When an outlet is hard to come by, we turn to solar lights to illuminate outdoor spaces. If you need to brighten an entryway, pool fence, or shed, a couple of hanging lanterns might be your best bet—and our latest Amazon find is just the ticket. We personally love the vintage-inspired appeal of this pair of Edison-like lanterns: They discreetly hide a solar panel on top and, after six hours in direct sun, promise to stay illuminated from sunset to sunrise without having to fuss with matches, buttons, or batteries.  

Not only does the duo boast nearly 4,000 positive reviews and a rare 4.4-star rating, the sleek black powder-coated version is 40% off right now. That means you can scoop up the set for just $30. They’re so attractive, one reviewer shares, that after noticing them on a neighbor’s fence, “I liked them so much I ordered them for my backyard.” 

Derynome Store Outdoor Wireless Solar Hanging Lanterns 

Derynome Store Outdoor Wireless Solar Hanging Lanterns in Black, Amazon ($30 was $50)

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Multiple others confirm that these aren’t just “adorable” but incredibly durable thanks to a waterproof rating of IP65. After combing through the comments, we can confirm the petite luminaries have endured the elements without hiccups or rusting, in one instance “for more than two years.” We’re thinking the material combo of metal (30% stainless steel and 70% aluminum) and glass versus plastic helps. The brand recommends taking them in during particularly rough storms and extreme weather conditions, but one northern Connecticut resident offers that they’ve survived every season, including winter, just fine. 

“They were subject to snow, wind, and freezing temperatures,” they write. “I bought one set at first, to see how they worked, and loved them so much I bought several more. They work great, and if it’s been a supersunny day, sometimes they are still on early the following morning.” 

The lanterns are described as a small but mighty source of light, and most reviewers were equally surprised by how much warm light they give off (exactly 15 lumens), while others say they’re more decorative than anything. That sounds right up our alley, since when it comes to outdoor lighting, we’re Team Ambient over bright beacons anyway. It’s worth keeping in mind that, as with any solar-powered light source, the amount of sunshine influences how many hours your lanterns will stay aglow. That’s to say: Don’t expect long-lasting luminescence if you’ve placed them on a covered patio or in a shady section of your yard. (But that doesn’t mean they’ll go dark ASAP either.)

“In the summer months, the lights will stay on until sunrise. In the winter, they tend to only stay on around six to seven hours following a sunny day, less if overcast. Even if covered with snow, they’ll come on for an hour or two,” another shopper shares. 

All this to say, if you want to brighten your backyard with low-maintenance lighting, look no further than these lanterns. Simply hang them up somewhere sunny and then get ready to bask in their luster all year long. 

More Hanging Solar Lanterns on Amazon

Teklaps Solar Wall Lantern Lights, Amazon ($27 was $50)

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Mlambert Solar Lantern Outdoor Hanging Lights, Amazon ($30)

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EKQ Hanging Solar Lantern with Shepherd Hook, Amazon ($26)

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Yakii Two-Pack Metal Solar Lanterns, Amazon ($41)

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The post You Can Leave These Waterproof Solar Lanterns Hanging by the Pool All Summer Long appeared first on domino.

Sometimes it’s what’s on the outside that counts. In “Front of House,” we dig into all the elements that give a home “stop the car!” kind of curb appeal, from main character mailboxes to much–welcome yard transformations.

Our sweet little house in New Jersey has a lot going for it—crocuses in the front yard, the original 1930s dentil molding, a recently renovated kitchen—but the security situation when we moved in was rather dismal: a finicky old keypad that frequently left us spinning the dial this way and that until the door miraculously swung open. Did I mention it was glaringly ugly?

My husband and I aren’t opposed to smart locks as a genre—it was nice to never have to dig around for actual keys—but ours wasn’t cutting it in the looks or function departments. In March 2023, I got in touch with Level to test out its Level Lock+. It’s now been more than a year since I installed it—scroll down to get all the details on that—and Level recently came out with a nifty Wi-Fi accessory, so it felt time to check back in about how we’re liking it.

