27 under-$15 home upgrades that'll be small but still noticeable
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By Natalie Brown | Published on April 13, 2021
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🏆 Popular items from this list
Exchange your yellowing, cracked, or otherwise blah switch- and outlet-plates for new architectural covers to give every room a dramatically better lo...
Slip new super soft velvet covers over the throw pillows you're not so excited about anymore (maybe they're stained, maybe you're just going for a dif...
Magically conjure new storage and display space wherever you need it most with a basket shelf or two.
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1. Slip new super soft velvet covers over the throw pillows you're not so excited about anymore (maybe they're stained, maybe you're just going for a different look) to make your living room or bed look completely different.
To make the pillows look extra fluffy, buy covers that are one size smaller than your inserts! (Or if you need inserts because you don't currently have any throw pillows to reuse, you can get a pack of two for $13.99.)
Promising review: "Definitely have bought a fair amount of these with my constantly changing decor. Don’t think I’ve ever had a broken zipper, which is nicely matching and hidden. They clean nicely with soapy water. Rich, deep colors that transform in different lighting. Cream and white are a bit see through. Extremely soft and nice to lay on. Cream is utterly delicious to look at with an expensive looking sheen that is matched only by its luxurious feel. Great value." —Aliza
Get a pack of two on Amazon for $12.99+ (available in seven sizes and 33 colors).
Of course, depending on your decor preferences, Amazon has dozens of under-$15 throw pillow sets available (frayed cotton, fuzzy plush, geometric patterns...) — I bet you can find something you'd love!
2. Swap out your cabinet and drawer pull handles if you don't love the ones you have right now. Find ones that are the same length (and use the same holes) as the ones you have already so you can simply change 'em out, no drilling required.
If you're a renter you can definitely change them back before you move.
Promising review: "We ordered these pulls to replace some other three-inch center hardware we had in our kitchen (it's a hard size to find!). I was impressed by the quality for the price and was surprised to find they included screws in three different lengths. Install was quick and easy." —alicia
Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $31.99+ (that's $3.19 each; available in seven colors and three sizes).
3. Slap on a coat of simple primer to brighten up a dingy brick or cinderblock garage over the course of a regular old Sunday afternoon.
Read the full how-to on Hawthorne and Main.
Get a quart of white primer on Amazon for $12.77.
4. Finally repair that little hole your doorknob handle put in your wall (plus any other bits of drywall damage here and there) with a tube of patch and primer. It features a piece of sanding pad on the top of the cap and a putty knife on the other end, meaning you need exactly zero other tools to get the job done.
You simply squeeze a little of the patch/primer mix out of the tube, level it off with the scraper end, let dry, then sand with the cap!
Promising review: "This was amazing! I’m in the process of moving out of my apartment in and I needed to fill a few holes I made with wall anchors. I have zero handy experience but this product was so easy to use. I agree with other reviewers that you definitely should pick up real sandpaper if you want your walls to be flawless but I really only gave it 70% effort and the results were pretty good (my apartment is super old). If you bother to paint over (I didn’t) it’s definitely good as new. A renters dream." —Tina Liu
Get it on Amazon for $5.98.
5. And touch-up the paint once the patch is dry with an air-tight paint pen — then go around covering up all those little scuffs, scratches, and stains that you've never been able to clean off, so they won't be an eyesore anymore.
They work like little syringes to neatly suck up the paint from the can. Because they're completely air tight, the paint lasts for years without drying out! They *are* refillable, despite what some reviewers claim; here's how.
Promising review: "Love this — absolutely perfect for touchin' up little spots that need touchin' up. I have several sets filled with different paints and so far they've stayed usable, without the paint drying out. I rinse the brush really well after each use (latex paints) and recap it. It would be nice if the manufacturer put an area on the pen where you could easily label the paint info, but I use a permanent marker, and it works okay." —Hooked on Amazon!
Get a pack of two on Amazon for $9.99.
6. Update your circa-1990s appliances for less than the cost of dinner for two: simply cover them in stainless-steel-effect contact paper.
Several reviewers said it really helps to use a wallpaper smoothing tool — you can get one for $4.99!
Promising review: "It bothered me that my dishwasher was black and didn't match my stainless steel stove and fridge, so I decided to give this a try. I'm glad I did! It legit looks like my dishwasher is stainless steel now. It's not big enough to cover the whole thing at once so there is a seem, but I put the seem on the lower half of the dishwasher and it's not very noticeable at all. If I didn't know to look for it, I probably wouldn't see it. Just make sure you wash whatever you're applying it to so that it sticks well, and go slowly when applying so you don't get bubbles." —Sharon
Get an 15"x78" roll on Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).
