Our TeamLizzy Francis

Lizzy Francis

Senior Editor, Lifestyle

I cover real estate and assist with coverage across living and cleaning and organizing. Brooklyn, NYKeep up with me on Apartment Therapy

About Me

I've been writing seriously since I was 16. I knew as soon as I graduated college that I only wanted to work in an industry where I'd be writing and editing for my day job. I don't see myself doing anything else.

My biggest professional accomplishment is that, due to consistent and incisive coverage of the lack of federal paid leave in the United States in my role as a News Editor at a parenting organization, that brand was invited to testify on the need for paid leave in front of the House Ways & Means Committee. My personal accomplishments are centered around my passion for writing: I've written several plays, had poetry and short fiction published, written a novel, and have another book in progress.

I love making people's lives better through service journalism, be that by helping solve problems or by explaining the problems as they exist. The world is hard enough — good journalism should make it easier to understand (and be fun, too!)

My pronouns

she/her/hers

I'm an expert in

policy
wellness
renting

My education

New York University (BA at Gallatin School of Individualized Study)

Latest Stories

This Cordless Stick Vacuum Is So Lightweight, It’s Perfect for My Small Apartment (It’s a 3-in-1!)

It’s so easy to use.

Lizzy Francis

3 days ago

The Hatch Sleep Clock Is a Great Sleep Tracker If You Aren’t Into Wearable Tech

I’ve had a Hatch alarm clock for a few years. I am a big fan of the clock — I love that at 9:30 every night, it starts emitting calming sounds and lights to let me know it’s almost time for bed. I love that it keeps me off my phone first thing in the morning. I love the white noise options that I can change up every night, if I want to. It’s helped me sleep a bit better, and I appreciate it for that.

Lizzy Francis

Oct 1, 2026

The Best Linen Sheets, According to Someone Who Never Sleeps with the AC On

Everyone has preferences when it comes to their bedding and sleep. I hate sleeping with the air conditioning on, and I will do whatever I can to avoid it — even in the dead heat of summer. I much prefer a steady, beating fan. I am also firmly, forever, deeply team top sheet. (You can pry my top sheet from my cold, dead hands.) I also hate percale and sateen — I hear over and over that they are the most cooling sheets that exist, but I really dislike the feeling of them on my skin.

Lizzy Francis

Oct 1, 2026

The Biggest Travel Trend in 2026 Brings You Back to the Golden Age

It feels like everywhere I turn these days, I’m seeing people all over tap into nostalgia. Whether it’s building physical media libraries or re-creating a landline in the kitchen, people are finding ways to bring past trends back into their lives. And this phenomenon is not just relegated to how they live at home — at least not according to this new research.

Lizzy Francis

Sep 28, 2026

This Adorable Sleeper Sofa Is Equally Stylish and Comfortable

Here’s what I really think.

Lizzy Francis

Sep 17, 2026

I Finally Got My Hands on the Viral Beverage Fridge That’s Always Sold Out — It’s Worth Every Penny

One thing about me: I love a good beverage. Seltzer, Diet Coke, a gorgeous iced coffee, fancy kombuchas, non-alcoholic Ghia Spritzes, good natural wine, ice-cold cheap beer — the list goes on. As such, my mom once got me a wine fridge for Christmas that could hold up to 12 bottles of wine. It was nice enough, but it was no match for my apartment’s winter heating system and internal summer temps, so it could really only hold the wine at about 55 to 70 degrees.

Lizzy Francis

Sep 17, 2026

I Finally Found a TV That Works in My Too-Bright Living Room

I love a movie night at home, but I love a movie day even more — a Saturday or Sunday afternoon spent in my apartment, in front of my television, lazing the day away. Unfortunately, because my living room is one of the brightest rooms in my house (with three windows across two walls), movie days can be harder to pull off because of the glare of the sun on my television screen.

Lizzy Francis

Sep 10, 2026

This Classic IKEA Storage System Is Finally on Sale — Here Are 7 Gems I Want to Buy

It’s no secret that Apartment Therapy editors have been longtime fans of the IKEA TROFAST storage line. It’s so beloved, in fact, that the three-by-two set was awarded the best overall storage system for Apartment Therapy’s 2026 Organization Awards. There’s a lot to love about this versatile line: The number of colors, materials, and configurations the system comes with make it one of the most useful storage systems there is, and it can be used anywhere.

Lizzy Francis

Aug 31, 2026

We Tested (and Rated!) Every Bed Frame at Avocado

Sustainable, solid, and stylish.

Nicole Lund

Aug 27, 2026

This Hidden Storage Cabinet Is the Smartest Thing I’ve Put in My Small Bathroom

My bathroom is a strange place. It has two showers (yes, really) and, naturally, one toilet. I have under-sink storage, and technically the bathroom mirror opens up to what should be a shelved medicine cabinet — except there are no shelves in the medicine cabinet at all. It’s just empty space. As such, and because my bathroom is on the smaller side, I need more storage in my bathroom, always.

Lizzy Francis

Aug 25, 2026

These Silly (and Smart!) Finds Created Instant Storage on My Kitchen Wall

I’ve been renting in Brooklyn for 12 years and, as such, I’ve worked through every kind of no-drilling wall hook that money can buy, in pretty much every apartment I’ve ever lived in. But I’ve learned over the past few years that, while I will always need extra storage in my small spaces, cute wall storage is hard to come by.

Lizzy Francis

Aug 24, 2026

I’ll Never Write a Paper To-Do List Again — I’ll Use This Prettier, Smarter Alternative

I’m a to-do list person. I have a notebook for my work tasks, a personal planner for my life admin, and a notebook at home for weekend to-dos like cleaning, laundry, and other tasks. I need to write everything down; otherwise, frankly, I will forget. But I often keep my to-do lists on random sheets of paper that inevitably get lost under my pile of mail or even tossed out by accident — and then I’m back to square one.

Lizzy Francis

Aug 17, 2026

10 Ways to Make Friends in Your 30s

Maybe you just moved to a new city (or country) for a job, or gone through a breakup and your friend group was shared between you and your ex, or felt like you’ve outgrown your current friendships and want to expand your connections. Whatever the reason you want to forge new bonds, it can be hard to make friends as an adult, especially in your 30s, when it feels like everyone else has their friend group locked and loaded.

Lizzy Francis

Aug 10, 2026

This Mini Birdfeeder Is Like a Cute Cafe for Birds

I’ve never considered myself a bird person. But a few years ago, when I spent a few months in Vermont, my sister-in-law’s Bird Buddy bird feeder — and all of the birds it attracted every single day — was the highlight of my long-term stay. I’ve held off on getting a bird feeder in my Brooklyn apartment for a few reasons (mainly, my fear of attracting rats and my lack of an elevated-enough outdoor space).

Lizzy Francis

Aug 5, 2026

Is the Brick Screen Time App Really Worth $50? Here's My Honest Review

It’s made a huge difference.

Lizzy Francis

Jul 29, 2026

I Tried Freezing My Socks Every Night Before Bed to Cool Me Down — Here’s What Happened After a Week

It’s Red Cross-approved, but I have thoughts.

Lizzy Francis

Jul 19, 2026

This Mom Keeps a Kitchen Utensil in Every Room of Her House, and Now I Want to Copy Her

The tong possibilities are endless.