Level Lock+, Level ($279 was $329)

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Level Connect, Level ($79)

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An Update, One Year Later

The design: A+. Despite daily use, there is no noticeable wear and tear to the matte black finish, and the deadbolt turns as smoothly as day one.

The battery life: A-. Level says its Lock+ battery should last six months, and we’ve replaced it exactly once since installing it 13 months ago. Doing so is supersimple—you just unscrew the cap on the deadbolt. The minus is due to the battery itself. It’s a Lithium 3-volt CR2, which was not readily available near me, so it required a dedicated Amazon order.

Locking and unlocking: B-. When the Lock+ works, it works great, and the manual options—the actual key, the cards, and the app—are reliable. But every once in a while, the app glitches, not connecting with my door for a few minutes. Not the worst-case scenario, but certainly annoying. And while the auto-unlock features are amazing in theory, more often than not, the lock still doesn’t realize that we are at the door quickly enough for it to be useful. We end up pulling out our phones anyway. If yours is as attached to you as mine is, you’re still saving time not having to dig for your keys, but it’s a bit of a bummer.

Level connect: A-. Level’s new Wi-Fi accessory is an unobtrusive little device that you plug into the wall near your door. It isn’t a must-have, but given the finicky auto-locking/-unlocking, I do like the reassurance that comes with its main benefit: accessing your lock remotely. This way, if I’m running out the door and don’t want to pause to pull up the app, I know I can lock my door from anywhere. One of those people who’s always worrying that you left yours open? You’ll love this.

My Original Review

The Design

When the lock arrived, it was immediately clear that one of Level’s biggest claims, that it makes technology invisible, was very much true. From the outside, the bolt looks just like a standard low-tech version, and it was half the size of our old bulky keypad. Even the packaging is minimalist—underneath the instructions pamphlet and a couple key cards, the bolt, motor, and two outer plates are nestled neatly into designated spots next to a box with the battery, bolt strike plate options, and screws. Those plus a Phillips screwdriver are all you’ll need to install it.

FYI: What the Lock+ does not come with is a matching black door handle. You’ll have to purchase your own—mine is a $20 Home Depot find.

Door Compatibility

The very first step is assessing your current door situation. We have a standard, builder-grade front door, so the Lock+’s basic requirements—1 ¾-inch door thickness, a standard deadbolt—were no problem. 

The Installation

We said a not-so-fond farewell to our existing keypad, the corresponding bolt, and the bolt strike plate (on the doorframe) with the help of the screwdriver. From there, you simply screw the new Level bolt into the door per the instructions.

FYI: If curiosity compels you to manually push in the bolt mechanism at this point and you close the door, you will actually lock it…with no easy way to retract the bolt. Don’t do this unless you want to get into an argument with your significant other and end up pulling out the bolt with pliers.

The step that requires the most finesse is sliding the motor into the hole and onto the bolt in an upright position; “Level” should be facing up. Do it slowly, though, and you’ll be fine. After that, you attach the outer plates to either side of the motor with, yes, more screws. (I pulled out our drill at this point to make it even easier.) The “paddle,” aka the dial you turn to lock the door from the inside, snaps into place with a push.

Once you screw the strike plate into the doorframe, you’ll turn your attention to the bolt one last time to pop in the battery. A chirping sound indicates a job well done. According to Level, the Lock+ battery should last about six months. 

In total, installation took me 45 minutes, but 30 of those were dealing with the aforementioned bolt debacle, so expect more like 15.

Setting Up the App

Download the Level Home app on your phone and connect it to your lock right away (apparently, you only have 30 minutes to do so for security reasons or you’ll have to reset it). You’ll be asked for some personal information, then a few prompts follow. We’re talking an under-five-minute process, after which your phone becomes a key in and of itself via Bluetooth. To lock or unlock the door, you simply hold down the Level logo until you hear the sweet sound of the deadbolt turning.

Locking and Unlocking

You have three different ways to engage your Lock+: the app, a hotel-like key card, and a regular ol’ key. If you spring for Level’s separate keypad, add a fourth to the list. We use the Level Home app’s press-to-unlock feature the most—our phones are always with us!—but I was relieved that the Lock+ gives you a couple alternatives. This way, should your phone die (or should a guest love the analog life), you’ve got hands-on options at your disposal. 

