sale and some delightful holiday decorations.
  36. black friday 2023
    The Best Black Friday Furniture and Home Deals, From Anthropologie to UmbraIncluding a Togo sofa on sale and some delightful holiday decorations.
  37. deal of the day
    A Vacuum That Does It All for $100It sweeps across carpets and detaches into a handheld.
  38. best in class
    The 11 Very Best Men’s Cashmere SweatersIncluding classic cable-knits and less-traditional prints.
  39. this thing’s incredible
    I Don’t Dread Injections As Much, Thanks to This $5 Organizer BoxI took my tape measure to the Container Store to find the right one.
  40. 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.”
  41. deal of the day
    33 Percent Off the Original Handheld VacuumTiny footprint, powerful suction.
  42. best in class
    The Very Best Metal Bed FramesIncluding canopies, bright colors, and high clearance for extra storage.
  43. the strategist 100
    The Strategist Home CatalogueOne-hundred well-designed items for every corner.
  44. best in class
    The 8 Very Best Carpet Steam CleanersTo keep carpets clean like a professional.
  45. prime day 2023
    Dysons, Mieles, Bissells — They’re All on Sale HereFrom Marie Kondo’s favorite air purifier to a very smart robot vacuum.
  46. parenting
    The Transgender Family Handbook144 specific suggestions, from trans young people and their loved ones, that parents may find helpful.
  47. 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.
  48. strategist chats
    How Our Editors Found 41 Impassioned Noguchi OwnersBehind our status lamp investigation.
  49. in situ
    Steal My Noguchi41 Akari lamps of all shapes and sizes as seen glowing in their passionate owners’ homes.
  50. 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.
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