The deadline to claim the Super Early rate for Fast Companys Brands That Matter is this Friday. Rates go up March 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
This is the fifth year that Fast Company will be honoring brands that have turned their marketing and branding strategies into cultural moments while still delivering for their core audience. It will also mark the second year that Brands That Matter will recognize CMOs of the Yearthe marketers leading their organizations to new heights with ambitious, effective leadership that keeps their brands top of mind for consumers.
Brands That Matter includes a main list of General Excellence honorees, as well as dozens of brands in seven categoriesplus CMOs of the Year. Read our 2024 list to learn more about the companies that were honored.
Brands That Matter is distinct from other Fast Company recognition programs in that it is solely focused on how brands build cultural relevancewhether thats pop culture, entertainment, tech, or even missionin a way that aligns with their overall identity and has a measurable business impact.
Start your Brands That Matter application here. For more information on applying, see the FAQs. The final deadline to apply is June 6.
Walmart will be skipping eggs in its Easter meal offer this year, the U.S. retail giant said on Wednesday, in the midst of shortages and sky-high prices spiked by the bird flu outbreak among poultry.
Walmart’s Easter 2025 promotion features a meal kit with nine ingredients, including ham, russet potatoes, corn on the cob and a cream cake. It serves eight people for less than $6 per person – an average price which was lower than what it offered last year, it said.
Notably absent from this year’s kit, however, are eggs, which were a key part of last year’s offering. In 2024, the kit included ham, sweet potatoes, apple pie, and ingredients for deviled eggs. A promotional image showed a box with 18 large brown eggs and 14 other items. That kit served up to 10 people at an average cost of less than $8 per person, the retailer said.
“The items in the (2025) basket are based on some of the most popular Easter meal items. This year we did not include ingredients that are typically already found in ones pantry like salt, pepper, butter, milk and eggs,” Tricia Moriarty, a Walmart spokesperson said in an email.
A widespread outbreak of bird flu among egg-laying hens has led to record prices, created severe shortages of eggs on grocery shelves and forced retailers to set limits on purchases, prompting restaurants to increase menu prices as products become scarce.
The U.S. is considering importing Brazilian and broiler chicken eggs for processed foods to ease the crunch and free up more fresh eggs for shoppers.
Walmart, the nation’s largest grocer, has not placed any broad purchase limits on eggs in stores, even as the cost of eggs is dynamic and supply has been tight in places, Moriarty said.
Currently, the only restrictions are on purchases of 60-count cartons to six units per purchase and online only, she added.
Walmart’s grocery revenue rose by mid-single digits in the quarter through January 31, the company said in February, which it noted was partly boosted by egg-price inflation.
Siddharth Cavale, Reuters
The co-founders of a company that makes lip products for darker skin tones no longer hope to get their line into Target. A brother and sister who make jigsaw puzzles celebrating Black subjects wonder if they need to offer neutral images like landscapes to keep growing.
Pound Cake and Puzzles of Color are among the small businesses whose owners are rethinking their plans as major U.S. companies weaken their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The initiatives mostly date from the end President Donald Trumps first term and entered a new era with the dawn of his second one.
Some Black-owned brands suspect big retail chains will drop partnerships they pursued after the police killing of a Black man in 2020 reignited mass protests against racial injustice. In today’s anti-DEI climate, other entrepreneurs worry about personal repercussions or feel pressure to cancel contracts with retreating retailers.
It becomes a question of, are the big box stores going to be there? Do we even make any attempt to talk to these people?” Ericka Chambers, one of the siblings behind Puzzles of Color, said. We are really having to evaluate our strategy in how we expand and how we want to get in front of new customers.
A fighting chance for Black-owned brands
Chambers and her brother, William Jones, started turning the work of artists of color into frameable puzzles the same year a video captured a white Minneapolis police officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck. Amid the Black Lives Matter protests over Floyd’s death, a fashion designer challenged large retailers to devote 15% of their shelf space and purchasing power to Black businesses.
The Fifteen Percent Pledge helped bring Puzzles of Color’s creations to Macys and Nordstroms websites in 2022. Last year, they made it into select Barnes & Noble stores. Chambers said she’s confident in the companies’ commitments but recalled a backlash after news outlets covered the brand, which is based in Texas.