Bonus Features

For tech-friendly visitors, you’re able to share forever, temporary, or recurring access via the app. There’s also an “auto-lock/unlock” option, where the door is meant to open with either a touch of the hand or whenever you’re within a certain predetermined radius. I could see this being particularly handy when you’re loaded down with groceries or mail. 

FYI: My husband has found that the auto-unlock feature to be hit or miss. Sometimes, his phone doesn’t recognize him—or if it does, it’s only after he’s been standing at the front door for a solid minute.

You can also add your Lock+ to a few compatible apps you may already be using, like Apple Home, and control it from there. Integrating your Lock+ with Home, specifically, has another advantage: the ability to enable a key in your Wallet app with “express mode,” where all it takes to open the door is holding your phone near it, no app opening required.

The post One Year Later, Here’s How My Front Door’s Stylish Smart Lock Is Holding Up appeared first on domino.

At one early point in our relationship, my husband and I bought a very cute and stylish paper calendar to solve the problem of “Do you have plans tonight?” or “When is so-and-so’s wedding again?” I imagined a life where we’d convert our Google Calendars to old-fashioned pen and paper, and it would look good—check—and keep us wholly organized and aware of each other’s schedules. It was an epic fail.

Sometimes, when technology is available, like an ever-updating calendar that you can hold in the palm of your hand, it’s hard to go back. With the paper one, we’d forget to add things, write events on the wrong day (and then have to scratch them out), and worse, just neglect the thing altogether. We thought using a shared Google Calendar would solve all of our problems—but adding events without notifications meant we were missing things, too. Now we put events on our own calendars, and invite each other to them so that we know exactly what’s going on. 

And yet, we still longed for a physical calendar display in our apartment so that we could keep track of who’s where and when. (I admittedly go out a lot. Like five-days-a-week a lot, and my husband’s work schedule changes week to week.) When I saw an ad for the Hearth Display on Instagram, it was marketed as a way to keep track of family schedules, from picture day to soccer practice, but let me tell you: It’s made all the difference, even for our family of two. 

Hearth Display

Hearth Display, Hearth ($599 was $699)

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With little wall space and few outlets left in our apartment for the Hearth, which measures 16.5 inches wide and 26.7 inches high, we installed it in our bedroom in a high-traffic area that’s right outside our home office, so my husband can see if I’m on a call or not before he knocks on the door. And even though it’s in the same room where we sleep, we programmed it to go dark at 10 p.m. and turn on at 9 a.m. There are three frame options—black, white, and light wood—and the whole thing sits flush enough against the wall that you might mistake it for art. 

Setup was quick—minus a hiccup with my work email, which was not the Hearth’s fault—and I was able to invite my husband to share his calendar and color-code his schedule so that all of his events are in blue (mine are in pink). One thing to note: You can’t drag and drop events to change their timing; instead, you have to do that by way of your Google Cal, but you can add new ones via the touch screen. 

And it’s not just a calendar. You can also add to-dos for your family (my favorite passive aggressive move, hee-hee) and set up routines via the Hearth app. And that’s my one note on its functionality: The “app” is a website, not mobile software, and it’s pretty bare bones at the moment, but I imagine as Hearth grows so will the technology. Additionally, the price is up there—$600—but I think it’s something that we’ll always keep around to use and for when our family grows.

A couple months into using it, I’m already noticing a difference in how my husband and I communicate about our ever-changing schedules. We spot conflicts sooner, and checking the Hearth every morning has become a routine that gets us ready for each day. And when we don’t want to stare at another screen, we set it to display my husband’s art. Sure, we still occasionally ask, “What do you have going on today?” But it sure beats keeping up with a paper wall calendar.

The post When a Paper Wall Calendar Got Too Messy, I Switched to This Pretty Digital One appeared first on domino.

