33 Budget-Friendly Home Upgrades You'll Feel Like A Genius For Buying

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A roll of wood grain tape if you have one of those big frameless mirrors in your bathroom and want to take it up a notch. Instead of ripping it out and replacing it with something expensive, use this tape to frame it.
Promising review: "Where do I start? I absolutely LOVE this product. I wanted to replace our bathroom mirror, but due to the size, it would have cost a lot! I came across this on Amazon and decided to give it a try. The application process was super easy and applied without bubbles as long as you go slow and rub it down as you go. I kid you not. It looks like wood and feels like it, too! You can feel and see the 'wood grain.' It's absolutely stunning and looks like I bought a whole new mirror." —TaylorGet it from Amazon for $7.92.
A collection of antique-style brass cabinet pulls to make your existing cabinetry look new. One of the most dramatic ways to change the look of drawers and cabinets is to swap out the hardware, and it's soooo easy.
Promising review: "These are so nice and heavy. Such great quality for the price. They look amazing on the kitchen cabinets. I would recommend these for sure!" —Kindle CustomerGet a pack of 10 from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in different quantities, styles, and finishes).
Or a set of ceramic apple knobs that'll give your cabinets an easy (and cute!) upgrade. Instead of settling for the blasé hardware that comes standard in rentals, swap it out for something fun like these itsy bitsy apples.
Promising review: "I LOVE everything about these cute little cabinet knobs, and they're soooo easy to install — everything was right inside 😀" —Sheryl E.Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $14.99.
Satin nickel switch plates because good design is in the details. Walls can be so drab, and this is basically a snazzy accessory to jazz yours up.
An ultra-thin socket cover to tame the mess of plugs and cords behind your furniture without sticking out (literally). It sits flat against the wall and runs the cord neatly along the baseboard, so your outlets stay functional *and* visually unoffensive.
A roll of window privacy film that'll instantly make your windows look more modern while keeping prying eyes out. It filters in natural light but blurs the view, so you can go about your day without giving the whole neighborhood a front-row seat.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this product! I installed it on my bathroom window. It's an older house, and for some unknown reason, the builders put a window right above the bathtub! Curtains and shades are impossible to keep clean, since mold grows there easily, so I decided to try this instead. It adheres beautifully to the glass and lets enough light in that I can keep a cute plant perched on the windowsill. Highly recommend!" —NancyHGet it from Amazon for $7.98+ (available in four sizes and four styles).
Or a roll of privacy window film to turn any window into a rainbow factory. When the light hits it, your space will be covered in rainbows. And when the light isn't hitting it, it looks like ornate stained glass.
Or some stained glass window film that's a triple threat: it provides privacy, insulation, and it looks freakin' cool. Real stained glass windows are, what, a billion dollars? No thank you!!
A pack of five refillable multi-surface touch up paint pens to effortlessly fix scratches and nicks on walls, doors, and cabinetry in your bathroom. Just fill up a pen with paint of your choice and fill in the problem area.
Slobproof is a small business that makes paint touch-up pens.Promising review: "I keep these in my kitchen drawer and it's SO convenient for my painted cabinets! I moved into a house with older wood cabinets, and because it's such a small kitchen, I knew that painting the cabinets white (actually went with cream!) would make it feel so much larger! I LOVE the way they look, but inevitably (even though I sanded and prepped), I'll get little chips in the paint. These touch-up pens stay in my junk drawer full of paint at all times. The cap makes it so it never dries out and stays super clean. But I'm able to grab them any time and just touch things up so my cabinets ALWAYS look fresh." —Claire FloresGet it from Slobproof on Amazon for $24.99 (available in a pack of two or five).
A bamboo bathtub tray to turn your tub into a 5-star soak zone because it holds your wine, your book or tablet, and even a tiny rolled towel like you're at a spa and not just hiding from your problems (hard same, btw). It's expandable to fit most tubs and has plenty of room for your other bath-time must-haves (Flamin' Hot Cheetos, anyone?).
Promising review: "I love this bath tray! It has a rubber adhesive on the bottom that keeps it from moving around and damaging the tub. The sliding trays on the side are a nice touch. I like that there is a stand to place your tablet or phone. It's handled getting slashed and spilled on fine and easy to clean. It's a must-have for those who like to relax in the bath!" —Dani J.Get it from Amazon for $29.69+ (available in four colors).
A plug-in wall sconce that's powered by an electrical outlet, because not all of us can or want to hire an electrician to install a more permanent light fixture. It's also got a dimmer.
Promising review: "These lamps are perfect for over the bed. They have two switches. One is on the base to dim them, and then a lower switch is needed for when you are tired and don't want to reach that high! Perfect!" —Amazon CustomerGet it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in black or gold, and in packs of one or two).
