1. A roll of faux-marble contact paper ready to breathe new life into tired tiles or scratched and stained counters for less than $20.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "So Pinteresting! I used this adhesive film to turn two cheap Ikea tables into less-cheap-looking Ikea tables because I'm not made of money, but I would like others to believe I am. Super simple to use, and a ton of it for the price. I was really pleased overall. The pattern actually looks like marble, not a weird pixel-y repetitive pattern, so that's great as well. Also, it was delivered the same day, which was miraculous as my DIY inspiration tends to fade approximately 48 hours after I discover a project I want to do." —Spencer House

Get it from Amazon for $18.55.

2. Some matte-steel or brushed brass pulls that sure beat the dinged up knobs that came on your builder-grade kitchen cabinets. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Can't beat the quality for the price! Solid weight and none arrived scratched, bent, or broken. Definitely get the template! It makes installation a breeze! With the template, I had 24 handles installed in less than 45 minutes! Immediately upgraded my cabinets. Very happy with this purchase!" —alexa

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in quantities 1–60 and black, gold, or silver).

3. And/or some cabinet paint if you're looking for a BIG change despite your small budget. One reviewer says the kit saved them $12,000 and they were able to complete the project on their own!!!  

www.amazon.com

The full kit — from small biz Giani Inc. — comes with two cans of cabinet paint, a roller arm, two roller covers, and an angled paint brush; it requires no stripping, priming, or top coat or sealer, and there's no need to remove your cabinet doors. 

Promising review: "Amazing! Amazing! Amazing. Did take more than one coat, though. My cabinets were bare wood, and I still needed a couple of coats. My kitchen is medium-sized, not too big, and it only took one can. This took my kitchen from looking like a cheap rental apartment kitchen to a high-quality kitchen with just this paint and new knobs. The paint is perfect for cabinets — it's not too thick, so you still see the wood grains. It comes with EVERYTHING you need. I didn't have to buy a thing. The project is super easy, the paint dries fast, and I did it at first by removing the cabinets, but it wasn't necessary at all. I would recommend EVERYONE to purchase this and give your cabinets a chance before making a big investment in new cabinets. Wood is wood, and it can be refinished." —Brandon Moronta

Get it from Amazon for $36.95+ (available in 11 colors and two styles).

4. An affordable pack of peel-and-stick subway tiles to cover up nasty old grout or backsplashes that've seen much better days. No tools or expertise are necessary, but a tool belt could be a fun touch. 🛠

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I have been blown away with how great they look and every person who has seen them after I put them up doesn’t know they are not real tile. They are shiny like tile and have the texture of tile as well. They are easy to clean and relatively easy to install. It took me two afternoons and only because I hadn’t ordered enough and needed one more package." —Kyle & Noelle

Get 10 sheets from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three styles).

5. A discreet cord cover that'll hide the cables that trail down from your mounted TV. Since you rent, you sadly can't punch a hole in the wall to hide them HGTV style, but this works, too.

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This is the perfect solution for hiding a cord! It looks like it is just a part of the baseboard. Mine is covering a cable wire only, but I think they are big enough to hide more than one cord if needed. I didn’t cut mine, and I bought two. You can tell where the two meet if you look closely. However, I do not think anyone would notice. I can’t believe I let our cable cord sit across the floor for this long. I wish I would have found these sooner!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes and five colors).

6. A wireless library light you can position over your impressive book collection or favorite family portrait. This thing costs less than 30 bucks, but it'll transform your den into a museum-worthy exhibit.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

The portrait lights are battery-operated and wireless so you don't have to worry about hiring an electrician or doing any installation your self. Each unit runs off of three AAAs (get a 36-pack here before you forget!) and an included remote lets you set the light to different brightnesses and schedule a timer for15, 30, 60, or 120 minutes.

PS: If you're going for an antique look but don't have the budget to buy vintage, I saw a TikToker DIY these with some gold Rub 'n Buff metallic finish and an old makeup brush and it looked truly incredible!

Promising review: "For the price you can’t beat it. Super easy to install and lightweight. The gold had a slight orange tint to it, so be mindful of that. I actually just taped over the light and spray painted ours with gold spray paint I had left over and then they were absolutely perfect." —Paris Seder

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in three finishes).

7. Some peel-and-stick penny tiles that don't call for grout, tools, or anything special — just a pair of scissors to cut them to size, and you're in business! 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Wow. I’m so impressed with this floor, especially considering what it cost! It’s absolutely perfect in my 1920s era home! With the exception of a couple of places, it matched up well. Easy to install, and the adhesive is working great! I recommend this for a quick and inexpensive update for a floor." —Rebecca Sayer

Get a pack of 10 tiles from Amazon for $12.33.

8. Or a set of *reusable* stencils so you can create your very own design. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Great stencil that comes out amazing when done!!! My only recommendation would be to wash your stencil frequently as you use it, or the paint builds up and causes the paint to bleed under the stencil a bit. Overall easy to use and looks beautiful!!" —KSerrano

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in two designs).