In some ways, each coffee tool I own has marked a time in my life. A Bodum French press was my introduction to the at-home caffeine game. Fast-forward to an Aeropress, gifted to my husband and me for our engagement. The Baratza Encore grinder that we upgraded to after our wedding. A Chemex as we settled into our first apartment, closely followed by a Fellow gooseneck kettle. A U-turn back to the Aeropress for some time, and an acquisition of a Comandante hand grinder. Then a leap forward to what has become one of my favorite kitchen products ever: Technivorm’s Moccamaster. (Our countertop has since collected a Gaggia espresso maker and all its trappings, but that’s besides the point.) 

Technivorm Moccamaster KB

As a design editor, I can’t help but be drawn to domestic objects that not only work well but look really good, too. First spotted in a coffee-loving friend’s home many years ago, I initially coveted this chic architectural brewer for its perennially stylish utilitarian form, range of colors, and attractive decanter. It’s the kind of product you want to put on display, not hide away in a cupboard. We picked one up during the early, no-contact days of the pandemic and haven’t stopped brewing with it since. But don’t just take it from me. Gwyneth Paltrow stocks her Montecito guesthouse with one, and cookbook author Dan Pelosi swears by his (peep a bright orange frame in the background of his portrait). There’s even a darling baby pink version in the kitchen of this Australian creative couple’s home. 

A little background: The Moccamaster has been in production in the Netherlands since 1969, five years after the brand Technivorm—appropriately named by combining the Dutch words techniek and vormgeving (“form” and “function”)—was founded. The company started out by making other functional home items (think: step ladders and shelving systems) in the mid-1960s. This then evolved into a coffee grinder, which spurred Dutch coffee brand Douwe Egberts to collaborate with Technivorm on a machine. After refining the design, the base KB model went into production in the late ’70s and has hardly changed since. It’s still made today by hand in Amerongen, like the rest of its products.

In addition to aesthetics, the Moccamaster produces extremely good coffee, better than any other drip I’ve tried. That’s partially because of its manual-adjust system, with which you can control the brewing speed through the basket or stop it entirely (we tinker with this part, but you don’t need to). It’s also due to a copper boiling element that rapidly heats the water and holds it at just the right temperature for extracting coffee grounds. A hot plate keeps it there and shuts off after 100 minutes for safety purposes, more than enough time to get through every cup, or we just flip it back on. Other things I love about the Moccamaster are that it brews quietly and quickly, is built from metal and BPA- and phthalate-free plastics, and comes with a glass carafe. Various versions of decanters, from thermal pourers to a squat, cylindrical option abound. A big bonus: Each machine comes with a five-year warranty, and the brand will repair yours for life.

Compared to other makers, the Moccamaster isn’t a budget pick. No matter which way you slice it, you’re looking at $330. There are many imitators of the style, of course, including Cafe’s version and Zwilling’s take, which are cheaper. Other design-y coffee makers include Smeg’s retro style, Alessi’s Plissé elegant shape, and Bodum’s Technicolor option, which is a MoMA Design Store exclusive (and under $100). But while it might not be an impulse buy, the Moccamaster is the most timeless, durable, and quality drip brewer on the market. This one will always have a place in my home, no matter what era I’m in.

More Moccamaster Coffee Gear

Technivorm Moccamaster KB Coffee Brewer, Amazon ($329)

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Technivorm Moccamaster KM5 Burr Coffee Grinder, Nordstrom ($254 was $339)

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Technivorm Moccamaster KBT Thermal Carafe Coffee Brewer, Nordstrom

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Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select Coffee Brewer, Williams Sonoma ($350)

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The post My Honest Review of the Most-Hyped Coffee Maker of All Time appeared first on domino.

Over the course of the pandemic, the second bedroom in our Brooklyn apartment morphed from a place where someone might sleep every night to our home office, a library, and where my husband plays music. Since then, one corner has been designated the home gym, which, until recently, has housed a supremely unorganized pile of resistance bands, recovery tools, and foam rollers. Another stash of stuff like gels and electrolyte powder resided in the closet that’s partially blocked by our Peloton, not a total impediment but always another step.  

