Culture

45 cheap, clever things that'll make your home way more impressive

by Christina Wood

A neighbor stepped into my kitchen recently and said, “This is why I’ve been hankering for color in my house!” (I’ll admit that I went full force with some red.) I did not point out that my lovely kitchen is a masterpiece of thrift more than of color — but cost-effectiveness is the element of its design that I’m most proud of. I have a high-end kitchen for what this neighbor paid for a single appliance. And it’s not just my kitchen. My whole house is a study in making impressive home upgrades using very little money. Some of it I repurposed or found thrifting, but much of it I got on Amazon and installed myself. And I’m now sharing that part of my secret: Here are 45 cheap, clever things that'll make your home way more impressive.

The colorful elements in my kitchen include some stick-on subway tile that was so easy to put up, and so inexpensive that I don’t tell people the details anymore. They just end up mad that they spent so much installing tile. But the thing that impresses people the most was even cheaper and easier than that. When I leave the house, I say, “Alexa, I’m going out,” and my artificially-intelligent assistant turns off all the lights, the coffee machine, the music, and any fans that are running. When I get home, I say, “It’s dark in here!” and she turns all the lights on, just the way I like it. All I needed for this bit of magic was an inexpensive Echo Dot and a few smart plugs.

Read on. I’m sure you’ll find a few clever ways to make your house more impressive. You only need to keep them a secret if you want.

We only recommend products we love and that we think you will, too. We may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was written by our Commerce team.

1. AN ENTRYWAY ORGANIZER SO YOU NEVER LOSE YOUR KEYS OR MAIL

Creating habits around where you put things is the easiest way to avoid clutter and the irritating search for lost essentials. This entryway organizer is designed with a roomy basket and five hooks with attractive wooden knobs so you have a place to hang your keys, set down the mail, and stash your wallet and hat. You will always know where your essentials are and they will be handy when you’re rushing out of the house.

2. THESE LIGHTS THAT TRANSFORM YOUR TV INTO A MOVIE THEATER EXPERIENCE

Peel and stick these TV backlights to the back of your set and turn it into a lamp when it’s off, and a home theater when it’s turned on. A built-in microphone picks up your music and movies and can play lights to match the rhythm. Or choose a color to illuminate behind the TV for perfect theater lighting. You can connect the lights to your smart home for easy voice control or use the Govee app to control them.

3. A COLD-BREW COFFEE BREWER

There is no need to stand in line and fork out too much folding money for a cold-brew coffee. Making it at home is cheaper and much more convenient with this cold-brew coffee maker. Just fill the ultra-fine mesh inner sleeve with grounds and add water to the carafe. Refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, you can pour and sip a delicious brew without getting dressed first.

4. THIS LIGHT-BLOCKING CURTAIN SO YOU CAN CONTROL THE SUNLIGHT

This faux linen, light-blocking curtain is an easy and simple way to control the light in your indoor space. Pull these insulated curtains closed to darken the room so you can nap or watch TV, and close them at night to insulate the windows so you don’t lose heat or air conditioning through the glass. A high-density blackout layer of fabric is sandwiched between the decorative linen front and the lining, and there are 10 colors to choose from.

5. THESE MAGNETIC LIGHTS THAT STICK TO THE GRILL

You don’t have to spend a fortune running power to the deck to stop grilling in the dark. Just stick this pair of magnetic grill lights to the grill — or any metal surface — and bend the gooseneck to point the light where you want it. They come with a waterproof case to store them in and the nine high-density lights throw a ton of light.

6. THESE CABINET PULLS FOR A DRAMATIC KITCHEN UPGRADE

Ready to up-level your kitchen? You need not undertake a full-blown cabinet replacement, because changing the cabinet hardware can have a dramatic effect on the aesthetics of a kitchen — and it’s so easy to do. This 30-pack of elegant, minimalist cabinet pulls is available in black, nickel, or brass, creating a modern look while being super functional. It takes only minutes to unscrew your old ones and screw these in.

7. A QUICK PAINT & PRIMER THAT CHANGES THE LOOK OF ANYTHING

Whether you found a great piece at a thrift store, are DIYing your own solution, or are trying to create a pristinely cohesive look with a single color, this Krylon matte black spray paint is an easy solution. Spray from any angle to get complete coverage that dries quickly and doesn’t require that you prime it first. The matte black is not only on-trend, it creates drama and crisp architectural lines while being easy to clean.

8. THIS PALM TREE THAT LOOKS SURPRISINGLY REAL

For quick greenery that will pass most casual inspections, this 12-inch tall artificial palm tree is perfect. There’s no need to water it, worry that it won’t get enough light, or know the first thing about growing a palm because it shows up in a white ceramic pot ready to make your space — even if it’s too dark to support life — homey, tropical, and welcoming.