It does make us think about how we envision ourselves as far as the safety of not wanting to be attacked, because some people are very vocal about being anti-DEI, Chambers said.
Vibrant depictions of Black women account for many of her and Jones’ puzzles. The pair figured they needed to provide more abstract designs for certain Barnes & Noble locations to give Puzzles of Color a little bit of a fighting chance.
Discontent over corporate diversity
The first prominent names in U.S. retail to end or retool their diversity programs surfaced last summer amid threats of legal challenges and negative publicity from DEI critics, who argue that setting hiring, promotion and supplier diversity goals for underrepresented groups constitutes reverse discrimination.
After Trump won a second term in November, Walmart joined the corporate pullback. Target’s suspension of its comparable DEI targets in January stung Black and LGBTQ+ customers harder, largely because they regarded the Minneapolis-based company as more of a natural ally.
The company said it would continue working with a diverse range of businesses. Philadelphia-based Pound Cake’s co-founders, Camille Bell and Johnny Velazquez, said they don’t think they would agree at this point if the retailer offered to stock their lipsticks and lip oils.
Target would have been a great boost to our businesss growth, Velazquez said. Well just find it elsewhere.
To boycott or not?
Target’s stance has created a dilemma for brand founders with existing distribution deals. One is Play Pits, a natural deodorant for children that Maryland resident Chantel Powell launched in 2021. The product is found in about 360 Target stores.
The retailer’s DEI program allowed us to employ amazing people, give back to our community, and exhibit Black excellence on and off the shelves, Powell wrote on LinkedIn as civil rights leaders talked about boycotting Target.
She and some other product creators highlighted the impact boycotts might have on their businesses. They urged upset customers to intentionally limit their purchases to items from Black-owned enterprises. Some activists understood; others pushed the brands to join the protest by cutting ties with Target.
The conversation around Black brands, that they should pull out of the retailers that theyre in, is unrealistic, Powell said this month as a 40-day, church-organized Target boycott was underway. We signed up to be in business. I understand why people are having that conversation of boycotts. As a Black founder, I also understand the side of how it can be detrimental.
Navigating the post-DEI landscape
The owner of a Black-owned sexual wellness business with its own line of condoms has a slightly different take. Target started carrying B Condoms in 2020, and founder Jason Panda said the company told him late last year that it didn’t intend to keep the prophylactics in the 304 stores that stocked them.
Panda says he isn’t worried. The product is available through Amazon and in more than 7,000 CVS stores, he said. What’s more, contracts with non-profit organizations and local governments that distribute condoms for free are the cornerstone of the business he established in 2011, Panda said.
My money has never really come from mainstream, he said. We’re going to be protected as long as I can maintain my relationship with my community.
Brianna Arps, who founded the fragrance brand Moodeaux in 2021, notices fewer grants available to Black brand creators these days. She used to apply for 10 to 15 every week or two; the number is down to five to seven, Arps said.
A lot of the organizations that had been really vocal about supporting (Black businesses) have either quietly or ouwardly pulled back, she said.
Moodeaux was the first Black-owned perfume brand to get its perfumes into Urban Outfitters and Credo Beauty, which specializes in natural vegan products. In the current environment, Arps is looking to expand her brand’s presence independent shops and to support other Black fragrance lovers.
The resiliency of brands like ours and founders like myself will still exist, she said.
Accentuating the positive
Aurora James, the founder of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, said nearly 30 major companies that joined the initiative remain committed to it, including Bloomingdale’s, beauty retailer Sephora, J. Crew and Gap.
Ulta Beauty, another pledge signatory, and Credo Beauty carry Pound Cake products. Velazquez and Belle want to use social media to direct their followers to support retailers like Ulta and to bolster their online sales.
Its going to be fostering the community that we have and growing that, Velazquez said.
While making a strategic decision to appeal to a broader audience when selecting puzzles for Barnes & Noble, Chambers said she plans to introduce Black faces and experiences to the chain’s bookstores over time, in boxes of 500, 750 and 1,000 pieces.
