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Tools · Appliances · Home improvement

Every project starts at the threshold.

Straight answers on the tools, appliances and upgrades worth buying, whether you own the house or rent the apartment. 60 picks across 7 categories, chosen room by room.

Pick a room Read the guides
A dark hallway with a door left ajar, warm light spilling across the wood floor
7categories
60researched picks
6in-depth guides
.caCanadian links
Shop by room

Walk through the house.

Pick a room on the plan to see what we'd buy for it first.

ENTRY04KITCHEN02LIVING06BATH05WORKSHOP01UTILITY03YOUR HOME
The categories

Seven rooms of expertise.

01 Cordless drill, impact driver and laser level on a dark workbench Power Tools & DIYThe kit that pays for itself Workshop 02 Matte-black pull-down faucet over a dark stone sink under warm cabinet lighting Kitchen Upgrades & AppliancesUpgrades you'll use every day Kitchen 03 A robot vacuum on a dark wood floor with a cordless stick vacuum against the wall Household AppliancesLet the machines do the chores Utility 04 A keypad smart lock glowing amber on a dark front door Doors, Locks & EntryFirst impressions, better security Entry 05 A matte-black rain shower head in a dark tiled shower with water droplets in warm light Bathroom DIYSmall room, big payoff Bath 06 A compact apartment living room at dusk with a low sofa and tall bookshelf Apartment Furniture & StorageEvery square foot earns its keep Living 07 A brass plug-in wall sconce glowing against patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper Renter-Friendly UpgradesChange everything, lose nothing Whole home
Weekend projects

Start with a plan, not a cart.

Each project comes with a parts list and a step-by-step guide.

Shower head, caulk removal tool, bidet box and fan cover laid out on dark slate
1 weekendBeginner

Refresh a tired bathroom

  • Rain & handheld shower head
  • Caulk removal kit
  • Bidet attachment
  • Quiet exhaust fan
See the plan
Smart lock, weatherstripping, draft stopper and screwdriver laid out on a dark wood door
1 afternoonBeginner

Secure & seal your front door

  • Smart lock
  • Weatherstripping kit
  • Draft stopper
  • Video doorbell
See the plan
Peel-and-stick tiles, a smart bulb, adhesive hooks and a plug-in sconce on dark linen
1 weekendEasy

Make a rental feel like yours

  • Peel-and-stick backsplash
  • Plug-in sconces
  • Smart bulbs
  • Command hooks
See the plan
Guides

Read before you buy.

All guides
Three cordless drills lined up on a dark workbench with spare batteries and a charger
Tools7 min read

How to Choose Your First Cordless Drill (and Not Regret It)

Voltage, brushless motors, drill vs impact driver, and why you're really buying a battery platform. A plain-English guide to your most important tool.

Read the guide
Inside view of a deadbolt and smart lock with snow outside the side window
Doors8 min read

Smart Locks, Explained: What Works for Owners, Renters and Canadian Winters

Retrofit vs full-replacement locks, keypads, Wi-Fi, batteries in the cold, and how to check your door before you buy.

Read the guide
Caulk gun, painter's tape and a new shower head laid out on the edge of a tub
Bathroom9 min read

The Weekend Bathroom Refresh: Five Upgrades, No Contractor

A new shower head, fresh caulk, a bidet, a quieter fan and better light. A step-by-step plan to make a tired bathroom feel new in two days.

Read the guide
How we pick

No sponsored slots. No fake reviews.

  • Research-led. We cross-check manufacturer specs, long-term owner feedback and trusted trade sources. We don't pretend to have lab-tested everything.
  • Honest trade-offs. Every pick says who it's for, and where it falls short.
  • No prices on the page. Prices change hourly. Amazon.ca always shows the current one.
Our full method