Home 12 Home Essentials for a Functional, Convenient, and Comfortable Space in 2022 New year, new upgrades. By Rachel Center Rachel Center Rachel covers all aspects of the home space and tests products to find the best for consumers. When she's not writing, you can find her streaming, hiking, and decorating. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on December 30, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: potterybarn.com The start of a new year is a traditional time for people to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. But it shouldn't be just about looking inward and creating New Year's resolutions; it may also be helpful to look around your home to gauge if it's serving you in the ways you need it to be. Our environments can have an impact on our mental health, so it's a good idea to assess and make sure the items that dwell within it are functional, convenient, comfortable, and bringing you joy. This evaluation is especially important as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, meaning we may be more home-bound than we anticipated for at least some of 2022. Below, you'll find a handful of household essentials that can help give your space a fresh start for the new year, including highly rated pillows and a set of super soft bath towels. If one of your resolutions is to declutter your kitchen, there are great storage options for your pantry and refrigerator. You can even enhance relaxing nights in with a popular weighted blanket and take a minute for mindfulness with a page-a-day meditation calendar. Read on to shop home essentials for the new year, categorized by room. Bathroom Green YunNasi Liquid Soap Dispenser amazon.com $14 (was $15), amazon.com You'll still be doing a lot of handwashing in 2022, so you might as well make your sink a place you want to be. This elegant soap dispenser will definitely help with that—it looks expensive, but it's really not at all. Plus, having a refillable soap dispenser is more sustainable than buying a new plastic bottle every time you run out. American Soft Linen Bath Towel Set amazon.com $23 (was $37), amazon.com If you are feeling anything other than super satisfied with your towels, treat yourself to a new, softer set this year. The American Soft Linen Bath Towel Set is made of 100 percent Turkish cotton and has more than 22,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. One reviewer noted that these are "the BEST towels you will EVER use!!!!" Bedroom Bearaby Cotton Napper bearaby.com From $249, bearaby.com Weighted blankets help reduce symptoms of anxiety. If you have anxiety, sleep problems, or nerves about the new year (like so many of us), take care of yourself and invest in one. Bearaby is considered to be one of the best weighted blankets on the market. The Cotton Napper, the brand's best-seller, is made of naturally hypoallergenic organic cotton and comes in weights of 15, 20, and 25 pounds. Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows amazon.com From $50, amazon.com Pillows aren't replaced or washed as often as they should be. If your pillow is falling flat, upgrade to the soft and buoyant Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows that cradle your head as you rest. They have more than 110,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, with happy customers calling them "one in a million!!" Living Room Mistana Benally 2-Piece Iron Hanging Planter Set wayfair.com $58 (was $63), wayfair.com The presence of plants not only reduces stress, but also acts as décor. This two-piece hanging planter set, which comes in three striking shades, is a beautiful vessel that your plants can call home. The Mistana planters have more than 600 five-star ratings on Wayfair, with one reviewer calling them "beautiful and well-made." They are also rust-resistant and easy to assemble; all you need are two ceiling hooks. Another reviewer was pleased that the planters are "light enough not to put a lot of strain on a hook." NuLoom Hand Woven Genuine Greek Flokati Shag Area Rug amazon.com From $89 (was $109), amazon.com Sink your toes in this cozy, fluffy rug from Nuloom in the new year. Made of 100 percent New Zealand wool, the Nuloom shag comes in two colors, three shapes, and multiple sizes, and compared to other area rugs on the market, it's pretty affordable. You can even buy a smaller version of this shag rug to layer on top of your current rug, which is a popular home trend right now. Home Office 5-Minute Daily Meditations Page-A-Day Calendar 2022 amazon.com $15 (was $16), amazon.com Many are continuing to work remotely in 2022, and if you're one of them, consider planting this inspirational calendar at your workstation. Written by meditation teacher and author Sah D'Simone, the 2022 calendar offers daily guidance that's meant to enlighten and challenge your mind. Before, during, or after your work day, take a deep breath and read the day's meditation to get relaxed and centered. Supersense Studios Crush Candle nordstrom.com $18 (was $24), nordstrom.com If you find yourself in need of a quick mood boost during the day, make room for this candle at your desk. The Supersense Studios candle's notes of jasmine, sandalwood, balsam, and vetiver are meant to evoke summer breezes and evergreen forests, which will help you get through the remainder of winter. Kitchen Comsaf Food Storage Containers, Set of 5 amazon.com From $35, amazon.com Allow these stylish food storage containers to take residence in your kitchen this year. Store them in cabinets or pantries with dry goods that are sitting in half-full boxes, including pasta, beans, rice, coffee, and even tea bags. You can even place one on your countertop to remind you of the leftovers you have, preventing food waste. Stasher Platinum Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag (Bundle 4-Pack Small) amazon.com From $36 for four (was $55), amazon.com Stasher's line of reusable storage bags are popular alternatives to single-use plastic bags. Stasher bags are made of silicone and have solid airtight seals, and these features combine to create a long-lasting product that can withstand the power of the dishwasher, microwave, freezer and sous-vide cooking. All-Clad 10-Inch and 12-Inch Hard Anodized Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan Set nordstrom.com $99 (was $150), nordstrom.com Great cookware can truly go a long way. While All-Clad is most famous for its stainless steel pans, the brand's nonstick cookware is just as top-notch. These pans actually have a stainless steel core that prevents warping and helps maintain the pans' stability while frying. The 10- and 12-inch pan set is dishwasher-safe, oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and compatible with a variety of heat sources, including induction. Pottery Barn Puebla Stoneware Dinner Plate potterybarn.com From $14, potterybarn.com Pottery Barn's Mexican Talavera-style Puebla Dinnerware Collection is pure joy on plates, bowls, and serve ware. Mexican Talavera dinnerware is not easy to come by in the United States, let alone at an affordable price, which makes this Pottery Barn collection even more of a gem. Its stoneware dinner plates are hand-painted and dishwasher- and microwave-safe. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit