Early during the pandemic, I wrote a guide on staying sane and relaxed during quarantine. We're now several months farther in, and there's still no end in sight. It doesn't help that it's Labor Day weekend, and we can't partake in the usual cookouts, beach trips, and quality time with friends and family this year.
Redecorating or stocking up on sleep essentials won’t make things outside better, but it might help make you feel more comfortable and relaxed in your home. I was already a homebody before quarantine, so I like to think of myself as a pro at turning my living quarters into a cozy oasis to hide from the world. Thankfully, there are some great deals on home and wellness products right now, and we've collected our favorites to help get you started building your own safe space.
Once your home is your own personal paradise, check out our Ultimate Quarantine Self-Care Guide for more ways to decompress. For more discounted goodies, check out our roundup of Labor Day mattress and camping deals.
Finally, we may be biased, but through Labor Day, you can get one full year of WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Subscriptions help support the work we do every day. Have a good weekend!
Updated September 6, 2020: We've checked the prices and added two deals for the Brooklinen and Pottery Barn robes.
Candles, bulbs, sound machines, and plants can all set the mood of a room and fill it with pleasant scents.
Yankee Candles Up to 50 Percent Off: Yankee Candles are pricey, but they're popular for a reason. The large size will give you a ton of burn time (the company claims 110 hours), and the scents are superb. Instead of the barely-there scents of other candles, these will fill your rooms with the aroma of whatever scene you want to create—maybe a campfire, a fall night, or a Christmas village.
Michael's Fall and Halloween Decor Up to 40 Percent Off: Michael's is not just the place to go for paints and yarn, it's also a great place to shop if you want to fill your home with small trinkets and decorations. Fall and Halloween decor are already on sale, so it's time to decorate! (I bought one of the yogi skeletons last weekend.)
Michael's Faux Florals Up to 40 Percent Off: Michael's fall flowers and greenery are also on sale. As I said in our guide to keeping calm, I don't have a green thumb when it comes to taking care of plants, but I do love them. That's why I've filled my apartment with faux options instead. These have come a long way, bringing warmth to your home without looking too plasticky or shiny.
Lula’s Garden Succulents for 25 Percent Off: If you're a better plant parent than me, Lula's Garden is having a small sale on some of its succulents, including the cute Desert Bundle and Terra Bundle.
C by GE Full Color Smart Bulb for $18 ($12 off): A smart bulb that can change colors can improve the ambiance in a room—you can relax in a warm orange glow or have a quarantined dance party with dynamic lighting. This model from C by GE is easy to set up and use. The two-pack is not on sale, but buying two separately is cheaper. If you're dipping your toes into smart bulb territory for the first time, it's a good model to start with.
LectroFan for $37 ($13 off): Sound machines can help ease restlessness at night, but you might find them helpful in other situations too, like when you're trying to meditate or focus on work. The LectroFan is our favorite sound machine because it's unobtrusive and offers surprisingly sophisticated options.
Aerie Loungewear Sale: If your house should be comfy, so should your clothes. Aerie's sweatshirts are 40 percent off, leggings are 30 percent off, and bralettes are 50 percent off.
Brooklinen Super-Plus Robe for $83 ($14 off): I was inspired by Tony Soprano's comfortable wardrobe, and I basically live in my Brooklinen robe these days.
Pottery Barn Piped Trim Hotel Robe for $81 ($28 off): I prefer the soft towel-like feel of the Brooklinen robe, but Pottery Barn's has a satisfying waffle knit and can be monogrammed (for a price). Use code SAVEMORE for this discount plus free shipping.
Weighted blankets use deep pressure to simulate the feeling of being gently held, which is especially nice when you can't go out and hug those you miss. Our favorite weighted blanket isn't on sale, but several of our other picks are discounted. Check our guide for more details on what weight you should pick when choosing a blanket.
Casper 20-Pound Weighted Blanket for $170 ($19 off): Casper's weighted blanket is cheaper than our top two picks even without this sale, and it's WIRED writer Jess Grey's favorite.
Luna Queen-Sized 20-Pound Weighted Blanket for $70 ($23 off): The Luna is the best affordable blanket we tried, and we especially like that it comes in a ton of sizes and weights. It's a great option for kids. If you're unsure a weighted blanket will help you, you may want to start here.
Layla Queen-Sized 20-Pound Weighted Blanket for $129 ($30 off): If you want to share your weighted blanket with someone, the Layla is big enough for two people.
Hug Sleep Sleep Pod for $90 ($20 off): The Sleep Pod isn't a weighted blanket, but it uses the same deep-pressure ideology to hug you without the pounds (and heat). It won't be for everyone, as getting into a human-sized sock might not be appealing, but I felt surprisingly snug and relaxed.
See our full guides to sunrise alarms and mattresses to learn more about our picks. Also, check out our guide on Labor Day mattress deals—a lot of our favorite mattresses are on sale, including our top pick, the Helix Midnight Luxe Hybrid.
Philips SmartSleep Sleep and Wake-Up Light Therapy Lamp for $200 ($20 off): This lamp is our super-premium sunrise alarm pick. It's expensive, but WIRED writer Matt Jancer says it spreads light over the walls of your room like warm butter.
Casper Glow Light for $116 ($13 off) This is another pricey model, especially considering our top pick is just $24, but we like it for a few reasons. Casper's design is intuitive—flip the Glow Light over to start the sunset before bed. And you can use an app to control many other features.
Keeping yourself busy in more ways than sitting in front of one of your many screens is essential in making it through quarantine. These deals will help if you've been considering picking up a new hobby or getting back into one you abandoned.
This Annoying Life Adult Coloring Book for $5 ($8 off): Coloring is wonderfully fun and relaxing, and it's not just for kids. This Annoying Life features all of life's constants, like assembling furniture, dealing with needy pets, and squeaky shoes.
More Adult Coloring Books: Coloring annoying situations is not everyone's cup of tea. The World of Flowers coloring book has beautiful flora and fauna to keep you busy, and it's on sale for just under $10 ($7 off). Or perhaps you'd prefer some Edgar Allan Poe-inspired pictures? This one is on sale for about $7 (50 percent off).
Crayola Colored Pencils 50-Count for $7 ($1 off): It's not the biggest sale, but you'll need something to color in those pictures with, and Crayola is always a great choice. If you'd prefer to color with markers, the Caliart 34 Dual Brush Pens Art Markers are on sale for $8.50 (15 percent off with the on-page coupon).
Caron Cakes Yarn Up to 20 Percent Off: I (kind of) learned to knit at the start of quarantine, and I'm currently learning to crochet. I'm not good at either, but the act of doing it is calming and keeps my phone and doomscrolling at bay. Use code 20MADEBYYOU for this sale.
Strathmore Artist Pads Buy One, Get One 50 Percent Off: These pads come in a few different versions made for sketching, watercolor, charcoal, and more.
Here are other retailers offering Labor Day sales across various categories, and our coverage.
- WIRED's Favorite Labor Day Sales
- WIRED Labor Day Mattress Deals
- WIRED Labor Day Camping Deals
- Amazon
- Best Buy
- Wayfair
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Huckberry
- REI
- eBay
- Walmart
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