15 hours ago
32 Beginner-Friendly Home Upgrades That Look Pro
A 30-pack of picture hooks, which makes hanging pictures and mirrors on walls easy peasy. Just push, twist, and insert into drywall or plaster, no tools required.
These hooks saved the day (and my walls) after I failed miserably with nails, screws, and adhesive strips while trying to put together a gallery wall in my dining room. Instead of fumbling to find a study to drill into (what am I, a magician?) or risking smashed fingers with another ill-fitting nail, I used these to hang my art quickly and safely. You just push them into the wall and twist until only the hook portion is visible. No stud-finding, no pre-drilling, no anchors — just push, twist, and hang. I honestly don't understand why these aren't in every household. They're that good. Get it from The Home Depot for $14.98.
A top-down, bottom-up Roman shade that looks high-end but installs with just a couple of screws. It filters in soft, natural light while still giving you privacy, and the cordless design makes your space feel instantly more tailored. No rods, no fancy tools, no stress.
Promising review: "The fit is fantastic and matches my measurements perfectly. I love the texture and the convenience of adjusting the height easily. It's great that I can raise them from the bottom or lower them from the top. Considering the level of customization, I believe the pricing is fair. I wanted light filtering, and these curtains provide the perfect amount of privacy for our bathroom." —C-RodGet it from Amazon for $37.49+ (available in 20 colors and over 100 sizes; be sure to clip the 25% off coupon when applicable).
An outlet light if you need a little light here and there. Perfect for those of us who take nightly bathroom breaks or want to safely get to the kitchen for a midnight snack without turning on all the lights.
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 three sizes and four styles).
A 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 stick of Erase-A-Hole putty to cover up the holes in your wall caused by nails. It also works on wood and plaster!
A collection of antique-style brass cabinet pulls that'll make your existing cabinetry look new again. 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 a set of 10 from Amazon for $14.99.
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.
A pack of five refillable multi-surface touch up paint pens that'll 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 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).
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 $21.99+ (available in seven finishes).
A mold-resistant white grout pen for covering grout stains with a fresh coat of waterproof white paint. Each pen can cover up to 150 feet of grout.
Be sure to clean your grout beforehand, as this pen covers stains that will be easier to cover if the surface is 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 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).
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 $19.99+ (also available in color).
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 $29.99+ (available in 13 colors; be sure to clip the $10 off coupon when applicable).
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!
A pack of six furniture markers to cover up small nicks and cuts in your wood furniture and floors. Each kit comes with the most common wood colors (cherry, mahogany, walnut, black, maple, and oak) and matching crayons for easy filling when the damaged area is a little deep.
Promising review: "I am thoroughly impressed! We have a 115-plus-year-old house, and we only have hardwood in our downstairs hall and den. We didn't want to spend tons of money because we are probably going to be replacing the flooring in a few years. I'm actually still working on this as I'm writing this, but I am so impressed that I just had to write a review right away. The only 'negative' I have is that the colors are darker than the caps show, but it's not a big deal. For the money, you can't go wrong." —BorgGet them from Amazon for $8.99.
A dual-spray showerhead for a better bathing experience. The handheld head is great for making sure you never get out of the shower not realizing your hair still has conditioner in it.
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 Tushy bidet that'll turn your apartment bathroom into a space that feels a little more thought-out and a lot more comfortable. Its simple design and adjustable pressure offer a clean, comfortable experience while helping you save $$$ on toilet paper. Installation takes 10 minutes and requires no electricity or additional plumbing.
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 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).
Or a plug-in wall sconce with a fabric lampshade if you're looking for something with a softer aesthetic.
Promising review: "We wanted to get rid of the large lamps we were using because the bedroom is small, and we didn't want to spend a lot of money. These are very easy to install and the price is great. Everything arrived in perfect shape and we love that the switch is on the base and not on the cord, that way we can use decorative cord covers. The swivel makes it nice to move into the perfect position. I might purchase another set for our guest room." —VWBugGeekGet a pack of two from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors).
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 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 $17.49+ (available in six heights and matte or gloss finishes).
A pair of LED stained glass bulbs if you want your ceiling and walls to erupt with rainbows every time you turn on the light. If you don't have the option to paint your walls but love color, this is the product for you.
A set of NoNo Brackets that cleverly snap onto your existing vertical blinds so you can hang your own curtains. This is crucial if you're a renter who can't remove your blinds but still want to have your own window treatments up.
An expandable shelf for under your sink that adjusts itself around your awkwardly shaped pipe. You will be able to fit so much more stuff under your sink when you use this!
Measures 15 inches long x 11.25 inches wide x 15 inches high and can expand to 25 inches review: "I'm so glad I bought this. I have a 24-inch vanity in my bathroom and this fit perfectly. I have it extended to about 23-inch and it holds sturdy, though I can see if you were to extend it to its full length it gets weak in the middle. I liked it so much that I ordered another one for the kitchen. I got some clear bins to help organize bottles and other goodies I keep in the bath." —Marlene it from Amazon for $24.87 (available in three finishes).
A pack of 16 solar-powered outdoor lights that clip right onto your balcony's ledge. Warm nights spent out 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 $25.49+ (available in two colors and also a set of 20).
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.
Some motion-activated, battery-powered night-lights to illuminate dark areas in your home. I use these in closets, deep cabinets, and my bathroom that has a really loud fan that turns on every time I switch the light on.
A pair of crystal drawer knobs if you want to feel like you live in an opulent mansion instead of a one-bedroom apartment. These antique-inspired knobs will dress up doors and furniture alike.
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.