In the meantime, Puzzles of Color expanded its Pride collection as a response to the DEI backlash. The subjects include Harriet Tubman, a mother and daughter tending a garden, and a little girl in a beauty supply store gazing up at hair accessories.
Do we lean in all the way?” Chambers asks herself. “Part of why we started this was because we didnt see enough Black people in puzzles.
Anne D’Innocenzio, AP retail writer
GameStop, the video game retailer famed for becoming a meme stock and causing chaos in the stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic, is back in the spotlight for a new pursuit: investing in Bitcoin.
GameStops board has voted unanimously to add Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, investing the company’s corporate cash into the oldest and most popular digital currency. In a recent regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), GameStop explained that in addition to cash, equity issuances and future debt may be invested in Bitcoin, with no set ceiling for the amount of Bitcoin accumulated.
The company’s stock rose 15% and dropped back down on Wednesday following the announcement of GameStops investment policy.
GameStop also revealed on Tuesday its net income increased during its fourth quarter, rising to $131.3 million from the previous years $63.1 million. However, the retailer also projects more store closures in addition to the 590 locations it’s already closed, as brick-and-mortar retailers have continued to struggle.
GameStop is not the first company betting on cryptocurrency. Software company Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, has become the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin after large investments in recent years.
GameStop’s decision comes as President Trump has embraced crypto, and after his administration announced the creation of a Crypto Strategic Reserve earlier this month.
Still, despite the renewed interest in cryptocurrency, Bitcoin’s price fell 1.6% on Wednesday.
The Bitcoin markets have historically experienced significant volatility, GameStop said in the regulatory filing. We are continually examining the risks and rewards of our strategy to acquire and hold Bitcoin.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Biden administration regulation on the nearly impossible-to-trace weapons called ghost guns, clearing the way for continued serial numbers, background checks and age verification requirements for buying the kits online.
The 7-2 opinion found that existing gun laws allow regulation of the kits increasingly linked to crime. It comes after President Donald Trump ordered a review that could undermine or reverse the regulations championed by his predecessor.
Sales of the homemade firearms grew exponentially as kits allowing for easy at-home building came into the market, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion. Some home hobbyists enjoy assembling them. But criminals also find them attractive, he said.
The number of ghost guns found at crime scenes around the country has also soared, according to federal data. Fewer than 1,700 were recovered by law enforcement in 2017, but that number grew to 27,000 in 2023, according to Justice Department data.
Since the federal rule was finalized, though, ghost gun numbers have flattened out or declined in several major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Baltimore, according to court documents. Manufacturing of miscellaneous gun parts also dropped 36% overall, the Justice Department has said.
Ghost guns are any privately made firearms without the serial numbers that allow police to trace weapons used in crime. The 2022 regulation was focused on kits sold online with everything needed to build a functioning firearm sometimes in less than 30 minutes, according to court documents.
Ghost guns have been used in high-profile crimes, including a mass shooting carried out with an AR-15-style ghost gun in Philadelphia that left five people dead. Police believe a ghost gun used in the slaying of UnitedHealthcares CEO in Manhattan was made on a 3D printer rather than assembled from a kit of the kind at the center of the Supreme Court case.
Finalized at the direction of then-President Joe Biden, the frame and receiver rule requires companies to treat the kits like other firearms by adding serial numbers, running background checks and verifying that buyers are 21 or older.
Gun groups challenged the rule in court in the case known as Garland v. VanDerStok. Most crimes are committed with traditional firearms, not ghost guns, they argued. It’s legal for people to build their own firearms at home, the challengers said, arguing that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives overstepped its authority by trying to regulate the kits.
The Supreme Court majority disagreed, pointing out that the law gives the ATF the power to regulate items that can be quickly made into working firearms.
The Buy Build Shoot kit can be ‘readily converted’ into a firearm too, for it requires no more time, effort, expertise, or specialized tools to complete, Gorsuch wrote, referring to a specific product.
Some kits may take more time to build into guns and therefore fall outside the ATFs power, he wrote, but many popular kits are subject to regulation.
Gun safety groups celebrated the ruling, with Everytown Law executive director Eric Tirschwell saying the rule also had broad support from law enforcement. Fundamentally, today’s decision confirms the ghost gun industry is dead as a viable business model,” he said.
