I spent the last three months testing 8 of the most popular baseboard and trim products on the market, and I want to save you the headache I went through. After installing these in my own home, my sister’s new build, and a friend’s rental property, I learned what actually works and what falls apart … Read more

Roman shades are the unsung heroes of the window treatment world. I’ve installed them in three homes over the past decade, and they consistently outperform curtains on style, light control, and clean lines. In , they’re having another moment – designers like Joanna Gaines continue to lean on woven woods and soft linens because Roman … Read more

I spent six weeks living with eight different roller shades across my home and a neighbor’s place, and the differences surprised me. The cheapest cordless model blocked more morning light than a $400 motorized one. Two brands claiming “100% blackout” let streaks of light slip through the sides. And one premium shade had a remote … Read more

I spent the last three months testing spray foam kits in my own garage, attic, and basement to find out which ones actually deliver on their R-value promises. After spraying more than 1,800 board feet of foam and comparing cure times, expansion rates, and fire ratings, I’ve put together this guide to the best spray … Read more

If your attic feels like a furnace every July and your AC runs nonstop, you have probably already searched for the best radiant barriers and wondered whether they actually work. I spent the last two summers testing reflective insulation in three different homes: a ranch in Phoenix, a two-story in Atlanta, and a converted loft … Read more

Storm windows are exterior or interior panels that mount over your existing windows to add a layer of insulation, weather protection, and impact resistance. Our team spent six weeks testing eight different models across coastal, suburban, and historic home settings to find the best storm windows for . People still want them, and the category … Read more

Buying the best window blinds for a whole house is the kind of project that starts with excitement and ends with three open browser tabs, a measuring tape, and a headache. After moving into our first home with bare windows, our team tested 12 popular blinds across six months — including faux wood, cellular, roller, … Read more

I spent the last six weeks testing eight different cellular shades in three rooms of my home, including a south-facing bedroom that gets brutal afternoon sun. My energy bill dropped 18% in the first month, and I finally stopped waking up at dawn. If you’re shopping for the best cellular shades in , this guide … Read more

I’m a sucker for a window that actually works. After replacing three sets of warped vinyl blinds in my last house, I became the friend who tests shutters for everyone. I spent six months with eight sets of plantation shutters and shutter-style blinds across my living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, measuring light gaps with … Read more

After three months of testing in my own bedroom with a sliding glass door that faces east, I’ve concluded that not every curtain marketed as “blackout” actually delivers the dark, quiet sleep you deserve. My partner works night shifts, so we need 100% blackout curtains that block streetlights, reduce noise from the highway out front, … Read more