Bob Vila Editors Reveal Favorite Home Purchases

It’s perhaps no surprise to reveal that Bob Vila editors take care of all things equipment and home care: Our staff carefully reviews, tests, and reports on thousands of products each year, and we’re all always on the lookout for cleaning, decorating, and home improvement solutions that fit our homes and families.

A lot happened to BV employees in 2021: A few of us moved into his house, others flaunted expensive items and renovations (which we learned a lot about in Bob Vila’s researched product guides) or became parents, but most of us made it simple, improvements Modest around the house. Here are some of the products that have had the biggest impact on our daily lives this year – and surprisingly, they didn’t shock our wallets too much, either. We hope our favorite things inspire you to buy it one special thing I was also looking forward to the house.

1. AmazonBasics Outdoor Patio String Lights

It might seem silly to say that a product I see in every outdoor restaurant in every city (New York, Burlington, New Haven—this stuff is everywhere) has had an impact on my daily life, but it is the truth. This spring, my husband and I wanted it zhuzh Above our second-floor backyard deck, so we nailed six 8-foot strips of fur, attached the strips to our deck posts, and hung three sets of these AmazonBasics string lights from cup hooks at the top of each strip. This project has brought me so much joy. We put the lights on an outdoor smart plug timer so that it lights up at dusk and again just before dawn, and they cast the right amount of light during those in-between hours. When I drive home in the evening, I look up the hill, I see our lights, and I just smile. Our house looks luxurious! Our neighbors must think we have parties every night. – Darina Toby, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Service and News

Get the AmazonBasics 48-Foot Outdoor String Lights for $59.89

Related: Best Outdoor String Lights for 2021

2. Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50

I’ve been trying for years to compost, but I live in an apartment that doesn’t have access to my compost. But the FoodCycler has changed the rules of the game—it takes all the mess, time, and work (and let’s face it, smell) out of the composting process. I put my food scraps into the bucket and once it’s full, I put the bucket into the machine and let it run. In a few hours, the leftovers are completely dried and ground into this flaky, powdery substance that I’ll throw in our garden bed outside or give to friends and family for their gardens. Even when we move somewhere where I can make conventional composting, Foodcycler makes the process so much faster and easier that there’s no way I’d try regular composting again. – Sabrina Sirani, Associate Editor, Special Projects

Get the Vitamix FoodCycler FC-50 on Amazon for $299.95

Related: The best countertop compost bins for your home

3. LuxClub Wrinkle Free Bamboo Leaf Set is Eco-friendly

Last year we decided to do some upgrades around the house just for comfort, finding some new bed sheets was top of the list. Ordering sheets online is something I have avoided, and I don’t know if they will be too hot to sleep comfortably on or if they will scratch or itch after only a few washes. I was looking for a specific color to match our bedspread, however, and since these sheets come in 40 different colors and are reasonably priced, I thought it was worth a try. We’ve been using it exclusively for about a year now and have ordered another set for the guest bedroom. They’re buttery smooth, cool to sleep, and they come out of the dryer without a wrinkle in sight. After a year of washing, she’s still pill free, too. – Becky Helzer, Principal Copy Editor

Get the LuxClub Eco Friendly Wrinkle Free Bamboo Sheet on Amazon for $34.95

Related: Best Bamboo Bed Sheets Sets

4. Cold Brew Coffee Maker, KitchenAid

The KitchenAid Cold Coffee Maker is an essential tool for any iced coffee lover like me. The coffee maker is equipped with a removable and reusable coffee filter. I make concentrated coffee by simply filling a coffee filter with one cup of my favorite ground coffee, adding water and letting it brew. Fermentation takes eight to 12 hours and the result is a smooth, fully concentrated concentrate. As an all-day cold brew drinker, it’s easy for me to fill the Yeti with about 8 ounces of water, then fill the remaining cup with cold brew concentrate for a delicious dose of caffeine. Store in the refrigerator for easy access to cold coffee at any time of the day. – Stephanie Kronk, Executive Editor, Commerce

