5 min readEveryone’s making their Black Friday/Cyber Monday lists (and checking them twice) this month. With the holiday extravaganza almost here, we’re tracking which home brands are having the best deals, and one of the biggest retailers that’s running deals is Amazon. Our team’s approach to shopping the items on the internet megastore is not to just buy whatever is the most discounted; instead, we’re adding items to our cart right now, and then waiting to see if the price actually drops on Black Friday.
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Thankfully, many of the items we want are already on sale. Will the prices drop more on Black Friday? Perhaps, but these items may also go back to full price, in which case the best time to buy is right now. Our editors are looking for a wide range of products, from kitchen essentials to decorative accents to actual furniture. If you’re not sure what to buy from Amazon yet, let our wish list inspire your own, ahead. We’ll keep this list updated, too, with more picks and deals to shop as we head into Black Friday, so make sure to save this story.
“I run cold, so I love having a blanket draped over me year-round when I’m on my couch. Come winter, I always keep a heated option nearby since nothing makes me happier than having something warm across my lap, or whole body. Bedsure is a reputable and affordable bedding brand on Amazon, and I have gifted this specific blanket to family members, who all love it! It’s a good item for white elephants or secret Santa exchanges, so nab one while it’s still on sale.” —Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
“My kitchen knives suck, and I'm reminded of that every time someone helps me cook. Enough is enough. I need a new knife set that doesn't make cutting a tomato feel like pulling teeth. This colorful Cuisinart set comes with safety guards, and it covers all the bases I could need as a home chef. A six-piece, professional-quality set for under $20? And in a muted earthy color palette? How could I say no?” —Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
“After living with open-shelf buffet table in my kitchen since the pandemic, it's time to put the odds-and-ends behind closed doors. When I was at home cooking every day, reaching for dry ingredients and cooking tools was easy with this setup. My day-to-day now looks very different, so my surroundings need to evolve. This sideboard cabinet has lots of storage capacity, and it discreetly hides everything away when not in use.” —Melanie Yates, Senior Digital Editor
“During a random scroll for unique coffee cups on Amazon, I stumbled upon this one and have not been able to get it out of my mind! It’s not the type of simple ceramic cup I’d usually gravitate towards, but I kind of love how eclectic it feels. It feels something you’d make in a paint and sip class and definitely leans cottagecore.” —Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
“Both my office and at-home desk are covered in interactive trinkets, so they're within reach when I need a brain break. Pac-Man is one of my favorite ways to de-stress, namely because it's such a simple game. I don't want a full-scale arcade cabinet, but this mini one is the perfect desktop addition.” —Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
“I purchased this viral color-changing floor lamp during Prime Day and love it so much I’m adding one to every nook, cranny, and corner of my home. The app makes it easy to dim the lights and change the colors. With just a few clicks, I can go from Knicks blue and orange for a watch party to a cozy yellow glow to help me wind down for bed.” —Sarah Maberry, Commerce Editor
“I just got this LiberNovo desk chair for my husband, and he's absolutely obsessed with it already. It's the most high-tech chair I've ever seen. Not only can it lean all the way back so he's completely horizontal, but it also has really intense back support with a built-in spinal stretch feature that basically feels like a light massage. Plus, it comes with an auto cooling system, a.k.a. a fan underneath the seat. He's been bragging about it to everyone, and they're offering a Black Friday discount starting November 19th.” —Meghan Shouse, Digital Editor
“I bought these viral faux taper candles last year, and I love turning them on for some flickering, ambient light at night while I watch TV. They give off the most soothing glow and look realistic, too, since the flame part dances around. Luminara candles were actually created by Walt Disney set designers for the film Pirates of the Caribbean—hence why they’re so magical.” —Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
“The more Christmas tree motifs, the better when it comes to decorating for the holiday season in December. I like this set of glittering stocking holders, which can hold up to 3.5 pounds of goodies (if you need ideas of what to put in your stocking stuffer, check out our go-to list of products). I bought my stocking holders from Amazon last year, and the retailer surprisingly has some high-quality yet cute options available, like these!” —Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
“On a recent visit to the Ritz-Carlton spa, the massage therapist placed this around my neck at the end of my treatment, and I melted into the chair. I was immediately checking the tag to find one of my own. I'm creating a spa retreat station in my apartment, and this is the first thing I'm going to reach for after a long commute in the winter weather. And when summer comes back around, the pillow is also chillable for a cozy cooldown.” —Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
“I've been using my Click and Grow 3 for years to grow everything from chili peppers to peppermint. I love it as a cozy countertop garden, but I'm ready to upgrade. I have more things I want to grow at the same time, so I'm switching to the Click and Grow 9, with space to grow 9 plants at a time. I want winter flowers and herbs growing alongside my fruiting plants, so even when they sprout at different rates, I always have something to look forward to.” —Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
“My white waffle handle towels are looking a little yellow and old, so I’m thinking about grabbing these from Cozy Earth to replace them. I love Cozy Earth’s bath towels, they’re soft and dry my skin post-shower without making it feel overly dry, so I trust their hand towels will be excellent as well.” —Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