A few months ago, I was at the brink: I couldn’t take another morning of rooting around for the proper gear to get me out the door on a run, or trying to magician an uncluttered look when out-of-town friends come to stay. I started searching for a solution—whether that was to be bins, floating shelves, or something else entirely—and landed on the Container Store’s website, as this dilemma often compels someone to do. Scrolling around, I caught a glimpse of an over-the-door product styled with gym equipment. Funny enough, once the page loaded, it showed wrapping paper, ribbons, and all manner of gifting supplies stuffed in baskets and hanging on the utility board. That didn’t deter me: I could see yoga mats fitting where those rolls were. I clicked the “add to cart” button. 

Elfa Classic Mesh Gift Wrap Door & Wall Rack

All of the components arrived swiftly within a week. Packaged well without too much plastic, the epoxy-bonded steel racks and pegboard as well as the wire-mesh baskets felt solid yet totally lightweight upon first hold. Installation requires little more than a Phillips screwdriver and an Allen wrench, and you don’t have to drill any holes—a win for renters who want their security deposit back. 

Installation, in four steps, took all of 15 minutes: Position the brackets in the center of the door, fit the rack into the bracket so that it will tighten without being too tall, and then screw it in. Attach the different components onto the rack (mine came with a gift-wrap holder, pegboard-style utility board, boxes, hooks, and two medium baskets). The pegboard can be finicky, so make sure it’s properly secured. That’s it. That’s all she wrote. Our interior doors aren’t painted, so we see a small sliver of the brackets on the other side, but if you have white doors, I bet you’d forget they’re there. 

Price-wise, there are certainly other organizers from Rubbermaid or Amazon off-brands that are cheaper. But what I love about the Container Store’s version is threefold. It’s part of the larger Elfa system, which means it’s compatible with all kinds of different baskets and bins made for the line, so you can tweak it over time as your needs change. It’s not terribly unattractive, as far as visible organizers go. Lastly, the durable steel construction means it won’t buckle under heavier loads, and very few plastic parts makes it more sustainable. 

A true testament to its versatility? I liked the rack so much that I picked up another version for our teeny entry closet. It fits right between a few existing hooks we still use, and where there was once a top shelf loaded with cleaning supplies and toilet paper, there is now room for other things we’d like to hide away, too. How’s that for creating something out of nothing? 

Elfa Classic Mesh Gift Wrap Door & Wall Rack, The Container Store ($160)

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Elfa Utility Mesh Over the Door Rack, The Container Store ($161)

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The post This Organizer Was Meant for Crafts—Here’s How I Use It for Gym Gear Instead appeared first on domino.

Who can forget the excitement you feel when furnishing your first apartment? I can’t. The countless trips to Target, the cartloads of items from IKEA. While I was happy to scour Facebook Marketplace for a dresser and build my coffee table, there was one thing my grandmother warned me not to skimp on. “You need a good set of knives,” she told me. And to me, that meant spending big. 

I quickly learned knives are hard to shop for, especially as a novice cook. For the most part, you can’t test or hold them to determine their comfort, weight, and if they’re even any good. Weeks went by and all my money at the grocery store was going to precut food. So to tide me over, I picked up IKEA’s $10 (now $13) Förslag three-piece knife pack. “They’ll keep me going until I find the perfect set,” I said. Little did I know, these were the perfect ones. Nearly six (!) years on, these original three knives are holding up great and are still the only ones I own and use for everything.

IKEA Förslag Knife Set

Förslag 3-Piece Knife Set, IKEA ($13)

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The Förslag knives were designed by Aaron Probyn in 2015 and launched the following year. The U.K.-based designer, who has also collaborated with brands like West Elm and Crate & Barrel on kitchen essentials, had a simple brief: “Design a well-formed set of knives that are affordable, yet pay attention to detail and care for every user.”

For eight years now, the Förslag set remains the same, with its stainless steel blade and polypropylene and synthetic rubber handle inspired by Japanese design. “There’s a strong Japanese influence in the general silhouette of the knives, while reworked to be more user-friendly,” says Probyn. “With the handle being rubber coated, we wanted to add additional texture to give extra grip when the knife is in use and wet.”