A Michigan woman whose son lost an eye when he was accidently shot by a friend who bought a ghost gun before he was old enough to legally buy a typical weapon also applauded. We are deeply relieved by todays ruling, which will help ensure that a tragedy like ours never happens again, she said.
The court previously expanded Second Amendment rights with a finding that modern gun regulations must fit within historical traditions. The justices also struck down a firearm regulation from President Donald Trumps first administration, a ban on gun accessories known as bump stocks that enable rapid fire.
In a dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the ghost gun rule should meet the same fate. The kits, he wrote, are only firearm parts and shouldn’t be subject to a regulation that could open the door to rules on other popular weapons. Congress could have authorized ATF to regulate any part of a firearm or any object readily convertible into one,” he wrote. But, it did not.
Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press
Today, the California-based EV maker Rivian announced a new spinoff company, Also Inc., that will focus on building small, lightweight EVs.
The new company, billed as a micromobility startup, is set to be headed by president Chris Yu, Rivian’s former VP of future programs. According to a press release, Rivian will own a substantial minority ownership stake in Also, and Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe will chair the new companys board of directors. The startup also announced an initial investment of $105 million from the venture capital firm Eclipse.
While Also hasnt officially announced the products it plans to debut, Yu told the publication Transport Topics that its technology platformwhich has been in the works at Rivian for several yearswill be applicable to e-bikes and smaller three- and four-wheel vehicles, like neighborhood EVs and micro cars. The company plans to announce its flagship product this fall and begin deliveries in the U.S. in 2026, followed by future expansions into Europe, Asia, and South America.
A growing demand for micromobility options
For Rivian and Also, the push to expand EV options in the micromobility space makes sense, given the markets recent expansion. In November 2024, a McKinsey & Company study found that U.S. shared-micromobility trips (meaning rides on services like rentable bikes and e-scooters) are expected to double by 2035 at the very least, as many cities begin to implement more regulations around car usage. Further, a McKinsey consumer survey of more than 4,000 respondents found that “24% regularly use micromobility (at least once a week) and 30% plan to increase their usage in the future.”
The trend of increasingly bulky carsdubbed “car bloat” by Fast Company contributor David Zippermeans that smaller cars, like sedans and station wagons, are being phased out. Instead, carmakersparticularly Detroit’s Big Threeare prioritizing SUVs and pickups, which offer larger margins. The literally increasing size of the market means that there’s an opportunity for competitors who can offer smaller forms of transportation, letting consumers bypass the disadvantages of navigating and parking a hulking vehicle in urban areas.
This thesis seems to be one of Also’s guiding principles. In an interview with InsideEVs, Yu shared that Alsos mini-EV offerings are meant to address a growing demand for small vehicles that can navigate dense urban areas with less hassle.
“I think there’s this pent-up demand, even if it may not be explicitly known, to do better than sitting in traffic and battling for car spaces for short trip missions, like going to Trader Joe’s, doing a kid drop-off, etc.,” Yu said.
In order to compel consumers to choose an EV over a gas-powered alternative, like a standard golf cart, for example, Yu clarified to Transport Topics that Also will aim to offer competitive prices and a more personalized brand experience.
An uncertain climate for EVs
Also is debuting in the midst of an uncertain environment for EV manufacturers. After taking office in January, President Trump has threatened to take away tax credits for EVs and issued a directive that puts a pause on the construction of new national EV charging infrastructure. Meanwhile, the decline of Elon Musks Tesla has caused some experts to worry that the rest of the industry could face ripple effects from a barrage of bad press around EVs.
Still, back in February, Scaringe assured Fast Company that Rivian (and, now, presumably Also) isnt basing its future development plans on current policy. Instead, he said, the company views its decisions on a “much more long-term basis.”
The product roadmap we built, the technology weve developed, the way were designing and building and growing the businesses, is really being architected around a long-term view that the market will move over time to 100% electric,” Scaringe said at the time.
Notre Dame’s Niele Ivey is doing it the way she learned how to coach, pacing the sideline in stylish attire in a time when most coaches favor far more casual attire.
When I first got into coaching, I learned under a Hall of Fame coach,” Ivey said. Being coached under Coach (Muffet) McGraw, her whole staff dressed up. Coaching with her we dressed up. Thats kind of the fabric of Notre Dame, and what Im used to style-wise.