9. A set of floating shelves if you have open wall space and could use extra storage or just a place to show off your trendy Graza olive oil and salt cellar with flaky Maldon salt. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I’m obsessed with how well this turned out. The shelves were easy to install and are very sturdy and well made." —C Davis

Get a set of three from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in packs of two or three and in six finishes).

10. A tube of peel-and-stick contact paper that — when applied with a lil' finesse — can totally pass as stainless steel. White refrigerator? We don't know her. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This stainless-steel wrap worked out great! Our fridge now matches the rest of our appliances. I like how it's thicker than normal contact paper. It made it much easier to install." —rach

Get a 15.8-inch x 78.8-inch roll from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes).

11. A plug-in wall sconce so you don't have to use your cellphone flashlight to find the remote that's lost in your duvet for the fifth time tonight. Plus, it doesn't require any electrical work! Just plug it in and you're good to go.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "These lights are great. Easy to assemble. Love that they can be plugged in or hardwired. They’re dimmable, which is the best part. Also love that you can turn it on with the knob on the light or by the switch on the cord. Comes with light bulbs, which are a warm, nice light. Highly recommend!!" —Alesa R Wilson

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in a set of one or two and three finishes).

12. A peel-and-stick wallpaper that can completely transform your drab hall or guest room in a matter of hours. Bonus: It's beginner-friendly if you're a total wallpaper newb. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

And pick up a $6 wallpaper tool kit — with smoothing tools and a utility knife  — to make the process even easier. 

Promising review: "My foyer needed some color and personality. This did the trick! I’ve gotten so many compliments on it. This wallpaper was reasonably priced and easy to apply by myself. I have been hesitant to use wallpaper in the past because I’m so afraid I’ll like it for a few months and then get tired of it. This is a great solution. It’s an easy DIY so no hiring a professional to install it, and the product itself is fairly inexpensive, as wallpaper goes. Plus, it’s easy to reposition, and it doesn’t damage the wall, so you can easily remove it. The seams lined up pretty well, and it was easy to smooth out any bubbles. I’d definitely buy this brand again." —Jennifer Bacon

Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in two colors). 

13. A set of new outlet covers, because if you live in a rental like me, chances are your existing ones are covered in 46 coats of chipping paint.

Amazon

Promising review: "Changed out all my wall plates...makes a difference when scanning a room. Everything looks in order! These are thin plates that 'hug' the wall. My house is 20 years old, so the wall plates were what they were using back then in terms of materials and aesthetics. These are much improved!" —fractalsrule

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $8.29+ (available in three sizes and six colors).

14. A set of removable tile decals you can slap on over tired stairs. They look like legit tiles sourced from Portugal or Morocco, but they take less than 10 minutes to apply.

Quadrostyle / Etsy

Quadrostyle is a woman-founded small brand 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: "What a great upgrade to my very old, tired stairs — the product shipped quickly, was very forgiving as I worked with it, and it only took a couple of hours to complete the project. I couldn't be happier with how it turned out!" —Valerie

Get it from Quadrostyle on Etsy for $15.90+ (available in six heights and two finishes).

15. A ready-made gallery wall set with eight frames and matching prints because if you're anything like me, you LOVE the look but get super anxious thinking about curating one on your own.

www.amazon.com

The set comes with two frames and art in 12"x16", 8"x12", 8"x10", and 6"x8" sizes.

Promising review: "These photos are so nice and great quality for the price. My family room needed a little changing, and these photos were awesome! I also love that the seller provides a sheet of different ways to hang the photos." —Critic

Get it from Amazon for $47.99+ (available in five different styles).

16. A roll of rattan cane webbing so you can upcycle any pieces that just don't speak to you anymore. This + a little paint + new knobs and you've got something that looks like it came from Anthropologie!

www.amazon.com

Pro tip💡: Reviewers say it's easiest to work with when wet!

Promising review: "Looks really good! [I] used this to spice up my bathroom cabinets. Although the material is pretty firm, cutting it to shape was pretty easy with scissors and it doesn't come apart. I used staples to attach it to the cabinet, and it looks good." —Gabriela Perales

Get a roll from Amazon for $28.34+ (available in five sizes).

17. A set of thick velvet slipcovers ready to give your living room a massive makeover for just $50 — no new couch necessary. Whether you're sick of the color of your current sofa or need to hide some serious stains, these are fit for the job.

www.amazon.com

This set also comes with nonslip straps that'll prevent your cushions from shifting out of place. 

Promising review: "I have never been so excited about a slipcover. Total transformation of our couch and loveseat. I was worried about it not working on our leather couch, but it stays on really well due to the straps and the separate cushion covers. Love!" —Brian/Liz

Get it from Amazon for $35.49+ (available in five sizes and 13 colors).