9. THE QUICK WAY TO MAKE YOUR GARAGE DOOR LOOK FANCY

This set of magnetic door hardware for your garage door is like stick-on tromp-l’oeil. It looks like you have carriage-door style handles and hinges even though your garage is plain and you use a remote to open and close it. Super-strong neodymium magnets hold these four hinges and two handles to your metal door but they are easy to remove and leave no marks on the door. Presto, change-o.

10. THIS JUMBO BOX OF VELVET COAT HANGERS

Bring next-level order and tidiness to your closet by standardizing your hangers with this 50-pack of slender, velvet-flocked ones. The hook spins 360 degrees so you can’t hang your clothes in the wrong direction. The thin size — they are half the width of plastic hangers — means clothes take up less space, so you can fit more items. The notches and grippy texture keep clothes from sliding off.

11. A DOORBELL TO GO WITH YOUR ARLO SECURITY SYSTEM

If you have an Arlo security system in your home, this Arlo audio doorbell is a must-have accessory. Stick it anywhere at your front door, connect it to your Arlo base station, and you have a doorbell that rings your house and your phone so you can talk to visitors through your phone even if you aren’t home. They can even leave a message that you can listen to at your leisure if you’re feeling screen-y.

12. THE GENIUS SOLUTION FOR A MESS OF POWER STRIPS & WIRES

No one wants to look at a power strip and its inevitable snarl of wires and power bricks except the pets who want to chew it, and the children who might play with it. Tuck it all safely out of sight in this clean-looking white organizer box with a decorative wooden lid. There are slots to run the cords to their destinations and the tight-fitting lid becomes a useful surface.

13. A HUMIDIFIER & ESSENTIAL OIL INFUSER WITH SO MANY OPTIONS

Whether you want a small amount of mist for a few hours or lots of humidity all night long, this diffuser is there for you. Set it to run for one, three, or six hours at low or high. Or just pick the mist level and let it run until the 550ml tank runs dry and it conveniently shuts itself off. Add your own essential oils to invite a mood change. It comes in four colors.

14. THIS BAMBOO BATHMAT FOR A CLEAN & MINIMALIST VIBE

Create a modern and minimalist vibe in your bathroom by using this bamboo bath mat instead of a rug. It’s easy to wipe clean, has grippy pads on the bottom so it stays put, and keeps your wet feet away from the slippery floor. It rolls up for storage and the lattice design allows airflow so that it dries quickly.

15. THE FLUFFY HAND TOWELS THAT LOOK SUPER LUXE

Choose a color — there are 15 to pick from — and adorn your bathroom with these fluffy, absorbent, cotton hand towels. They are large enough to be versatile and useful, pretty enough to set out on the counter or display on a shelf, and there are six of them so the look of your room will always be consistent.

16. AN AMAZING HIGH-PRESSURE SHOWER THAT FEELS LIKE RAIN

If your shower currently disappoints, this rain-style showerhead will fix that. It improves water pressure, is easy to keep clean of hard-water deposits so pressure doesn’t diminish with time, and it douses you in a wide, powerful, rain-like shower that makes getting clean an absolute pleasure.

17. THIS TOUCHLESS SOAP DISPENSER FOR EASIER WASHING

Get rid of the tiny dish soap bottles, bars of soap, and everything else that clutters up your sink area and replace it all with this elegant touchless soap dispenser. Instead of lifting a bottle or bar (so old-school) just wave your hand or dish sponge in front of the IR sensor and it releases the amount of soap you prefer — there are three settings — onto it. A transparent soap tank lets you know when it’s time to refill.

18. A PAIR OF DECORATIVE PILLOW COVERS FOR A QUICK COUCH MAKEOVER

You can completely change the look of your couch or bed by recovering your throw pillows with these soft, pillow covers that come in 16 colors and eight sizes. The hidden zipper matches the color of the fabric and you can use them to standardize mismatched throw pillows, create a fun color palette on the couch, or refresh worn or stained pillows.

19. THIS FOLDING LEATHER TRAY FOR YOUR KEYS, PHONE, OR DICE

This handsome leather tray snaps at the corners to create a rustic catch-all for your keys, wallet, glasses, and coins when you unload your pockets. It comes in several colors, including a blue velvet0lined brown leather that would make a great place for dice to land or to store jewelry or small office supplies.

20. A CHARGER FOR ALL YOUR ELECTRONICS

This handy charging station has a place for all your electronics, from calculators to game controllers to smartphones and tablets. And it comes with five short cables for plugging them all in. The divider slots adjust for the size of your device and the unit detects the power needs of each one and delivers exactly what they need.