7. Stick on a pretty dishwasher magnet to never wonder whether the dishes are dirty but well-rinsed or clean but someone's just been too lazy to unload more than the one plate they used for their lunch.
You can customize it to be made of either wood or acrylic, and choose from six different colors for the font. Lauren Lash Designs is a Houston, Texas based small business that specializes in handmade gifts and accessories.
Promising review: "Very cute! The magnet sticks perfectly to the dishwasher and now we always know what's inside!!" —Steph Mateja
Get it from Lauren Lash Designs on Etsy for $6–8 (available in two materials and up to 12 colors).
8. Corral some of the fridge clutter that you're tired of dealing with by sorting certain products into individual stackable bins..
Promising review: "Works perfectly in my fridge. Looks so much better than my old bins and can fit items nicely. Love that they are clear as it makes it easy for my toddler to see what he wants without having to take the whole bin out of the fridge. You could easily use these for various things throughout your home to organize and make your life easier. I bought several in various sizes." —runner34
Get packs of two bins on Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four sizes, so you can mix and match).
9. And attach pretty decals to your most-used bins so you can feel like a Professional Organizer every time you open your fridge, and so everyone knows where to find everything and where to put things away.
Fairy Dust Decals is a Groveland, Massachusetts-based small business specializing in all sorts of decals, from useful and decorative ones you can use around your home to smart social media decals you could use for your own business.
Promising review: "Absolutely love them. These are so stinking cute and super easy to put on." —Sarah Sanchez
Get the pack of eight words from FairyDustDecals on Etsy for $14.50+ (available in five sizes and many colors. Each pack includes labels for fruits, vegetables, eggs, butter, yogurt, sauces, condiments, and cheese. If you have specific words you want, you can probably message the seller for something custom, too!)
10. Erase old water stains from your antique furniture so it looks nearly brand-new again with the help of a miracle wood finish restorer.
While restoring a finish isn't quite the same as completely refinishing a piece, it take much less time and can still make furniture (and floors, front doors, and kitchen cabinets) look magically new again.
Promising review: "Very easy to get results. I applied to eight dining room chairs which had scrapes, scuffs and white paint marks. An amazing transformation so quickly. I finished eight chairs in 90 minutes without rushing. I bought two pints but only one was necessary. I used a cotton cloth for most of the application but also used 0000 steel wool for the scrapes and paint removal." —Grumpy Neanderthal
Get it on Amazon for $8.79 (nine wood finish colors available); many reviewers follow up with the same brand's wood polish and conditioner, which you can get for $8.48 on Amazon.
11. Or if your damage is more minimal, nip it in the bud with some furniture repair markers and wax sticks. The damage could practically vanish after a few quick swipes of the right color!
They're designed for smaller scratches on wood furniture, wood laminate furniture (yes, that means stuff from Ikea!) and wood or wood-like floors. The kit includes both markers and wax sticks in six colors: maple, oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany and black. And yes, the sharpener for the wax sticks is included, too.
Promising review: "Better than expected. Blends perfectly and leaves a beautiful sheen. Used them on different shades of wood cherry, oak, and mahogany. I blended several shades of markers on each piece. Blended easily and matched perfectly to the different shades of woods. Used on claw foot dining table, chippendale chair legs, Grandfather clock, china cabinet. All look sensational. Covered sweeper scuffs well. They look new now, not touched up. These stain quickly so wear disposable gloves and cover floors where you are working. Excellent results." —PhoebeS
Get them on Amazon for $9.99.
12. Dress up a blank wall in your kitchen (and tbh any room) with a wood-framed tea towel (or print!) you can switch out with the seasons — or just your mood.
From the geniuses at Apartment Therapy.
Get a similar wood wall hanger from Amazon for $14.59+ (available in two colors and four sizes).
13. And frame some print-at-home art for a quick mini gallery wall in your bathroom, above your WFH desk, or anywhere that could use a little something beautiful.
Nonily Studio is a Black-owned small business based in California. And yes, print-at-home means you buy the digital download, but that also means you can make this happen, like, in less than five minutes if you happen to have a printer hooked up.
My coworker Genevieve, an editor here at BuzzFeed, owns this and loves it — she says: "Apartment living inspires you to get creative with home decor, and I've fallen seriously in love with wall art. Nonily Studio has gorgeous prints that'll turn your small living space into a chill oasis. I adore both prints I bought above (swimsuits on a clothesline and a sunny canyon) and they make me feel more relaxed while I WFH."