As the NCAA Tournament heats up, the styles of Ivey, LSU’s Kim Mulkey, Alabama’s Nate Oats and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley stand out in a sea of coaches in team polo shirts and quarter-zip pullovers. There are a handful of coaches on the men’s side who evoke memories of a time when John Wooden, John Thompson and Denny Crum roamed the sidelines immaculately dressed.
Oats, who routinely reminds fans of former Crimson Tide coach Wimp Sanderson with his colorful tailored sports coats, will stand out on the men’s side in the Sweet 16. Fans saw two other throwbacks Texas A&M’s Buzz Williams and Rick Pitino of St. John’s before the Aggies and the Red Storm were eliminated in the second round last weekend.
I dont fish, I dont golf, I dont hunt, I dont do all the things that youre supposed to do as a hobby, Williams recently said when asked about his dapper attire. Thats just always been my hobby.
Most coaches moved to casual sideline attire during the COVID-19 pandemic and many simply never went back to dressing up for games. Count Auburn coach Bruce Pearl among those who have completely abandoned sideline suits after wearing them for years.
Some think that not dressing up on the sideline is disrespectful to the game. But for Pearl its simply a matter of comfort.
Think about what a suit is, he said. You put on a 100% cotton shirt and you button it all the way at the top, OK? And then what you do is you put a tie on and then you bring it all the way up and then you choke yourself with it, then you throw a coat on it. And then you go out there and you coach and you just sweat through it.
Ivey and Pitino just believe in dressing up
Like Williams, Pitino always dresses up for games and has been doing it throughout a career thats spanned decades. His duds have inspired others to follow in his footsteps, notably former assistants UCLA coach Mick Cronin and Kevin Willard, the Maryland coach.
And though the 72-year-old Pitino loves his suits and will never change his sideline attire, he wont stand for anybody who criticizes the casual coaching look.
Its my preference to just dress up rather than dress down, Pitino said. My son ( newly named Xavier coach Richard Pitino ), who is the closest person to me in coaching, he wears a quarter-zip and he looks great. Hes more comfortable doing that, and Ive just been doing it for so many years 50 years that I believe in dressing up.
The elder Pitino made headlines for his attire when he suited up in an all-white Armani ensemble for St. Johns whiteout at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 16. His players raved about the suit after the 79-73 win and Jimmy Fallon wore an identical one alongside Pitino during a skit that opened The Tonight Show earlier this month.
Pitino said his stark white suits are one small way he connects with fans.
The white suits started at Kentucky, and I did it just to join in with the fans, join in with the student body, just as a fun thing, he said. Theyre all different suits, different outfits throughout the years and Im just having fun with everybody. Its a fun thing. Everybody laughs about it. Everybody has fun.
Ivey noted that fashion has taken on a life of its own the last couple of years.
You get a chance to really showcase your personality,” the coach of the Irish said. “For me, I like to look nice. I feel the way you look, you play good, feel good, and also just bringing power and elegance to the sideline.
Houstons Sampson was once chided for wearing sweatpants
Kelvin Sampson, the 69-year-old Houston coach, wore suits on the sideline for decades before the pandemic. Though hed be in a full suit at tipoff, hed famously rip off his tie before the first TV timeout in almost every game while coaching at Oklahoma and Indiana.
Though casual wear is the norm for college coaches these days, Sampson admits he might have taken it a bit too far. He said that Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, a quarter-zip-wearer himself, once chided him for wearing sweatpants on the sideline.
I really hadnt noticed that I was wearing sweatpants, Sampson said. So, I went to more of I guess athletic slacks, whatever they call it golf pants, whatever. So, people get on me for the way I look on the sidelines sometimes, but I dont really care.
On the womens side some of the male coaches have adopted a more casual look since the pandemic. But the style of many of the female coaches has become part of the game narrative, led by Ivey, Staley and Mulkey.
Staley has become a style icon in the last few years as her team has won two of the last three national titles. The former standout player was photographed on the front row at the Gucci show sitting alongside NFL star Stefon Diggs at Milan Fashion Week last year.