21. THIS CADDY THAT KEEPS ALL YOUR ESSENTIALS BEDSIDE

This clever bedside caddy has a deep pocket to hold your book, laptop, and tablet as well as several smaller pockets to organize remotes, your phone, pens, and other sundries. Charging cable ports let you juice things up while they’re stored and a water bottle pocket helps you stay hydrated. It easily and instantly attaches to the bed frame or couch.

22. A CHARCUTERIE BOARD THAT HAS THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING

Turn your meat, cheese, nuts, and other delicious snacks into a catering-level spread with this big bamboo charcuterie board. There are two concave wells that are perfect for small items like nuts and berries that tend to roll away, recessed handles that make a full board easy to carry, and a hidden drawer underneath that houses all the cheese knives and spreaders you need.

23. THIS CLEVER TRICK FOR FILLING THE GAP NEXT TO YOUR STOVE

You will never again be faced with moving the stove in order to clean up a disastrous mess that managed to get through that gap between your counter and the stovetop if you install these silicone stove gap covers. They are easy to deploy: Cut them to size and press them into place. And nothing will get past them. They are also easy to clean.

24. A SIMPLE STANDING RACK FOR ALL THE COATS AND HATS

Need a place to hang your hat — or coat and bag — when you walk in the door? This simple, metal coat rack assembles easily, looks modern and minimal in an office or entry, and has almost 6,000 perfect five-star reviews. It comes in four colors so you can use it as a design element that blends with or contrasts your interior colors.

25. THE FLAMELESS CANDLES YOU CONTROL WITH A REMOTE

This set of nine flameless candles comes in a range of sizes, and is so realistic people will be surprised to learn that there’s an LED light and batteries behind that warm, candle flicker. They’re covered with wax so they look and feel like real candles. They also come with two remotes so you can control their settings from different places in the house, like you’re a fresh graduate of Hogwarts.

26. THESE PRETTY CERAMIC COASTERS THAT ABSORB WATER

These marble-designed, ceramic coasters are a terrific solution for glassware that sweats on the furniture and hot beverages that leave marks on finishes. The ceramic is absorbent so the condensation from glasses is quickly absorbed, and the cork bottom is quiet and gentle on the furniture. They come with a nice-looking stand to keep them convenient and organized.

27. A SLIM TOILET-PAPER DISPENSING CABINET THAT FITS ANYWHERE

This tall, slim cabinet looks perfect in a bathroom and brings much-needed storage to even the tightest corner. It’s just under six inches wide, but tall enough to hold cleaning supplies and rolls of toilet paper. A dispenser handles TP distribution and the flat top is a great place to set a plant, a phone, or wipes.

28. THESE LED LIGHT PUCKS THAT SOLVE SO MANY LIGHTING PROBLEMS

That dark corner of your kitchen makes working there impossible. The stairs are a hazard. And you can’t see inside the pantry. These LED lights can fix all of that. Just stick them where you want light and tap the lens (or use the remote) to turn them on. They throw the perfect amount of light. And you can set them to turn off after a short interval so you don’t burn through batteries.

29. THIS LAMP WITH A BUILT-IN CHARGING STATION

What two things does every desk or bedside table need? A light and a phone charger, right? And this lamp is both of those in an elegant package. The refined-looking lamp takes a standard bulb, and you simply touch the base to turn it on or off. It dims, too, by touch. There are two USB ports on the side as well.

30. A COMPLETE SET OF KITCHEN TOOLS

Give your kitchen every tool it needs — and a few extras — with this set of nine silicone spatulas, whisks, and tongs. The business end is soft, grippy, and heat resistant so as not to damage pans and dishware. And each tool comes in three sizes so you will never run out, even if you take on an ambitious project.

31. THESE COLORFUL SHELF LINERS FOR THE FRIDGE

Make gazing into the fridge on the hunt for dinner or a snack a beautiful experience by lining the shelves with these refrigerator liners. They are not only colorful but also easy to clean. So if you spill something in your quest, you can pull the liner out and wash it instead of reaching awkwardly into the fridge. Over 11,000 people give these five stars.

32. THE SHOWER CADDY THAT STICKS TO THE WALL

Bathroom storage can be a serious challenge. But before you decide you need to renovate, stick this shower caddy to the wall. It’s actually two shelves you can arrange together or seperately, however you want. They mount to an adhesive hook that can hold 15 pounds and look elegant while holding a lot of gear. Four hooks — for holding a sponge, razor, or comb — can be attached anywhere you want them.

33. THIS ELEGANT OLIVE OIL DISPENSER SET

Keep the oil and vinegar out on the table where it’s available when you need it to dress a salad or create a dipping bowl with this dispenser bottle set that comes with a cute carry rack. It also comes with a collapsable funnel to make filling the bottles easy and slick dual-spout pourers that flow beautifully.