That’s not to say my journey with the knives hasn’t been—er—choppy. When they got blunt three months in, I nearly threw them out. But instead, I went back to IKEA and bought the Skärande sharpener for $13 (now it’s $15), so I can give them a good filing every six to eight weeks. Together, these two surprisingly long-lasting finds continue to be a match made in heaven. 

IKEA Skärande Knife Sharpener

Skärande Knife Sharpener, IKEA ($15)

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Because I know the skeptics out there are thinking, “There’s no way you can get quality knives at IKEA,” I asked three chefs to share what they look for when shopping for affordable cooking knives. So whether you too want to jump on the Förslag train or invest in something that’s more a step up, here’s what Alan Casillas (executive sous chef at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel), Maggie Trujillo (culinary director for Aerlume, Aqua by El Gaucho, and El Gaucho Bellevue), and Aaron Clayton (NBA and NFL 11-time All-Star performance chef and founder of Honed Staffing) had to say.

What do you look for when buying affordable knives?

What are your favorite affordable knives?  

Wüsthof Gourmet 6-Inch Chef’s Knife, Wayfair ($100)

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Global Classic Santoku & Paring Knives, Williams Sonoma ($80)

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Cuisinart Set of 6 Stainless Steel Color BandKnives, QVC ($43)

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Tojiro Japan Professional Santoku Chef Knife, Amazon ($88)

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How often do you sharpen your knives? 

What are your top sharpening tips? 

The post This $13 Pack of IKEA Knives I Bought 6 Years Ago Are Still Going Strong appeared first on domino.

For many years, I considered my husband to be the plant person in our partnership. He’s a Cancer, loyal to his commitments, applying method and routine to his hobbies. I wouldn’t consider myself well positioned for the job: I’m not into user manuals, and every day looks different. I’ve somehow killed a rubber plant in the past and found ways to off stalks of cacti and webs of ivy, which doesn’t make for a promising résumé.

But over the past year, I experienced a gradual shift. I was the one gently petting the leaves of our schefflera, trimming long strands of monstera adansonii, and regularly misting the succulents that line our windowsills. There was one problem child, though: the dracaena (or “dragon tree,” as the taller version is more commonly called). Due to a neighboring building, our apartment doesn’t get great light, and that little guy was not thriving. After testing out various positions, and noticing that our fiddle-leaf fig was also struggling, we decided to try a Soltech Aspect grow light late last year.

Soltech Aspect Grow Light

I won’t lie: I’d always resisted grow lights because of their laboratory looks, but there’s something contemporary and versatile about the Aspect that caught my eye. The pendant-style LED light is designed specifically for indoor plants, but it’s not far off from something I’d theoretically hang over my theoretical kitchen island. The solid aluminum fixture comes with a 15-foot fabric cord and is available in two sizes: small (20 watts) and large (40 watts). The small is appropriate for plants that need low-to-medium indirect light, and the large is made for plants that require bright indirect or bright direct light. U.S.- and Canada-bound orders also get an Outlet Timer, which can be used to create a 12- to 16-hour light cycle. The fact that Soltech products are hand-built in the U.S. and come with a five-year warranty really sold me on them. All of this combined does bump the price up from other basic grow lights, so take that into account. (To note, there are payment plan options if you prefer to buy now and pay later.)

The Aspect comes with most of the tools you need to hang it except for a drill, anchors, 3/16-inch drill bit, and No. 2 Phillips screwdriver (things you probably already have around the house anyway). How you go about installing it really depends on whether your ceiling is made out of wood, drywall, plaster, or cement. While someone might be able to install this on their own, I’d recommend a two-person crew. My husband and I, both able-bodied, handled it all in about 20 minutes. Essentially, it works like a little pulley system.

Large Aspect LED Grow Light, Soltech ($200)

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Large Aspect LED Grow Light, Soltech ($200)

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First, determine the hanging height based on the amount of rays your plants require. Soltech has a small resource for this in its plant guide, but even as an on-the-fly kind of person, I’d recommend doing your research. Otherwise, your fixture might not be effective or you’ll end up with burnt leaves. For example, Soltech says that if you’ve purchased a large Aspect for plants that need high light, hanging the pendant 24 to 26 inches above them is ideal.

