Buzz
1. Add some charm to your garage doors with a set of carriage-style magnets that are simple to apply and can be positioned perfectly in just seconds.
2. Instantly brighten your living room: simply stuff your outdated throw pillows into a new set of covers.
3. Dedicate a Saturday afternoon to transforming your kitchen with a peel-and-stick tile backsplash that's simple to clean up after a messy baking session.
These tiles are basically a sheet of raised plastic that looks remarkably like glass — you'd need to touch them to tell the difference. They're also great for bathrooms! One reviewer used them to decorate a shower accent strip, while another framed their bathroom mirror. Multiple reviewers recommend watching this video to make installation a breeze!
Promising review: "I absolutely love this backsplash! It was easy to install, although I recommend using a paper cutter for cleaner, straighter cuts instead of scissors or a box cutter. You'll still need those tools for cutting around outlet pieces. I watched the video for guidance — you don’t need to be a pro. Just be sure to take your time applying the tiles because the adhesive is VERY strong. Once it's on, it’s on! I had to remove some and used nail polish remover to get the adhesive off the wall. Alcohol didn’t work, but nail polish remover did the trick. I’m very happy with the result and now plan to use this backsplash on one of my bathroom accent walls." —Michelle
Grab a pack of ten 12"x12" sheets for $34.99+ (available in six colors, and more options here), a paper cutter for $10.99, nail polish remover for $9.99, and an X-Acto knife for $5.51 on Amazon.
4. If you’re not fond of your current ones, switch out your cabinet and drawer pull handles for new ones. Just make sure they’re the same size and hole placement so you can easily replace them without any drilling.
5. Give your outdated 1990s appliances an upgrade for less than a dinner date: just cover them with stainless-steel-effect contact paper.
6. Restore the shine of your stainless-steel appliances with this highly recommended stainless-steel cleaner and polish spray (which comes with a microfiber cloth) to make them gleam once again. My mom tried several cleaners but was disappointed until she found this one — it worked perfectly on the first try, no streaks, just shine.
7. Hide a router and other tech clutter behind a row of cut-up books to create a stylish cover that won’t interfere with your wifi signal.
This clever design involves the spines of books attached together, with all the pages and covers removed except for the covers at each end. You can customize the color and length, and CovoGoods, a small business from Salt Lake City, Utah, will create it for you! Plus, the top is left open, so you don't have to worry about the router overheating.
Promising review: "Wonderful!! We recently renovated our living room, but we didn't realize how out of place the cable boxes and modem would look on our new shelves. Saw this, and just had to have it! Covogoods was extremely responsive and accommodating with my requests. It turned out exactly as I imagined, and the dimensions were perfect! No more ugly cable boxes or wires!" —Lindsey Martinez
Get one similar to the one shown on Covogoods' Etsy for $74.25, or on Amazon Handmade for $89 (available in 19 colors/combinations and lengths from 3 to 29 inches).
Covogoods, based in Utah, specializes in these book boxes and also sells books by color!
8. Install the pendant lights you've always dreamed of without an electrician: simply grab a couple of conversion kits to replace your standard can lights.
9. If you're looking for something even easier, try a pendant lamp — just hang it up and plug it into any standard outlet for a cozy, rustic bedside glow.
Transform your favorite novels and cookbooks into pieces of art with a set of three floating bookshelves, allowing you to enjoy them every day.
Revive the appearance of your antique furniture or fix light scratches on your wooden doors or trim with the help of a miracle wood finish restorer, making them look almost as good as new.
Repair chips, deep scratches, dents, and cracks in wood throughout your home with a set of 50 wood fillers. With a wide variety of colors, you'll easily find the perfect match for your nightstands, bookshelves, and doorframes.
Add personality to a blank wall in your kitchen, or any room in your home, by hanging a wood-framed tea towel that you can easily change with the seasons or based on your mood.
Upgrade your room by replacing your old, cracked, or yellowing switch and outlet plates with new architectural covers, instantly enhancing the look of any room with minimal effort.
Eliminate those stubborn carpet and upholstery stains you've been avoiding with a spray cleaner that will leave you speechless when you see the 'after' results.
Conceal unsightly things like breaker boxes by attaching small hinges to one side of a canvas or a large poster frame. This way, you can hide them from view while still being able to access them when necessary.
Check out the step-by-step guide from Bliss Bloom Blog, which uses a canvas, or Charleston Crafted, who opts for a poster frame.