34. THESE ART DECO-STYLE HOUSE NUMBERS WITH STREET APPEAL

Mount these big, five-inch-tall house numbers at the front door or on your mailbox so that visitors can find your address easily. The font is slender and simple and you can install them flush or use the included spacers to create a drop shadow effect. They are made from a durable zinc alloy, coated in glossy black, and come with templates that make installation super easy.

35. A STORAGE SOLUTION FOR YOUR COFFEE PODS

The eternal dilemma of where and how to store the pods for your Keurig coffee maker has been solved. Set this K-cup storage drawer on the counter and put the machine on top of it. It holds 36 pods in a drawer that pulls out so you can survey your options. It comes with a glass, metal, or wood surface and the drawer comes in three colors.

36. A WIRELESS DOORBELL THAT INSTALLS IN MINUTES

No need to call an electrician to install this wireless doorbell. You can do it in about five minutes. Peel and stick the bell to the entryway. Then plug the receiver into an outlet indoors. You can choose from 50 doorbell chimes and four volume settings. It will also blink in case the music is so loud you can’t hear the chime. It comes in nine colors.

37. THIS CLEVER WAY TO UPGRADE ANYTHING TO LOOK LIKE MARBLE

Have you priced a marble vanity or counter? Ouch. That unattainable price tag, though, is no reason to live with something not to your taste, dated, or damaged. This marble paper is affordable for any budget and looks fantastic. Simply peel and stick it — carefully — over the vanity, table, counter, or furniture you have, and it will look luxe while also being waterproof, easy to clean, and durable. Over 24,000 reviewers give it five stars.

38. THE STORAGE CONTAINERS THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE PANTRY

Create beautiful order in the pantry or inside your cupboards by getting rid of the weird assortment of containers and putting all your dry goods into these food storage containers that are airtight to keep food fresh and shaped to maximize your space. They come with chalkboard labels and a chalkboard marker to note what’s in them. This is a pack of seven in an assortment of sizes.

39. A SET OF BAMBOO CUTTING BOARDS

These two bamboo cutting boards are obviously pretty. But they are much more than that. Cut wide to accommodate whatever project you want to take on, they have a juice channel around the edge on one side so you don’t spill all over the counter. Or, for chopping vegetables or using them as a serving board, the flip side is smooth.

40. THESE WEIRD DISHCLOTHS THAT ARE BETTER THAN PAPER TOWELS

Ditch the expensive paper towels and the guilt that comes with knowing you are adding to the landfill and replace them with these Swedish dish cloths that are made from a blend of cellulose and cotton. The result is a cloth-like sponge that is super absorbent, slightly abrasive, and dries quickly. And you can wash and reuse these for years.

41. THIS STORAGE SOLUTION FOR FOOD CONTAINER LIDS

End the annoying hunt for the right lid to the food storage container in your hand by filing them into this lid organizer. It sits on a shelf or drops into a drawer and holds all the lids vertically so you can see them and find the one you want. They take up very little space. The dividers adjust to accommodate your collection. And it comes in five sizes.

42. AN ARC LIGHTER THAT NEVER RUNS OUT OF FUEL

This slender, pen-like electronic lighter will never make you scramble to purchase butane because all it needs is a little time with a USB plug to keep right on lighting your candles, fires, and BBQ. And since there’s no flame — an arc of electricity lights things — it won’t blow out in the wind. It’s available in six colors, has a safety lock, and comes with a USB cable for easy charging.

43. A KITCHEN FAUCET WITH A PULL-DOWN SPRAYER

Your faucet is central to how well your kitchen functions, and there is no reason to struggle with a stationary, featureless model. The pull-down sprayer on this versatile faucet lets you pull the spout out of the mount to fill a pot that’s next to the sink, switch from spray to stream mode with the tap of a button, or pause the spray to avoid wetting the counter. It comes in nine gorgeous finishes.

44. THE MACHINE THAT MAKES PERFECT SANDWICHES

This beautiful sandwich maker takes a humble collection of sliced bread, meats, and cheese and transforms it — in minutes— into a pressed sandwich worthy of a Parisian cafe. Just set your stacked sandwich on the nonstick surface, close the lid, and lock the handle. It presses it all together, creating four diagonal-cut pocket sandwiches, and lets you know when it’s done. There is no need for oil or butter. The ceramic and titanium surface toasts and releases your snack without a hitch.

45. A CADDY THAT KEEPS ALL THE WATER & SOAP IN THE SINK

This clever sink caddy suctions to the inside of your sink to keep sponges and dish brushes where water and soap belong. There are lots of drain holes so everything stays dry and mildew-free, and the brush holder has a pop-out bottom to accommodate longer dish brushes. It looks stylish and reviewers love it, giving it close to 17,000 five-star ratings.

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