A Room-By-Room Guide To Sustainable Plastic-Free Product Swaps

Our homes are sacred spaces – most of us live, eat, sleep, and even work within the same four walls day after day. Aside from the physical construction of an apartment building or suburban living space, it’s the contents inside that truly make a house a home. Various decor and furniture choices externally display the personalities of their owners in an artful way. While we tend to give spaces that get extra eye time more care to curate, there are usually hidden corners of our homes that don’t receive the same special treatment.

Bathroom medicine cabinets, laundry rooms, and kitchen garbage cans are usually afterthoughts in the mind of a homeowner even though they're utilized practically every day. I can (rather reluctantly) admit that I typically don’t put too much thought into home necessities. When purchasing items like plastic wrap, dish soap, or garbage bags, I just gravitate to whatever's on sale at the store that week.

However, at the speed that my household goes through these products, I realized that I should be much more intentional about what I'm using. Although single-use plastic is a huge waste, it's often pretty prevalent in our homes. With Earth Day approaching and an overall desire to cultivate a more intentional living space, I’ve turned to plastic-free home products. Join me in creating a more eco-friendly household with the plastic-free swaps for every area of your home below.

The Kitchen

Image via Anastasia Shuraeva / PEXELS

In my kitchen, I started by swapping out single-use plastic items before tackling plastic products with more longevity. This meant: plastic wrap, sandwich baggies, garbage bags, and cleaning supplies.

Image via Bee's Wrap

The best saran wrap alternative that I found was from Bee’s Wrap. The brand makes rolls ($25) and pre-cut wrap packs (starting at $18) using organic cotton, beeswax, organic plant oil, and tree resin. With proper care, their pliable wrap can be used for a whole year and can be composted at the end of its lifecycle.

Image via Hold On

For plastic bag replacements, I turned to Hold On. Specializing in plant-based, home-compostable trash and storage bags, I was able to line my large garbage can ($26/40 bags) and enjoy snacks on the go ($15/100 sandwich bags) completely guilt-free.

Image via Blueland

When it came to tackling my dishwashing station, Blueland had me covered. For handwashing, their plant-basedPop-Up Sponge ($12/3 sponges) now has permanent real estate in my kitchen sink. This compostable super sponge arrives flat for easy storage and grows to its full size once wet. The brand also offers a dishwasher set ($25) that comes with a steel “forever tin” to store the original product purchased and future refills.

Image via Chemex

Products that while aren't single use, yet still plastic in composition that resided in my kitchen included my coffee maker, Tupperware, and an assortment of cutting boards. I made the respective swaps to a Chemex ($50) for delicious drip coffee, Caraway’s ceramic Food Storage Set, and this stunning Walnut Cutting Board ($65) from Our Place.

The Bathroom

Image via Diva Plavalaguna / PEXELS

In my bathroom, I went straight to my medicine cabinet to inspect what plastic products I could do without. I was met with countless plastic over-the-counter medicine bottles. I was shocked! How could I keep a product that was meant to improve my health in a casing that is so damaging to the environment?

Image via Cabinet

Thankfully, I was recently introduced to Cabinet. Cabinet is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic from medicine, and does so through their wide offering of OTC medications (starting at $8) and glass medicine bottles ($10). Each medication refill arrives in a compostable pouch for health remedies that you can feel good about.

Image via Makesy

Aside from my kitchen, I probably focus the bulk of my cleaning energy on my bathroom. However, I quickly realized that the way I was keeping this area sterile was very plastic-centric. I go through spray bottles of counter cleaner and disposable wipes at a rapid rate, so it was time to switch to something more sustainable and I’m happy to report that Makesy’s All PurposeCleaner ($45) checks all the boxes. The starter kit comes with a reusable glass spray bottle, a sugarcane alcohol base, fragrance oils to smell, and castile soap to achieve that deep clean.

The Laundry Room

Image via PlanetCare / Unsplash

Last but not least, I ventured into my laundry room. There's a lot of discourse around laundry and microplastics, and I wanted to do my part to reduce my impact as much as possible.

Image via Cozymatic

I replaced my cheap, plastic laundry basket with this beautiful bamboo + cloth alternative from Cozymatic ($65). Not only is it foldable, but I can also wash the bag to keep it from smelling too funky.

Image via Dirty Labs

As for detergent, Dirty Labs makes a powerful 5-in-1 laundry soap ($14) that is packaged in a bottle made from recycled aluminum that can be recycled once again once empty.

Tag us with your favorite plastic-free products on Instagram and subscribe to our email newsletter for more home inspiration!

Brit + Co. may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Makesy


Like it or not, ‘tis the season to start thinking about the holidays. ‘Tis a stressful season, too, but don’t let the hustle and bustle of it all get you down. Whether you’re already formulating family plans or researching the best gifts to give, the best way to lean into this time of year (and not resist the holiday cheer) is by decorating your place to be as merry and bright as possible.

I know what you may be thinking: it’s still quite early to kickstart the festive mindset. And trust me – I’ve always been anti-early holiday decorating, but Anthropologie’s most recent holiday collection has persuaded me otherwise. They’re selling tons of timeless pieces to help you get a jump on the season, and my favorite part is that many of them can be used year after year. Single-use decor is overrated – heirlooms are where it's at.

From cozy Christmas doormats to candle holders I’m actually excited to spend money on, I scrolled through all of Anthro’s offerings to find 11 festive faves that’ll also sway you to start setting up early this year.