You can grab the materials on Amazon: a pack of 20 narrow hinges for $10.79, and a set of two large, lightweight frames for $44.99 (which comes to about $22.50 per frame).
17. Consider camouflaging an unsightly buzzer or fuse box with a trendy macramé hanging that you can easily move when access is needed.
18. Swap out the dull house number near your front door for a contemporary option to quickly enhance curb appeal.
Go Home Numbers is a Florida-based small business offering a variety of font styles and heights for home numbers. Whether you're looking for cursive, spelled-out, or bright green or orange designs, they've got you covered!
Customer review: "I’m thrilled with my purchase from this shop. The numbers feel durable, and I love that the hardware was included. This was probably the easiest home improvement project we’ve ever done." —Katie Oshima
Pick up any of the six-inch "modern" numbers from Go Home Numbers on Etsy for $7.75+ each.
19. Revitalize a scratched laminate wood table (or even a backsplash, tray, or bookshelf) in just two steps: cover part of it with marble contact paper, and paint the rest to create a coordinated look.
20. Transform your plain chest of drawers into a custom, hand-painted piece using furniture decals. Simply rub them onto the surface with a wooden stick — it’s the perfect project for a relaxed Sunday afternoon.
They’re suitable for walls, furniture, wood, doors, and many other surfaces! Maika Daughters, based in Austin, Texas, is a small business offering a variety of materials perfect for upcycling projects. If furniture decals interest you but you’re not sure about these designs, they have 96 unique options available on their store page, many of which are floral or vintage-inspired, like this magnolia design.
Customer review: "These poppy decals are fantastic! They required less effort than I anticipated and turned out looking amazing!" —Elizabeth Meredith
You can purchase the sheet with all these decals from MaikaDaughters on Etsy for $29.99+ (offered as just decals or in bundles with the essential application tools).
21. Take it a step further by adding peel-and-stick staircase decals for a custom touch that’s ready just in time for the big reveal on your favorite HGTV show.
If you're renting, don’t worry — these decals are removable too.
Customer review: "I absolutely LOVE these stair riser decals. They were incredibly easy to apply, made from thick vinyl so they’re not flimsy. They arrived quickly, and the quality is top-notch. I was able to install them in under an hour by myself. Highly recommend!" —Jennifer Dwyer
You can get a pack of five from Bleucoin on Etsy for $62.49+ (available in over 95 designs/colors here, with seven height options, and offered in either a glossy or matte finish).
22. Instantly create new storage and display opportunities wherever you need them most with one or two basket shelves.
23. Add some rainbow or frosted film to your windows to achieve privacy while still letting in the light.
Promising review (for the rainbow film): "My kitchen window is on the sidewalk near the community mailboxes. Lots of people walking by. I loathe mini blinds which collect dust and grease. Especially since the stove is next to the window. Curtains are better, but still collect cooking smells and grease particles. I installed this in about ten minutes. It lets in light, but hides me from nosy people." —Gayle Smith
Get them both from Amazon: the rainbow film's $9.98 for about 10 square feet, and the frosted film's $11.97 for about 10 square feet.
24. And hang floor-to-ceiling blackout velvet curtains anywhere you a) just want a dramatic finish or b) do want to block out as much daylight as possible, whether your kiddo needs to nap or you just want to sleep in on Saturdays.
Plus if you hang them ~high and wide~ — like they did in the photo here — you can instantly make any windows look bigger.
Promising reviews: "These curtains are absolutely beautiful and a fantastic product for the price. The feeling and weight of the curtains far surpassed my expectations. I purchased them in dark slate for my son's nursery to help block out light for nap time and I absolutely adore them. They cut down on heat entering the room and light. I would 100% purchase them again." —Tate J
"These look great — we have the beige ones and they hung really nicely. Added bonus, we had an unexpected heat wave the week after buying this and they kept our house considerably cooler!!" —Sasha
Get them on Amazon for $32.99+ per 84" panel (available in four lengths and up to ten colors).
25. Create a beautiful gallery wall with very little effort thanks to a ready-to-hang frame set — it even comes with three different full-size templates to help you put the nails in all the right places.
26. Alternatively, use a simple-to-install ledge shelf (thanks to Command Strips!) for instant, customized shelving wherever you need it—whether for creating a gallery wall, storing kids' books, organizing spices, skincare products, or displaying collectible figurines.
