Take it from a shoe obsessive who color-codes her collection: The more pairs you own, the harder it becomes to store them — so much so that you might find limited-edition Stan Smiths in a pile at the bottom of the closet, Prada loafers in the entryway, and buffed-up Docs under the bed. A shoe organizer is the smartest solution, because having all your kicks in one dedicated space means more time wearing them and less time trying to find them. But the best organizer depends very much on the size of your collection and space. Then there’s the design element — a plastic underbed container may feel too sophomoric for your taste, while a mismatched wood rack could clash with the rest of your furniture.

Coming up with gift ideas for co-workers — whether they’ve been a longtime desk-mate or you just see them onscreen every week — can be challenging. But the general principles remain the same as with any other gift: You’re looking for items that are thoughtful (and affordable) and that they’ll enjoy using. We did the legwork for you and hunted down the best gifts for less than $50 for every type of co-worker, broken down into six categories (and if you’re shopping for something specific, jump ahead using the table of contents). Whether they’re a foodie, an amateur skin-care scientist, or constantly trying to improve their desk space, we’ve found a tried-and-true Strategist favorite they’ll enjoy. We also have guides for the rest of your list — including everyone from tween boys to grandparents.

Instead of an app or gadget that claims to jump-start your productivity, consider investing in a good paper planner. There is plenty of research that shows how actually writing down your to-do list and schedule for the day — rather than typing it out on a laptop or iPhone — makes you feel more engaged in the task at hand. And once the calendar year is complete, a physical planner becomes an artifact — a time capsule, if you will — of its happenings. Leafing through the well-loved Hobonichi Techo planners I’ve used over the years brings me almost as much pleasure as scribbling in them did.

A cat tree is an excellent way to make your home both more inviting and more exciting for your kitty — especially if they’re an exclusively indoor cat. “Cat trees are great because they allow your cat to climb and observe what’s going on in their environment, it provides them with a safe place that’s entirely theirs, and it’s a scratching surface as well,” says cat-behavior consultant Dr. Mikel Delgado. If your cat is constantly shredding your couch, perching on your counter, or clawing up your curtains, it may be worth investing in a piece of furniture dedicated to letting them act on their natural instincts. Below, we’ve consulted with multiple veterinarians and cat experts on what makes a great cat tree — and how to ensure that it doesn’t become a futile expense for a disinterested feline friend.

Traditional plant stands seem to come in two styles: those mid-century-modern ones that stay low to the ground and fit just one big pot, and the more bookshelf-style bamboo units with a few shelves that can hold a bunch of smaller plants. Both styles can be good-looking and super-functional, but they’re also a bit limiting. Thankfully, a plant stand can really be any object you can place a plant on, and one sweep of the internet will reveal that you can put plants on lots of things.

Diving into a bed stacked with cloudlike pillows is the stuff dreams are made of, and one way to make those dreams a reality is to add a luxurious down pillow. Light and fluffy, down pillows are naturally breathable and can range from soft to medium-firm, making them compatible with every sleeping position. Down refers to the feathery fluff found on the underbelly of ducks and geese. Lying underneath the animal’s tougher outer feathers, the airy fiber keeps birds warm and is free of quills. When used in a pillow, the down material is airy and plush.

A home with lots of natural light is wonderful, but if you find yourself overheating in a midday sunbeam or making extended eye contact with pedestrians outside a ground-floor apartment, it might be time to buy curtains. Luckily, adding curtains to your windows is one of the quicker and less expensive home-improvement projects: The only additional supplies you’ll need are a drill, a curtain rod, and maybe a ladder. And while there are some very luxe window treatments out there, there are also tons of inexpensive options that do the job well.

Though it’s at the bottom — literally — of the Christmas-tree decoration hierarchy, the humble tree skirt still has its duties: providing a festive backdrop for the gifts you’re gifting, showing off your good taste in holiday décor, and hiding a decidedly non-designy tree stand. There’s something for everyone when it comes to styles, from the traditional (your plaids, your faux furs) to the theme-y (this stripe-y candy-cane number), and over-the-top (for $1,000, you can get a beaded New York City skyline).

Whether you’re a shower person, a bath person, or a sheet-mask-every-day person, chances are you spend a lot of time in your bathroom. While we’ve rounded up the best accents for your apartment, bedroom, and kitchen elsewhere, here we’ve found the best inexpensive bathroom-décor ideas — from spruced-up versions of powder-room necessities to clever space-saving accessories to everything you’ll need to turn even the saddest, tiniest bathroom into an at-home, spalike retreat. All the things on this list are available on Amazon, but we’ve found some elsewhere, too, for those who like to shop around.