I dress for comfort. Anything I wear Im comfortable, like I could probably have on the entire day, Staley said. So its more geared to comfort. Im so glad I dont have to wear heels anymore.
Staley doesnt know what people will see her don next.
I will try on an outfit. If its really nice, I might save it for a later round, she said. Sometimes I havent been able to wear them because we dont advance. But I have quite a few just ideas. I cant wait until the season is over because I can clean my closet. Its not in a good position right now.
Mulkey’s outfits becoming must-see TV
Many fans can’t wait to see what bold, unpredictable outfit Mulkey will be wearing when she walks out of the LSU locker room.
That includes Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico, who has found herself in the fan fashion zone when coaching against Mulkey.
Weve had to play against each other a lot. I always wonder when were playing against her, Whats the wear going to be? I know its something that people think about, Barnes Arico said. But for me, I try to do it a little bit for our players. Even in the locker room just now, Cmon, coach, put the hat on. They want to get a selfie. Its fun. I think its good to have some fun with it.
But Im not Kim Mulkey. Im the other Kim, Barnes Arico said with a laugh.
Ivey is also one of one, and she takes pride in continuing the Notre Dame fashion tradition.
I feel very confident in the choices that I choose as far as clothing, fashion, Ivey said. Its fun, but also I feel powerful. Its just something that has been a fabric of myself being a part of this program for a long time.
___
This story has been corrected throughout o show Alabama’s coach is named Nate Oats.
Kristie Rieken, AP sports writer
AP Writers Pete Iacobelli and Curt Rallo contributed to this report.
Good news for the millions of women who struggle with urinary tract infections (UTIs). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug, Blujepa, the first of a new class of oral antibiotics for treating UTIs, to head to market. Drugmaker GSK plans to release the drug in the U.S. in the second half of 2025.
Blujepa, the brand name for gepotidacin, is the first oral antibiotic for UTIs to win FDA approval in almost 30 years. It’s approved for women and girls ages 12 and older with “uncomplicated UTIs,” which are often caused by bacteria including E. coli.
The pill is part of U.K.-based pharmaceutical giant GSK’s pipeline of drugs fighting infectious diseases, and is being hailed as a breakthrough treatment as it comes at a time when bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to the standard antibiotics.
“The approval of Blujepa is a crucial milestone with UTIs among the most common infections in women,” Tony Wood, GSK’s chief scientific officer, said in a statement. According to GSK, 16 million women in the U.S. struggle with UTIs each year, and half of all women experience a UTI in their lifetime, with some 30% of women suffering from recurrent episodes.
For many, UTIs can be a burden that severely impacts daily life,” said Dr. Thomas Hooton, professor of clinical medicine at the University of Miami School of Medicine. “With an increasing number of patients experiencing recurrent infections, there remains a clear need for continued research of antimicrobials to help address ongoing patient challenges and the strain on healthcare systems.
Blujepa’s development was funded in part by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a number of other federal agencies, and comes at a time when the Trump administration is slashing the budgets and staff at the HHS and other key federal agencies.
The HHS oversees 13 agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which are tasked with protecting the nations health. Under new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for research have been cut, which critics say will hamper the country’s ability to make future breakthroughs in the medical field.
For some people, home evokes feelings of joy and comfort. However, according to Ikeas new Life at Home Report, one in three people struggle to find the joy in their living spaces.
The latest report explores why this isand how, in a world of uncertainty and constant change, small, simple adjustments can help bring more joy into everyday life. Insights gathered from more than 38,000 people across 39 countries show that, while many find it difficult to experience consistent enjoyment in their spaces, joy is often found in life’s smaller momentsthrough self-expression, cozy comforts, and playful touches.
[Image: Ikea]
The report highlights four key ingredients for joy at home: feeling good, having fun, building vibes, and making connections. The findings suggest that creating a joyful space doesnt require drastic changes. Often, its the small thingssuch as expressing personal style through décor, prioritizing well-being, or simply having funthat can make a difference.
Its not about a total home makeover. Its about making small, meaningful changes that can really lift your everyday life, says Maria Jonsson, Global Insight Leader for the Ikea Life At Home Report.