Some pre-made wall panels to elevate your walls to the next level. The only things you need are a nail gun and glue (or Command strips if you're a renter) to get the look.
Some metal bathroom shelves with super-strong adhesive that can hold up to 15 pounds each. No more dangling a shower caddy around your showerhead!
A wall-mounted, fog-resistant shower mirror with three light settings, a handy little shelf for your toiletries, hooks for your razors, and a built-in squeegee (just in case it does get foggy).
ToiletTree is a small business that specializes in bathroom products for home use. To keep it fogless, add hot water to the reservoir behind the mirror before you shower. This comes with a squeegee and a little shelf, and even rotates so you can get your best angle! Promising review: "Far and away the best fogless mirror I've used. No wiping on 'fog preventing solutions," just fill it up with hot water while you're showering, squeeze the fog away and it works perfectly every time. Love the razor storage, too. Just the absolute best." —Jonathan FoxGet it from Amazon for $29.95.
An under-cabinet lighting kit to give any space — kitchen, closet, bookshelf, you name it — a warm, ambient glow that instantly elevates the whole room. It's peel-and-stick, comes with a remote, and makes everything look a little more pulled together.
Promising review: "I have five different sets in the kitchen and the adjacent living room. These are extremely easy to install, and you can adjust the warmth from very yellow to bright white. The quality is excellent, and there are no problems after months of use. I only use one remote control for all sets, but I could program each remote to control each set independently if I wanted to. Great value for the price." —John TrivesterGet 20 feet from Amazon for $17.99+ (also available in color).
A roll of peel-and-stick wallpaper in a subtle black-and-white pattern that will add a bit of modern drama to wherever you install it. An easy DIY win that will instantly upgrade your space.
Promising review: "This was easy to use. I had no issues covering a small surface! It was also just as easy to re-adjust the piece I wanted to, but it remained good enough to put down. I really like the pattern. It's very modern." —M.P.Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two roll sizes).
Velvet slipcovers if you have a sofa that has seen better days but is still really comfortable. Instead of splurging on a new piece of furniture, give it a facelift that will have it looking like it's brand new.
A hidden storage box disguised as a beautiful collection of books. Now, instead of having your electronics and all their cords on display, they'll be covered up by what looks like a top-tier curation of books.
A rustic wall-mounted entry organizer if you just need a place to stash your keys and mail. There's also a little shelf if you want to keep your wallet or other essentials there too.
Promising review: "This is great for storing our million sets of keys and mail that usually ended up on our kitchen counter!" —BreeGet it from Amazon for $22.99.
A pack of 16 solar-powered outdoor lights that clip right onto your balcony's ledge. Nighttime on your balcony will be so much nicer when you have proper mood lighting.
Promising review: "Developed a garden on the apartment patio, and wanted to add some lights along the railing to give it some character. These solar lights are not too bright and were easy to install. All the lights work, which is great. Better than I could have hoped for. 👍" —KMFGet it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two colors and also a set of 20).
Some peel-and-stick floor tiles if you're unhappy with the way your current bathroom or kitchen floors look. These are half an inch thick and made of vinyl, so they can withstand a lot of foot traffic. They're also water-resistant and washable.
Each box has 10 12" x 12" tiles. Promising review: "Best purchase ever, love that it brightened and give my bathroom a new fresh look. Easy to put together and only took about two hours." —BillyGet it from Amazon for $15.50.
A stick of Erase-A-Hole putty that'll make your walls look brand new. It'll make those dents, nail holes, and toddler-related "oopsies" disappear faster than you can say "security deposit." Plus, it's under $15, requires zero tools, and might trick people into thinking you hired a professional.
A set of three special shelves for showing off your favorite books. These literally make it look like your books are floating on the wall.
From BuzzFeed editor Kayla Boyd: "I love my floating bookshelves because they save a lot of space, and since I colorized them, they look like fun decor in my room. It definitely helps me get excited about reading more since they're so cute and visible. The shelves were also super easy to hang, and, as you can see, they're very sturdy." Promising review: "These are so much fun! We ordered the small size, which fits standard hardback books (approximately five to seven hardbacks in my experience). They're a great way to add some extra storage to our very small home, and we've placed them in our hallway so people ask us about them all the time. I'd highly recommend!" —LaBuenaVidaMereGet it from Amazon for $27.49+ (available in small or large).
A mold-resistant white grout pen if your bathroom's grout is permanently stained. Grout is a magnet for grime, and no matter how hard you try, some stains just won't disappear. If that's the case, this will cover up to 150 feet of grout with an opaque coat of white paint.
