Blinds keep a room cool by blocking sunlight from entering the home and creating an insulating barrier that slows down heat transfer from the outside. They achieve this through reflection, insulation, and shading, dramatically reducing the heat buildup caused by solar radiation.
Smart Home Cooling Tips. Close your blinds and curtains. Keeping your blinds closed during the day will reflect a surprising amount of heat radiating in through windows, especially during the time of day when the sun's rays shine directly on your home.
Some of Stewart's homes utilize interior blinds for light regulation and privacy. Others feature windows framed by exterior shutters, operable versions of which can also be used for light control, ventilation and privacy.
In the U.S., the uncovered window is perhaps less an expression of communal trust than one of personal protection. Wealthier homeowners, who can also afford state-of- the-art security systems, may not feel that they need shades. These curtainless windows have become one of our subtlest statements of privilege.
Blockout roller blinds
They are some of the best shades to keep heat out of your room because they prevent solar rays from entering entirely.
To keep heat out, the best overall options are cellular shades and thermal blackout Roman shades. These materials create a physical insulating barrier that traps outdoor heat and blocks solar radiation before it can warm your room.
Heat-blocking blinds trap air and reflect sunlight to keep your home cool and lower your AC bills. The most effective options are cellular shades (which trap heat in honeycomb pockets), thermal blackout roman shades, and solar shades (which block UV rays while preserving your view).
Thankfully, Stewart was quick to ease our curtain concerns. She says, “They're beautiful, I don't have anything against them, I just don't live with them… I like to look outside. Every window [in my home] looks out to something nice, and it's just all open to the view.”
Window blinds must be open during landing (and takeoff) as a critical safety measure. Because the majority of aviation incidents happen during these phases, open blinds allow flight crew and passengers to instantly spot exterior hazards (like fire, smoke, or debris) and let your eyes adjust to the outside lighting to avoid temporary blindness during an evacuation.
Meanwhile, the least desired home styles appear to be shipping container homes and tiny homes, the study finds.
Martha Stewart, 83, has nothing to hide. She's always been unabashedly candid about her life and career, including her divorce and her 2005 stint in prison for insider trading. And now, the lifestyle guru is opening up about being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease vitiligo for the very first time.
Trending Window Treatment Ideas for Every Room
Martha Stewart's energizing morning routine
While many of her retired peers are leaning into leisurely retirements, Stewart treats her mornings as a launchpad to gain energy for a full workday, despite only getting four hours of sleep a night. “I read the entire New York Times,” she said. “I do all the puzzles.
Curtain trends in 2026 are shifting from purely functional covers to architectural statement pieces. The top looks emphasize rich, natural textures, layered depth, warm neutral and earth-toned palettes, and smart home integration to bring quiet luxury and character to interior spaces.
To keep the cold out, apply a clear window insulation shrink film directly to the frame to block drafts. For structural gaps, use adhesive weatherstripping. Cover with heavy thermal curtains for an extra layer of insulation.
The largest source of heat loss in a typical house is uncontrolled air leakage (drafts), accounting for up to 38% of lost heat. Warm air escapes through hidden cracks and gaps, while the following structural areas are the primary culprits for escaping warmth:
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
According to market research, the crown for the world's most hideous color goes to Pantone 448 C. Described as a drab, dark-brownish green or "opaque couché," it was scientifically selected by Australia's government as the ultimate deterrent color and is now mandated for plain tobacco packaging worldwide.
Clever Offers survey shows Nashville and Tampa top the list of best cities to live, as D.C. remains the least desirable with 28% calling it the worst. Key Details: Clever Offers survey finds 69% of Americans like where they live, down from 73% in 2024, while 73% say they could be convinced to move to another state.
People avoid Seat 11A on many aircraft (particularly Boeing 737s) because it is a "windowless window seat". Due to the placement of air-conditioning ducts and structural reinforcements over the wing, you will often find yourself staring at a solid wall instead of having a view.
Flight attendants sit on their hands during takeoff and landing as a deliberate safety measure. This posture—part of a standard brace position—locks their arms and hands in place. It prevents their limbs from flailing and minimizes the risk of injury from sudden impacts or turbulence.
You should skip ordering coffee on a plane primarily because the hot water used to brew it comes from the aircraft's onboard, rarely cleaned tap water tanks, which can harbor bacteria. Furthermore, because of altitude, the coffee and water often boil below the standard 212∘F (or 100∘C) required to kill all germs.
Martha Stewart recently went on the In Bed with Paige DeSorbo Amazon livestream and dropped a hot take about how often she swaps her bedding. Stewart revealed that she has her sheets changed every two to three days.
Martha Stewart does not wear a wig for her day-to-day look. For her signature blonde bob, she typically uses volumizing hair tools like Velcro rollers. However, she has openly worn temporary wigs and extensions provided by celebrity stylists for quick, dramatic transformations for photoshoots and special projects.
Martha Stewart's boyfriend of 15 years was billionaire software developer and Microsoft executive Charles Simonyi.