[Image: Ikea]
Get organized
The report found that one in three people say a tidy space boosts their overall well-being. When a space is clean and organized, a persons mind tends to feel clearer, Jonsson explains. Its not about perfection but creating a space that supports everyday well-being.
Sleep was highlighted as the number-one activity for nurturing both physical and mental well-being at home. To improve sleep quality, Jonsson noted that it often comes down to getting the basics righta comfortable mattress, a cool, quiet room, and minimizing light and noise. Additionally, building a bedtime routine, such as limiting screen time before bed or maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, can enhance sleep hygiene at home.
[Image: Ikea]
Create a space for fun
The report shows that 66% of people with homes that foster play consider their home their favorite place to be. Spaces that promote playfulness and creativity not only feel safer but also contribute to better mental well-being, with 42% of respondents reporting this benefit compared to the 38% global average.
That might mean setting up a small, dedicated space for the things you lovelike a craft area, a reading corner, or a spot to do puzzles or play music. It doesnt have to be bigjust purposeful, Jonsson says.
Creating distinct spaces at home for different activitiesand involving everyone in the design or decoration processcan help establish mental boundaries for starting new tasks, making the experience more enjoyable. By intentionally designing a home that encourages fun, it becomes easier to prioritize and make time for it, Jonsson emphasized.
[Image: Ikea]
Create a vibe
Feeling a sense of belonging is essential to truly enjoying a home, the report found. Often, its the small, personal touches that make a space feel authenticwhether its a cherished object, a meaningful habit, or living in alignment with certain values and purpose.
Enjoyment at home is experienced by 57% of people who feel a stronger sense of belonging when they can express their identity there. Homeownership is also linked to greater joy, with 55% of homeowners reporting joy compared to 47% of renters.
However, according to the report, renter-friendly solutions trending on social media include peel-and-stick wallpaper, stick-on laminate flooring, temporary stained-glass-effect windows, and swapping out light fixtures or using budget-friendly uplights.
Also trending in home design are dopamine decor, which involves designing spaces with colors, textures, patterns, and nostalgic elements, and biophilic design, which focuses on incorporating natural materials and elements to foster a calming atmosphere.
[Image: Ikea]
Foster connections
The report found that gathering over food is a cherished activity for many. Those who see eating as a social experience are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and enjoyment at home.
Creating more moments to eat together is a brilliant way to boost belonging and joy, Jonsson says. And globally, sitting down to a home-cooked meal ranks as one of the top five sources of joy.
Additionally, people who find joy in laughing with others are more satisfied with their life at home (68% compared to the 61% global average). Designing spaces that foster conversation, connection, and shared experiences can significantly enhance how people feel in their homes.
Personalization doesnt need to be expensive or complicatedits about surrounding yourself with things that tell your story. Whether thats family photos, art youve made, or souvenirs from travels, these details help your home feel like you, Jonsson says.
Americas public lands, from its majestic national parks to its vast national forests, are at the heart of the countrys identity.
They cover more than a quarter of the nation and large parts of the West. Some are crisscrossed by hiking trails and used by hunters and fishermen. Ranchers graze cattle on others. In many areas, the government earns money through oil, gas, timber and mining leases.
These federally managed public lands have long enjoyed broad bipartisan support, as have moves to turn them into protected national parks and monuments. Research consistently shows that a majority of Americans want their congressional representatives to protect public access to these lands for recreation. One avenue for protection is the creation of national monuments.
But the status of national monuments can change.
Many of the United States national monuments, and much of its public land, are in the Western U.S. [Image: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2024]
Presidents have expanded and contracted national monuments, as the U.S. saw with Bears Ears National Monument in Utah over the course of the past three presidencies. The rules for the use and maintenance of various public lands can also change, and that can affect surrounding communities and their economies.
The U.S. is likely to see changes to public lands again under the second Trump administration. One of the new administrations early orders was for the Department of Interior to review all national monuments for potential oil and gas drilling and mining. At least two national monuments that President Joe Biden created in California are among the new administrations targets.
The avenue for many of these changes is rooted in one century-old law.
The power and vagary of the Antiquities Act
The Antiquities Act of 1906, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt, gave Congress or the president the authority to establish national monuments on federal land as a means of protecting areas for ecological, cultural, historical or scientific purposes.