Then you’ll screw in what’s called a swag hook on the ceiling, plus two fairleads on the wall (one near the ceiling and one near the floor). The piece weighs 4 pounds, so while it’s not nothing, it isn’t going to pull the drywall down if you’ve installed your swag hook properly. Nestle the cord in the swag hook so that the light is at its appropriate height and then snugly thread it through the two fairleads, which will tighten down the wire and keep it taught. Plug it in to the nearest outlet and—ta-da!—light. Our timer is set to an overnight cycle, so everyone gets their dose while we’re sleeping.

You would never know that we’ve experienced an exceptionally gray New York winter with the Aspect: My plants have never been happier. The dracaena got a prime spot directly under the light, right next to the schefflera and fiddle-leaf, and it’s previously droopy, brown tips are vibrant and pleased. To my surprise, the sansevieria grew more than it had in months.

The best part is that guests don’t notice it when they come over for dinner—the matte finish blends right into our white walls and the cord doesn’t draw your eye. Although, I wouldn’t mind even if they did.

Shop All Soltech Grow Lights and Accessories

Vita Grow Light, Soltech ($75 was $85)

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Rise & Shine Growlight Bundle, Soltech ($198 was $220)

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Archetto Transparent Wall Mount, Soltech ($30)

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Grove LED Grow Light, Soltech ($130)

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The post This Pendant-Style Grow Light Kept My Plants Perky Through a Long, Gray New York Winter appeared first on domino.

The Wiggle pillow and pillow covers featured in this story are both currently 20% off for a limited time during Buffy’s Presidents’ Day sale. For more Domino-vetted deals of the week, check out our full guide here.

Sleeping used to be something I’d do for comfort. But as I creep toward 40, lying on my stomach has become the only way I can drift off—but also an increasingly agonizing position come morning. Okay, I’ll just say it: When I wake up after lying on my stomach, my lower back feels as though it’s been set on fire. 

Years ago, a friend recommended a body pillow as a way to ease into side sleeping, which would help with the lower-back problem, but, um, have you ever seen an attractive body pillow? Lumbar pillows try, but they’re not nearly long enough for my almost-6-foot frame.

So when I stumbled upon the wormlike Buffy Wiggle pillow, I knew I had to get one in my bed and between my arms—fast. Unlike most flat body pillows, which just look like extensions of a boring standard version, the Wiggle is a long tube covered in a cozy-soft faux shearling exterior (it comes in three varying shades of a toasty brown, neutral cream, and pinky coral) that can be removed and thrown in the washing machine. The thing is massive, and at almost 7 feet, it’s longer than the width of my queen-size mattress. At night I use it to cradle my head, and there’s still plenty of room left over for me to wrap my entire body around the rest.

Sure, the Wiggle’s body isn’t that far off from those popular U-shaped pregnancy pillows, but because it’s flexible and floppy, you can tie it up into a trendy knot in the morning and no one will be the wiser that it’s your nighttime snuggle buddy. Plus it and a matching cover—also available in linen—are both 20% off right now during the brand’s Presidents’ Day sale. So you can save anywhere from $15 to $21 on the pair.

After using it for two weeks, my lower back started to feel, well, like nothing. My sleep is sound, and my mornings are more energetic. And thanks to its chic shape and feel, when people ask me why I look so well rested, I can say without a dose of irony: I woke up like this. 

20% Off the Buffy Wiggle Pillow

Wiggle Pillow and Cover in Puff, Buffy ($147 was $204)

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The post Buffy’s Wildly Popular Wiggle Pillow Is Currently 20% Off appeared first on domino.

Even though our closets hold some of our most important possessions, we inevitably end up neglecting them. So we’re asking clever homeowners and renters to share their time-tested organizing methods that really (really!) work in our new series, Reclaim Your Closet.

In New York City, there’s no such thing as the perfect apartment. Maybe you’re in your dream neighborhood, but the floors are so slanted that your table wobbles. Or perhaps you have a terrace with enough space for a vegetable garden, but the nearest train is a 15-minute walk. Or maybe you’re like me, and the location and space were everything you’ve ever hoped for—plus a 6-foot-tall window in the shower—but there’s wasn’t a single closet to be found. 