Get them from Nonily Studio on Etsy: the sunset print on the left for $4.99, the clothesline print on the right for $4.99, or shop all of their prints here.
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14. Exchange your yellowing, cracked, or otherwise blah switch- and outlet-plates for new architectural covers to give every room a dramatically better look with almost zero effort required.
This is a change that takes only a few minutes: unscrew the old, and screw on the new! (Unless you decide paint them to match your trim or your wall color, but even then it's a quick project: paint in the evening, let 'em dry overnight, then install.)
Promising review: "I purchased these light switch covers as a quick and easy way to update the appearance of my house. I’m glad I did! They are beautiful and look a lot nicer than the plain covers sold in large box stores or the covers used in new construction. They could work for many different design styles as well. They have a matte/semi-matte appearance and thus scuff easier than other outlet covers; however Mr. Clean Magic Erasers remove the marks if they are bothersome." —Angela Marie
Get these from Amazon for $5.49+ (available in five shapes and four sizes; also available for other switch panels and for plugs; see their full selection on Amazon).
15. Hang a small mirror with hooks right by the door you use most often for a convenient spot to A) tell yourself how awesome you are right before you leave for the day and B) keep your keys, sunglasses, and mask where you won't forget them even if you're in a rush.
And it's one of Command's products, which means you hang it with their removable strips — aka you can hang it even if you're a renter!
Promising review: "Great product, highly recommend. Hanging mirrors or multiple hooks in a rented apartment can be difficult but this product is a saving grace. It’s super lightweight and looks super cute next to the other Command floating shelves ($11.97). Yes, it’s a little bit warped from far away, but it does the job up close for a small mirror by the door to check yourself before heading out." —BostonHaus
Get it from Amazon for $14.49.
16. Banish all the stubborn carpet and upholstery stains you've left for too long with a spray cleaner basically guaranteed to make your jaw drop the moment you see the "after."
Promising review: "So my dog got into my makeup bag and got ahold of some liquid lipstick and needless to say I flipped out to see my carpets neon orange. Holy moly! WOW did this stuff work! My mother recommended it to me after using it on minor stains at her house and so glad I got it. Definitely worth the money and it really does disappear right before your eyes like the bottle says!" —jen
Get it on Amazon for $12.38.
17. Replace the blah-looking house number next to your front door with a modern option for a quick curb-appeal boost.
Go Home Numbers is a Florida-based small business that offers multiple font options and heights for home numbers, so if you want something in cursive, spelled out, or in green or bright orange, they can make it for you!
Promising review: "I am so happy with my purchase from this shop. The numbers seem pretty durable. Love that the hardware was included, because it was probably the simplest home improvement project we’ve ever done." —Katie Oshima
Get any one of the pictured six-inch "modern" numbers from Go Home Numbers on Etsy for $7.50+ each.
18. Give your garage doors a dose of instant character and detail with a set of carriage-style magnets that take only seconds to attach and arrange so they look just right.
Promising review: "If you're looking for instant curb appeal with little effort, you need to get these. These haven't moved in large rain storms or excessive wind and hopefully won't rust out like the more expensive drilled sets like my neighbors have since there are no exposed screws or hardware." —SG
(They won't rust out at all because they're made of a super durable UV- and weather-resistant plastic.)
Get them on Amazon for $11.68.
19. Tame your overflowing linen cabinet with some stretchy, labeled sheet keeper bands so you stop dreading the clean linens avalanche every time you go to open to door. Plus, even if all your household's sheets are white, you'll always instantly find the size you need.
SheetKeeper is a woman-owned small business based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Promising review: "Great product. Came quickly and they work great! Such a great idea to keep sheets organized and together while being able to tell what size bedding it is. Will order again for sure!" —devonhansen1
Get a set of two from SheetKeeper on Etsy for $13.99 (available in sizes twin, queen, king, and California king).
20. Breathe new life into a scratched laminate-wood table (or whatever furniture you feel like transforming!) in two steps: covering some of it with marble contact paper, and painting the rest to coordinate.
Promising review: "I used this marble contact paper as part of a makeover on two Ikea dressers. I was hopeful yet skeptical, so I was thrilled at the quality and the results! It looks amazingly real! Everyone who sees it has thought that it was real - I only know this because I proudly announce, "DUDEEEEEEE THIS IS CONTACT PAPER!" to anyone that sees them, whether they care to know or not. For the price, it's a seriously awesome product for small projects." —Blair T.
Get a roll on Amazon for $10.99.
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21. Magically conjure new storage and display space wherever you need it most with a basket shelf or two.
