Gracious Home

Make sure to formulate a plan of action before stepping into any of this minichain’s locations. The sheer volume of stock—from bedding to pots and pans and even holiday decorations—can make you forget why you came here in the first place. Once you’re inside the mazelike Upper East Side flagship that spans almost an entire block, bypass the pricier furniture and lighting sections in favor of well-priced accessories for the bathroom, such as tortoiseshell-printed tissue boxes ($30–$35), discreet bamboo toilet brushes ($25) and subway-map-printed shower curtains ($36). Gracious Home is also an excellent resource for picking up luxe housewarming gifts in a pinch, like beautifully packaged Agraria soaps ($20 each) and yummy Voluspa macaron-scented home sprays ($21).