Be sure to clean your grout beforehand, as this pen covers stains that will be easier to cover if the surface is clean.There are 11 different grout colors available: white, winter gray, light gray, gray, dark gray, black, ivory, cream, beige, brown, and terracotta. You can view all the colors here.Promising review: "I have 12-inch white tile in my whole house that is 20 years old. Even though I kept it looking nice, the grout still was getting dark. I cleaned the grout and let it dry well until the next day, then used the grout pen. It looks like it is brand-new. One thing that I found out was that if the tip of the pen starts to look worn, you can just pull it out and turn it over — it is the same tip on both ends. It will take some time to do the whole house, but it looks so great that I will just do a section at a time 'til I finish. One other thing that I did was run my finger down the grout line after I applied the grout pen, then wipe down the tile line with a paper towel so no other cleanup was necessary." —Amazon CustomerGet it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in a narrow or wide tip).
Some floating shelves to install in your bathroom to give your pretty things a place to shine. Most bathrooms just have a few towel rods, so installing these will give you plenty of opportunities to show off your gorgeous candles, ceramics, and hand towels.
Promising review: "These shelves are so beautiful! My bathroom doesn't have a counter around the sink so this is perfect. It is modern and sleek and the wood and cast-iron shelves are very well built and sturdy. I was surprised that these are such high quality considering the price." —VincentGet a set of two from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in seven finishes).
Some velvet curtains if you need to filter light but don't want to sacrifice style. These are very good at providing privacy and darkening the space.
A super slick motion-activated trash can so you can hide your trash away when it's time to throw it in the garbage. Reviewers swear that the sensor isn't delicate enough that it would open for a curious cat or someone just walking by. The lid is also waterproof, so you don't have to worry about water splashes from the sink or shower getting into the trash.
Check it out in Julianna Christensen's TikTok video.Note: it's powered by two AA batteries (not included).Promising review: "I love this trash can because no one will ever see the trash I put in my bathroom trash can. When I put my hand above the sensor, it opens so discreetly and gently, and stays open for a few seconds then gently closes. The outside is absolutely beautiful. I know it's just a trash can, but in my bathroom it looks like a cute piece of art." —DawnGet it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available with gold or gray detailing and in two sizes).
Some shelf dividers if you stack clothing and linens to the ceiling in your closet. Not only will it help keep the stacks upright, but now everything from towels to linens will have their own spot.
Promising review: "If you need to Marie Kondo your closet, this is really useful, and it looks really nice. I got the gray ones. Bought two to see how they were. Perfect. Bought six more. Loving it!!! Really recommended this product, ready to install and very sturdy." —Nicolò R. Get a two-pack from Amazon for $17.99.
A set of removable tile decals that are specifically designed for stairs. They come in a roll just like tape, so you slap them on your risers and — boom! — you're done.
Quadrostyle is a woman-founded small business from Aussie designer Gabrielle Morabia. With operations based in Bali and an HQ in the south of France, Quadrostyle embraces all corners of the globe and takes inspiration from the traditional tiles found in the Mediterranean, Latin America, and Scandinavia.Promising review: "It turned out amazing! And completely easy to install. It totally changed our space. We love it!" —jaclynnancekivell Get it from Quadrostyle on Etsy for $14.86+ (available in six heights and matte or gloss finishes).
A roll of peel-and-stick subway tile backsplash if your kitchen's walls are blank and you want to give them an upgrade. These are extra great if you're a renter — they don't damage the wall at all if you ever need to remove them.
Promising review: "I've been wanting to try peel-and-stick tiles for a long time, and I'm so glad I found these for our kitchen facelift! They are so easy to apply and look amazing! I love that they are actual-size subway tiles as well! They've given our kitchen the last very important piece that it needed!" —April Grill Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in 21 colors).
Or a peel-and-stick wallpaper for adding a colorful backsplash to your kitchen without having to, you know, install an actual backsplash. Talk about a renter-friendly DIY find!
Some beautiful wall-mounted amber bottles that come with matching labels to decant your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash into. Pro tip: Use a leveler to make sure yours are evenly aligned.
You can see how one TikTok user styled hers in this TikTok video by Miriam Gin.Promising review: "We have a narrow bathtub/shower with little space. I love this product, it's so easy to install. I used a level to keep them aligned. Wait 24 hours before you use them. Great price, great quality, I highly recommend." —Karen KopeckiGet it from Amazon for $24.70+ (available in six different styles and quantities of one, two, or three).
And an under-cabinet lid opener so you never struggle to open a jar again. And because it mounts to the underside of your cabinet, it will be out of sight and out of mind when you don't need it.