Customer review: "Easy to install. Looks like wood but it’s plastic! I didn’t expect it to be so thin, but it still works! It’s been holding up well. I would definitely buy again." —RayRay
Get it from Amazon, Target, or Walmart for $19.99 (available in either white or slate).
27. Recover that hand-me-down sofa your roommate left with some soft velvet slip covers to make it look brand new (and a little luxe!) without breaking the bank.
28. Alternatively, simply drape a playful pom-pom trimmed bright throw blanket over that couch or chair you're just so done with looking at to give the piece a little more pizzaz.
29. If your style leans toward the glam or playful side, consider adding a faux-sheepskin rug—whether you drape it over the arm of your sofa, place it on the floor beside your bed, or find another fun spot for it, you'll enjoy its whimsical charm every day.
30. Elevate your work-from-home setup with a velvet swivel desk chair. Your back will thank you for the extra support, and you'll enjoy working in a chair that's more comfortable than that hard kitchen chair.
Switch out your store-bought bottles for beautiful glass dispensers, transforming your shower from a chaotic aisle of brand-name products into a serene, spa-like retreat.
Revitalize your vintage bathtub, sink, or tiles with a convenient tub-and-tile kit – a temporary solution until you're ready to invest in a full renovation.
Drape a roll of faux ivy to address multiple issues: hide an unsightly railing or wire fence, add some extra privacy, and block an unwanted view.
Apply a coat of simple primer to give your grimy brick or cinderblock garage a fresh, bright look – all in one productive Sunday afternoon.
Replace your standard air vent registers with a decorative cover fit for Gatsby's grand style.
Ditch the hand soap pump you've been refilling for who knows how long, and opt for foaming dispensers instead. They use less soap with every pump, saving you money on refills.
Hide the litter box in a cabinet with a small entrance so your cats can have some privacy while doing their business, and you don’t have to see it either.
Give your outdated Formica kitchen countertops a makeover with a granite-look countertop paint kit. It's a budget-friendly upgrade that will last for years. While it might be a bit more involved than some simple updates, it can still be completed in just a weekend!
Tackle your cabinets in the same way (take a full weekend or two to do so, it's fine to take a break!) using a cabinet paint set. This all-in-one kit eliminates the need for multiple trips to the hardware store and requires no stripping, priming, top coats, or sealers. No need to remove your cabinet doors – just lay down a drop cloth and get painting.
Install remote-controlled adhesive puck lights under your cabinets to add the extra lighting you've always wanted – without the expense or complicated installation. These lights can be set up in less than an hour.
Promising review: 'They’re perfect for my small kitchen. The kit includes double-sided 3M adhesive and screws for installation. The remote control is simple to use and can turn individual lights on based on where you point it. You can also turn the lights on manually by pressing the top. These pictures show two lights at 100% brightness.' – Ariana from Jacksonville, FL
Get a set of three from Wayfair for $20.97.
Give your hand-me-down metal furniture a fresh look with some metallic spray paint. In just a few hours one afternoon, you can transform it and enjoy it throughout spring, summer, and fall. Check out the difference in this reviewer's set!
Conceal an unattractive patio or deck with a rain-resistant (but not rain-trapping!) indoor/outdoor rug. This simple addition will also help turn your patio into a chic outdoor room!
Hide a utility box, trash bins, or any other items you want to conceal but still need to access frequently with a simple privacy screen.
Give any stained leather a fresh lease on life with a leather stain remover spray. Even though leather is typically stain-resistant, years of use by kids, pets, or ourselves can leave marks—this treatment is like a refund for your furniture.
Revitalize any worn or scratched leather with a leather recoloring balm, and keep enjoying your favorite chair for many more years—no need to deal with furniture that feels like it's ready for the curb.
Upgrade your hallway or the space right in front of your closet with an affordable yet luxe-looking runner. It’s much cheaper than a large area rug, but still creates a striking visual impact.
Add a charming fruit hammock to give your apples, oranges, and bananas a spotlight. Not only will it help you remember to eat them, but its adorable design will bring a smile every time you walk by!
Tidy up your space by hiding those unsightly laptop, TV, and phone charger cords with cable clip organizers. Charging cords are necessary, but that doesn’t mean they need to be on display. Your bedside table will look much cleaner and more organized!
Keep your kitchen countertops tidy with adhesive cord bundlers. These convenient clips attach to the backs of your appliances, making them easier to move and preventing the hassle of tangled cords behind your standing mixer. Plus, they're made with Command Strips, so you can easily remove them whenever you need to!