The best Anthropologie holiday decor pieces for 2024:

Anthropologie

Confetti Glass Tree

I love anything with retro flair, and these confetti glass trees have definitely earned a spot on my mantle! I also really appreciate that they span beyond your classic red and green Christmas decorations, adding a subtle pop of color via pinks, blues, and yellows. They're shoppable in 3 colors so you can snag a perfectly complete set!

Anthropologie

Embroidered Stars Velvet Runner

For all the family dinners and parties to come this season, this cozy cotton-velvet table runner sets any food and drink spread up for success. You get a little bit of holiday charm from the embroidered gold starts without it being overly Christmas-y, so you could even use it in the dining room once the holidays have wrapped up.

Anthropologie

Poplar Tree Wall Hanging

This wall hanging is such a unique piece that you can customize based on each year's ornament collection. I definitely will be snagging this to curate my very own (and highly curated) ornament art installation. It's also a wonderful small space-friendly hack to hang up if you don't have space for a traditional tree!

Anthropologie

Lou Benesch x Anthropologie Stargazer Zodiac Ornament

Astrology fans, rise up! These eye-catching ornaments come in all 12 signs – which can be great for your own tree, or as a thoughtful personalized gift for any zodiac lover in your life. I just absolutely love the cozy touch of the velvet ribbon!

Anthropologie

Espresso Martini Cocktail Glass Ornament

Is the season ever merry and bright without an espresso martini? Year after year, this drink graces my family's bar around the holidays. This glass ornament is the perfect "spirited" touch for the season that doesn't require a huge monetary commitment, and with the right care, it can last you a lifetime.

Anthropologie

Chunky Knit Holiday Icon Stocking

You're never too old for stocking stuffers – I prefer mine packed with candy. The chunky wool knit of this adorable, bow-adorned stocking has a vintage feel that'll fit right in with any interior.

Subscribe to our newsletter to shop more of our holiday faves, from decor to gifting!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

The Pacific Palisades is an upscale neighborhood in LA that sits on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has a small town feel in the midst of a big city with its charming shops, restaurants, and hiking trails, plus a 22-mile beachfront bike path. When homeowners Julie and Kent reached out to Sierra Fox, designer and principal of Studio Mountain, they wanted to translate that feeling into their home, and create a space that felt elegant and elevated yet cozy enough for their three children, at the time all under 10 years of age.

BEFORE: LIVING ROOM

The MLs

The original space lacked charm and character, feeling a bit sterile and outdated.

THE AFTER

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

Sierra and her team breathed new life into every nook of the home to design a cozy modern space for a family of five, selecting locally sourced furnishings and handpicked pieces from Europe.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The entry needed a little love too. "We wanted a show stopper for the light fixture in the entry and Julie was adamant that the piece needed to feel like an element of nature brought into the home," says Sierra. They considered different conceptual ideas, including potentially having a massive bird cage and putting their pet birds in it!

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

They finally landed on a stunning 18-foot-long iron oak leaf chandelier, custom made by artisans at Cox London in England. The homeowners, avid Anglophiles who once lived in London, drew much of their design inspiration from their European travels.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

"We had great alignment with on taste and budget, which helped us bring their home to life," says Sierra. "We incorporated the easy feeling of California living with a more old world English touch to make something that felt truly like only their home."

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The overall aesthetic is "understated, romantic, transitional, organic, and refined," says Sierra. "It's truly a refined blend of east coast architecture and CA indoor/outdoor living, family home but still feels elevated and elegant with a European/English sensibility."

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

Cozy elements include a furry armchair, bouclé curved sofa, gorgeous fresh flowers, and flowing drapes.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The mix of textures and contrast of dark and light keep the neutral space from feeling too stark or snoozy. The elements together achieve the casual elegance that the homeowners were striving for.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

"Their book collection reflects their diverse interests," says Sierra. Julie is a glaucoma surgeon as well as a major fashion enthusiast (note books dedicated to model Kate Moss and fashion designer Calvin Klein) while Kent, an engineer, runs their hair technology company, T3Micro, and leans into historical books.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The once-white lackluster basement is now a gorgeous chocolate brown speakeasy bar and library.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

Cocktail and a book anyone?

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

Vintage pieces reflect a love of historical European design.

BEFORE: KITCHEN

The MLs

The all-white, all-marble kitchen had a generic, cookie-cutter design that lacked any personality.

AFTER: KITCHEN

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The new kitchen has a moodier vibe with a warm aesthetic that feels cozy and inviting. The couple started collecting wine and the collection reflects their interests, making the space more personal. "We installed the home after they had moved in, so it was a bit terrifying when the workers were installing anywhere near the wine room glass!" adds Sierra.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

A delicate bird wallpaper sourced from U.K. company Fromental hints to the nature-inspired decor reflected throughout the home.

BEFORE: DINING ROOM

The MLs

The white walls and chairs in the former dining room make the room feel cold and uninviting as well. The blues feel outdated too.

AFTER: DINING ROOM

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The new dining room feel elegant and ready for conversation. Julie wanted a one-of-a-kind wall treatment in the dining room so she and Sierra scoured dozens of wallpaper options before they landed on a custom hand-painted mural.

"The dining room is truly jaw dropping in person," says Sierra. "Each panel reveals new small details every time I visit, and it transitions from day to night so beautifully."

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The ER Butler candlesticks are just as beautiful as they are functional. They're basically art pieces!

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

The BDDW credenza is an American-made, heirloom-quality furniture designed exclusively by artist Tyler Hays.

Shade Degges for Studio Mountain

Subscribe to our newsletter for more home decor inspo!

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

Subscribe to our newsletter for more food news!

This post has been updated.