Amy

I have owned nine bookshelves in the last 20 years, ranging from a hand-me-down particle board unit that collapsed under a stack of encyclopedias to a custom walnut build that cost more than my first car. The shelves in between taught me what actually matters when you are looking for the best bookshelves for home … Read more

After 90 days of testing across two homes and one rental property, our team ranked the best home security systems you can buy right now. SimpliSafe took our top spot for its no-contract flexibility and reliable sensors, with Ring Alarm as the best value pick for Alexa households and the tolviviov 8-Piece kit winning budget … Read more

I spent six weeks living with these shelves in my own home and studio, photographing them in different rooms, and stacking them with everything from paperback novels to oversized art books. What I found surprised me: the best modern bookshelves in are no longer just rectangular boxes from a Swedish catalog. Today you’ll find sculptural … Read more

Finding the best smart thermostats for large homes is harder than it looks. Most “best of” lists assume a 1,500-square-foot ranch where one thermostat on the main wall keeps the whole place comfortable. In a 3,000-plus square foot house with two stories, a finished basement, and a bonus room over the garage, that single sensor … Read more

Three years ago, a faulty water heater in my brother-in-law’s basement started leaking carbon monoxide while the family slept upstairs. The only reason they woke up was a chirping battery warning from a decade-old detector that happened to catch the CO. That incident pushed our team to take home safety seriously, and for the past … Read more

When my neighbor had a break-in last year, I went straight to Amazon and started researching the best DIY home security systems. I spent three weeks testing eight of the most popular kits in my own 1,800-square-foot home, ran them through power outages, deliberately triggered false alarms, and even let my 55-pound dog wander through … Read more

Smart garage door openers have quietly become one of the most useful upgrades you can add to a home in . I installed my first one five years ago and now I check my garage door the same way I check the front door lock — every single night before bed. This guide covers the … Read more

A smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi-enabled device that automatically controls your home’s heating and cooling, learning your preferences to optimize comfort and energy savings. I have been testing connected thermostats for years, and the jump in capabilities between last year’s models and this year’s lineup is genuinely impressive. The best smart thermostats now combine remote … Read more

I have spent the last two months swapping out the bulbs in my own house to find the best smart lights for homes, and the differences between brands surprised me. Some brands promised millions of colors but delivered washed-out pastels, while others nailed the everyday basics of voice control, scheduling, and reliability. Smart lights are … Read more

I spent six weeks living with ten different smart plugs across my home, swapping them between lamps, fans, coffee makers, holiday lights, and a backyard fountain. Some never flinched. Others lost their Wi-Fi connection every time the microwave ran. After 150+ hours of testing, I landed on a clear short list of the best smart … Read more