Promising review: "For the price and the look I think it's a good buy. It's easy to install — has simple set up to screw into the wall and know that its secure. Looks great, blends with almost everything. This could be used literally anywhere, bathroom, kitchen, laundry, bedroom above your night stand, as organization throughout the house, endless possibilities. These look great and can hold enough without having to tear up your wall w a shelf or extra mounting hardware. As it stands, it's a good price and made of great quality." —Lauren A
Get one on Amazon for $14.44.
22. Install a LED toilet night-light because it's equal parts practical (you won't hurt your eyes turning on the lights in the middle of the night) and just downright fun (it can be 16 different colors, either in rotation or just one color at a time).
Promising review: "I love this and so do my sons. I had to buy another one for a gift because they loved mine so much. It works perfectly. The sensor is very sensitive. It turns on when you walk past the bathroom. The light is bright enough that you don't have to turn on the light every time you go in the bathroom. I catch myself reaching for the light switch out of habit and smile because I don't have to flip the switch and waste electric." —Rose Lamb
Get it from Amazon for $12.99.
23. Unify the look of the six different brightly labeled bottles on your shower shelf (which may be disrupting the chill vibes in your bathroom) by decanting them into this set of stainless-steel and glass soap dispensers.
Promising review: "I purchased these to use as shampoo, conditioner, and body wash dispensers. I wanted our shower to look like a spa! They are great quality and many people I know have copied our idea, so they are a hit! Very high quality, the plunger part is always the most important part. These are metal and not plastic, something which seems to be hard to find when looking for dispensers." —Rebecca Morea
Get set of two from Amazon for $13.99.
24. Apply some rainbow or frosted film to the windows where you need just a little bit more privacy, but don't want to block out 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 $8.98 for about 10 square feet, and the frosted film's $9.99 for about 10 square feet.
25. Extract years worth of built-up, embedded pet hair from your carpet and rugs (the kind that even your pet vacuum somehow doesn't touch) and easily sweep up the scattered bits from your hardwood or tile floors, all with the help of a squeegee broom. Since your carpet just might be the cleanest it's been since it was installed, it's *almost* like getting brand new carpet!
It features rubber bristles along one edge, and if you flip it, a wide rubber squeegee on the other — some reviewers find the squeegee side is more effective on carpet than the bristles, so could be worth a try! Oh, and the handle telescopes 36–60 inches, so you can store it easily but also like, use it to squeegee off high windows if necessary.
Promising review: "1000% worth it! Ya'll. I read about this on BuzzFeed and had it on my wish list for a few weeks. When our nine month old–black lab came back from the trainer, I knew it was time to get something to help the mountains of hair. I got this in today and tried it out. I didn't think it would get much, I swept last night. Oh my lawrd. The hair it picked up was ridiculous! If you have pets and hardwood floors, you need this. Life changing! So glad I bought this!" —Katherine Burch
Get it from Amazon for $12.44.
26. Choose any 17-inch section of wall — like the one behind your laundry room door — and hang a mop and broom organizer to create an impeccable cleaning closet in mere moments.
It features five snap-in slots for mops and brooms (that can hold up to seven and a half pounds of weight each), plus six hooks perfect for leashes, dusters, your purse, or whatever else you need to hang.
Promising review: "This product is fantastic! It was easy to mount and hanging things is a breeze. My house is very old with no extra closet or pantry space. I needed to clean up the dreaded corner of shovels and a mop. Luckily this product was able to do that — and it comes with hooks. Since it's hung by my back door in the kitchen I can hang my aprons and purse on it. This little piece is very sturdy and so are those little hooks. My double-zippered purse is full of weight and it holds like a charm. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's just looking for a sensible option." —Shellybeenz
Get it on Amazon for $13.99.
27. Makeover basically any drawer in your house, including that ever-challenging "junk" drawer, with the help of a set of clear stackable organizers.
You get two small, medium, and large bins each.
Promising review: "Great product! I bought these to put in my night stand drawer to store small things as the drawer is very deep. I've got Chapstick, hand lotions, small flashlight and other bedside items in them so they're not just rolling around the drawer. I just bought some more for my bathroom vanity. They fit together nicely but also lift right out of each other. The plastic is sturdy and they came individually wrapped to keep them from scratching." —Sparkyj
Get the set of six on Amazon for $14.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Looking for more stuff to help make your house a home? Check out the best places to buy inexpensive furniture online, the best places to buy couches online, cute home decor you’ll wish you knew about sooner, or check out all of our home content for even more great ideas.