When my two roommates and I first toured our former Williamsburg, Brooklyn, apartment, it was love at first sight. The bright morning light flooding through, the sky-high ceilings; it seemed to have it all. We were already picturing our lives there before realizing there weren’t any closets. You may be wondering: Is that even legal? And the answer is: I’m not sure. Just when we thought we had discovered at least a utility closet, we opened the door to find nothing more than the water heater. 

The thing about the three of us is that we love clothes. Both of my apartment-mates have worked in fashion, and we could open a store with our shared shoe collection alone. We knew that the only way this space would work was if we built something out. And like most 20-somethings, we wanted to keep it cheap. 

So we transformed the hallway adjacent to the entry area into what we affectionately called our “walk-in closet.” After drawing out some plans and juggling our options—we bounced around the idea of three Pax wardrobes, inspired by Jordan Ferney—we went with IKEA’s Mulig clothes bars. They were $5.99 each, and we only needed six (two for each roommate), meaning the whole project cost us $36. 

The best part about the Mulig racks is that they expand from 23 inches to 35 inches. We made the top racks a few inches longer than the bottom racks, which created a space for long dresses and winter coats to hang to the floor. To keep the racks secure in the wall, we used toggle anchors. We each had our own section, but sharing was allowed, too. 

To add even more storage, we later installed wood shelving above the racks, using the same system as our bookshelves, to hold extra shoes. Our T-shirts, loungewear, and other foldable pieces lived in our respective dressers, leaving this area for blouses, dresses, coats, and—on some days—epic impromptu fashion shows. Which really did make it the perfect apartment.

MULIG Clothes Bar, Ikea ($7)

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BRANÄS Basket, Ikea ($25)

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BUMERANG Hangers, IKEA ($4.99/8-pack)

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I own a lot of (read: one too many) bath towels. My tiny linen closet is teeming with a full set of Dusen Dusen stripes, waffle weaves from Brooklinen, random buys, and a pair of Nate Berkus for Target designs I can’t seem—don’t want!—to get rid of. But out of my entire collection, not a single one has a handy hanging loop. That’s why when it came to choosing a new set, functionality won over fashion. I had to give Havly a try. 

Yes, I’ve been tempted by Amsterdam-based Autumn Sonata’s pretty patterns, the fun hues of Domino editor-favorite Tekla, Coyuchi’s Mediterranean-inspired styles—the list could go on and on. But Havly’s loop isn’t your run-of-the-mill hanging device; it’s oversize, sturdy, bleachproof, and can offer a subtle pop of color. (While we prefer the neutrality of Blank Slate, Emerald and Zissou Blue also caught our eye.) The loop is designed to fit over any knob or hook—including the brand’s own screw-free, vacuum-suction offering and even the corner of your bathroom door—without slipping. 

Havly Blank Slate Full Set 

Blank Slate Full Set, Havly ($52 was $87)

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The other reason I was intrigued by Havly? A full set won’t run you more than $100 and includes a generously sized bath towel (30-by-58 inches), a hand towel, and two washcloths. To put that in perspective, a single bath towel from Tekla will run you $75. And right now, that price tag is even less: Everything is 40% off.

More Towels on Sale

Zissou Blue Hand Towel Set, Havly ($18 was $30)

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Emerald City Bath Towel, Havly ($44 was $65)

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If a loop isn’t enough to win you over, I hear you. I was also shocked at how plush these towels felt straight out of the box. Despite the cushy feel, they’re still plenty absorbent, which I’m guessing is due to the patent-pending Wünderweave technology using 100% Aegean cotton that the brand touts. To describe them as quick drying might be a stretch, since I’ve noticed that they hold onto water. But after multiple rinse cycles, and even through a heavy-duty dryer, that spongy, fluffy feel has survived, and they do promise to endure 1,000 washes. For now, they’re easily the softest towels I own—and perhaps it’s a sign that the time has come to say goodbye to those years-old buys.

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