Comparisons & Buying Guides

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A picture of a blinds and shades.
Some people use “blinds” and “shades” almost interchangeably. But they’re very different window treatments that have very different pros and cons. Your chosen treatment will profoundly affect your home decor, lighting, and energy bills. So, what exactly is the difference between blinds and shades? And how do you know which...
An awning on a patio with a view of a lake.
Awnings are generally smaller and more compact. The building they’re attached to dictates their size. However, some awnings can stretch across broad outdoor seating or dining areas. Canopy sizes vary dramatically. They can be as small as a 10x10ft tent for personal use or large enough to cover an outdoor...
A living room with large windows overlooking a city.
We live in a tyranny of vinyl vertical blinds. They’re ubiquitous and — let’s be real — about as stylish as cargo shorts. Who decided that these soulless slats were the pinnacle of window fashion? But hey, we’re not here to bury off-the-shelf vinyl vertical blinds. We’re here to praise...
A bedroom with a bed and a dresser.
Choosing window treatments can feel like a dizzying maze of options. Blinds or shades? Curtains or drapes? Solid color or patterned? Motorized or manual? Even within the blinds family, there’s room for debate. Wide slats or narrow? What material? And then there’s the most significant point of contention — do...
A man is painting the shutters of a wooden house.
Decisions, decisions. You have 50 choices of cereal at the grocery store and 30 choices of salad dressing. Now, you have to pick a finish for your new indoor shutters. It’s enough to make your head explode. Fortunately, it boils down to a simple commitment: stained or painted shutters. There...
A person is holding a wooden blind in front of a window.
Cords can be a hassle. Cutting the cord is a sign of independence. We cut the cord on our journey to adulthood. When pocket-sized cell phones took over the market — woohoo! — no cords! What freedom! We could answer calls almost anywhere, including the gym (much to the annoyance...