Get the KitchenAid Cold Brew Coffee Maker at Amazon for $109.99

Related: Best Cold Coffee Makers for Caffeine

5. NorthCape Bainbridge Patio Furniture

This all-weather resin furniture (3-seater sofa, roller glider, and side table) lives up to its name, having endured blistering summers, heavy winds, downpours, and now a cold Midwest winter. Sunbrella pillows in dark gray wicker are versatile and easy to care for. Thanks to the durability and versatility of these transitional pieces, my family enjoyed their backyard more than ever this year, and we’re looking forward to next year as well. – Beth Cranston, Associate Editor, Commerce

Get the Bainbridge Patio Furniture at All Backyard Fun for $279 – $3,516

Related: have been solved! This is the best time to buy patio furniture

6. Universal Growth Bag Set

A holistic grow bag from My Gardener’s Supply Company and a tomato growing bag set helped me transform a small concrete patio into an urban garden filled with my last year’s square foot plots. Each reusable cloth bag holds 20 liters of soil, and the sturdy fabric walls are breathable enough to aerate the soil and drain water. (Four sleeves rolled into one bag hold stakes of a expandable tomato cage from the same variety!) Most of all, I appreciate their vibrant and brilliant colors, even when limited backyard sunlight yields only a small crop of gypsy tomatoes. – Kathleen Corlett, Editor in Chief

Get the Best Tomato Planting Bag at Gardener’s Supply Company for $36.95

Related: 5 important things to know about gardening with grow bags

7. Breville Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine

After working in a coffee shop during college and living in a house that praises good coffee, I searched for an espresso maker that was on par and came up with an easy-to-use frother. For a long time, I’ve been relying on a drip coffee machine while doing my research. But since I bought a Nespresso Vertuo Machine from Breville, every morning I wake up excited for my morning food. The latest Nespresso line offers more than 30 flavors to Vertuo users, making espresso shots for big coffees. This variety makes it convenient for guests to choose the perfect flavor and type of drink. The included foaming machine also has hot and cold functions to make an iced latte or a warm cappuccino. Although not budget friendly, this coffee maker is convenient and well made for a long life and great coffee every time. – Alexandra Mantella, Commercial Content Update Editor

Get the Nespresso BNV250BKM Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by Breville on Amazon for $239.99

Related: The best Nespresso machines to fix your coffee

8. Classic wooden mirror

I moved into a new apartment at the end of 2020, so most of my shopping in 2021 revolved around scavenging for store-bought furniture, looking for affordable accents, and picking up various pop and variegated pieces like rug pads and dashboard strips. Decorating my bedroom is still an ongoing process (I’ll be hanging artwork one day), but one simple element made it feel more “complete”: this classic wood mirror from Target. I needed a full-length mirror for practical reasons, but I wanted one that was stylish – I graduated from cheap college dorm copies. However, I was a bit shocked when I started looking for a large full length mirror, especially considering the risk of it breaking during shipping. When I came across this affordable Target from Target, I felt like it was a no-brainer. At 18″ x 65″, it fits the bill for being large enough to prop it up against a wall (although it does have an adjustable stand back if you prefer), and its lightweight wood frame feels fresh without being too modern. It didn’t disappoint when I took it out of the box! My favorite part is how it adds dimension to my room. It makes my city apartment look bigger and brighter. – Katie Nolan, Editor

Get the Classic Wood Mirror at Target for $90

Related: 10 ways to decorate with floor mirrors that are absolutely in fashion

9. Bialetti Mini Express

Coffee is a staple in my home, and in the past year, it has become even more so. Now it’s a recreational treat, thanks to my Bialetti Mini Express. I’ve owned two traditional espresso machines before—not the high-end, expensive, but mid-priced, $200 one—and they both crashed prematurely. So when I saw the Mini Express cooktop in a TikTok video, I needed to give it a try. It’s a simple design that excludes electrical components which, in my experience, break easily. And at about $40, it brews two shots of espresso using the heat of your stove, which is as fun to watch as it is to drink. It’s easy to clean and fits inside a coffee drawer, although I often leave it outside to display because it matches my kitchen color scheme. — Jenny Stanley, Executive Editor, Service & News

Get the Bialetti Mini Express at Sur la Table for $29.99

Related: 31 best gifts for coffee lovers

All prices are accurate as of publication on 12/21/21.