From Theodore Roosevelt on, 18 of the 21 presidents have used the Antiquities Act to create, expand or contract national monuments through a presidential proclamation.
By using the Antiquities Act to create, expand or reduce national monuments, presidents can avoid an environmental impact statement, normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act, which also allows for public input. Supporters argue that forgoing the environmental impact statement helps expedite monument creation and expansion. Critics say bypassing the review means potential impacts of the monument designations can be overlooked.
The Antiquities Act also offers no clarity on whether a president can reduce the amount of area protected by prior presidents. The act simply states that a president designates the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected. This has led to the shifting of national monument boundaries based on the priorities of each administration.
The Citadel Ruins are the remains of Anasazi cliff dwellings at Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. [Photo: Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management/Flickr]
An example is Bears Ears, an area of Utah that is considered significant to several tribes but also has uranium, gas and oil resources. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated Bears Ears a national monument. In 2017, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation reducing Bears Ears by 80% of its total designated size. The monuments size and scope shifted a third time when President Joe Biden reestablished Bears Ears to the boundaries designated by Obama.
In the span of just over five years, the monument was created, reduced, then restored to the original monument designation.
The uncertainty about the long-term reliability of a designation makes it challenging for federal agencies to manage the land or assure Indigenous communities that the government will protect cultural, historical and ecological heritag.
Public lands can be economic engines
National parks and monuments can help fuel local economies.
A 2017 study by Headwaters Economics, a nonprofit research group, found that Western rural counties with more public land have had greater economic growth, including in jobs and personal income, than those with little public land. National monuments can also benefit neighboring counties by increasing population, income and employment opportunities.
Even small national monuments provide economic benefits for their surrounding communities. Visitors to Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome, N.Y., spent $5.3 million in nearby communities in 2023, according to a National Park Service report. [Photo: National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons]
While many counties adjacent to public lands may be dependent on natural resource extraction, the establishment of a national monument can open up new opportunities by expanding tourism and recreation. For example, four national parks and monuments in southeastern Utah, including Natural Bridges, drew about 2.4 million visitors who spent nearly US$400 million in surrounding communities.
However, when there is uncertainty over whether public lands will remain protected, communities may be hesitant to invest in that future, not knowing whether it will soon change.
What Congress and the courts could do
There are a few ways to increase the certainty around the future of national monuments.
First, lawsuits could push the courts to determine whether the president has the authority to reduce national monuments. Since the Antiquities Act doesnt directly address presidential authority to reduce monument size, thats an open question.
Advocacy groups sued the government over Trumps authority to shrink Bears Ears National Monument, but their cases were put on hold after Biden expanded the monument again. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear other cases in 2024 that argued that a presidents authority to declare and expand national monuments should be far more limited under the law.
Second, Congress could permanently protect designated national monuments through legislation. That would require presidential approval, and the process would likely be slow and cumbersome. Creating White Clouds Wilderness in Idaho, for example, took decades and a public campaign to have it designated a national monument before Congress approved its wilderness designation.
Third, Congress could take new steps to protect public lands. For example, a bipartisan bill titled Public Lands in Public Hands Act could block privatization of public lands and increase and maintain access for recreation. One of the bills lead sponsors is U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana who served as Interior secretary during the first Trump administration. Whether the bill will pass and gain the presidents approval remains to be seen.
Public lands have widespread support
The Antiquities Act has led to the creation of 163 terrestrial and marine monuments and subsequently the protection of land and waters that hold cultural, scientific or historic significance.
These monuments tend to have broad support. During the first Trump administration, there were over 650,000 public comments on Trumps review of national monument creation. An analysis found that 98% of the comments expressed broad support for both the creation and expansion of national monuments.
Gold Butte National Monument covers nearly 300,000 acres of remote and rugged desert landscape in southeastern Nevada and is popular with hikers. [Photo: Bureau of Land Management]
Public lands are more than just physical places. They are spaces where our ideals and values around public land unify us as Americans. They are quintessentially American and in many ways define and shape the American identity.
Monica Hubbard is an associate professor of public policy and administration at Boise State University.
Erika Allen Wolters is an assistant professor of political science at Oregon State University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