18. An easy-to-install studless TV wall mount that can hold up to 100 pounds!!! This renter-friendly solution utilizes nails rather than screws, so your wall isn't left with a bunch of holes, either. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "This is one of the best products I’ve purchased on Amazon, period. I was not able to use a full motion mount like I wanted to because the interior drywall in my condo didn’t have wood studs, only thin metal beams. I ended up returning that mount (which was considerably more expensive), and I’m so glad that all happened because this worked out well beyond my expectations and looks so great and flush!! It’s high quality; the instructions are beyond clear (and funny — a theme with this brand), and it’s super sturdy and strong, way more than the more expensive mount I had purchased before! I’m a user experience designer, and everything about this product is designed incredibly well; even the packaging and the attached leveling system that doubles as a locking mechanism is genius! The 32 nails are holding up my 46-lb. 65” LG TV more than enough. If you’re looking for a drywall mount, look no further; you won’t regret it!" —Alfredo Diaz Suarez

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

19. A tube of silicone grout whitener if you're dealing with mold and mildew that will. not. go. away. no matter how much you clean it. This will make your tub look brand spankin' new!

www.amazon.com

The gel formula is safe to use on/around windows, sinks and baths, shower heads, pools, tiles, silicone sealant, and more. Leave it on the area you're looking to clean for six to eight hours (no scrubbing required). Some reviewers with really bad mold/mildew note that leaving it on for longer and/or doing a second round of cleaning made a huge difference!

Promising review: "This stuff is amazing. Since we bought this place, we figured we had to fix the caulking because we tried every cleaner we knew to get rid of this gross shower mold. Before we decided to fix it...we gave this a shot. Now the shower is like new; we probably didn't even need to wait the 5 hours, but glad we did. Saved so much time, labor, and money. 🙌" —Nacho Average Review

Check out our Skylarlife mold and mildew removal gel review for more deets!

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

20. A lightweight, easy-to-install ceiling medallion that will make you feel like you live in a French chateau and not a postage stamp-sized apartment where your kitchen, living room, and bedroom are all one and the same.

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Lots of reviewers painted it!

Promising review: "These medallions were much prettier than I expected and were super smooth for reception of paint. It took me a few days to decide on the color placement and style, as they will be in rooms that are visible to one another. Pre-colored medallions are expensive; doing it myself saved me money I used to upgrade my chandeliers." —Cris

Get it from Amazon for $34.19+ (available in dozens of colors).

21. A set of hairpin furniture legs so you can add height to existing furniture or just replace the chewed-up legs your puppy took a liking to. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "I bought a TV stand that was too short to work with my wall-mounted TV. These 12” spindle legs were the PERFECT solution. You can see in the pictures how much better it looks. I ended up buying two sets (8 legs total) since the TV stand is 6’ long. They were easy to install. Five screw holes in each leg. I had to use shorter screws in some of the holes, but this thing is rock solid. Now it looks like a retro mid-century modern piece of furniture." —Matt Z

Get a set of four from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in 16 sizes and five colors).

22. Or — if your home is full of Ikea furniture (no shame in that game, btw) — check out high-end sofa legs, bed legs, dresser knobs, and cabinet pulls from Prettypegs. Since they're made specifically for furniture from the iconic Swedish brand, there's no weird retrofitting involved.

Prettypegs

Prettypegs is a small, Stockholm-based biz from married couple Jana and Mikael. The idea came to them after shopping at Ikea and finding all the sofa legs super boring.

Get them all from Prettypegs; sofa legs from $11.10, bed legs from $11.10, and knobs and cabinet pulls from $5.20.

23. A faux book display that actually hides cords and cables in its hollow interior. If your router is ruining the aesthetic of your bookshelf or media stand, this is the solution!

Amazon Handmade

Covogoods is a Utah-based, woman-founded small business that specializes in storage solutions crafted from up-cycled books.

Not every display will have the exact books shown above but if you want to check out the titles ahead of time, select 'YES, preview books' when checking out and enable Amazon notifications so the seller can send you a pic!

Promising review: "I’m pretty sure I’ve never loved a purchase from Amazon as much as I love this one, and I’ve been a Prime member since Day 1. This product is EXTREMELY well-made and very unique. Plus, it does the job of hiding the ugly routers and cords. And the customer service was great and responsive. I was a little hesitant to spend the money on this, but after years of living with the husband’s pile of technology, the money was well spent!" —AmazonEmme

Get it from Amazon for $29. 

24. Some pre-made wall panels certain to add instant character to your space. If you love the prewar look but are stuck in a new build, these are just the ticket. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Reviewers attached these in different ways, with some just using mounting tape in apartments for no damage to walls. Others installed them on doors and kitchen islands!

Promising review: "I really wanted an accent wall but don’t have any tools to create my own frames from molding, so this was such an easy DIY solution! I used liquid nails only to adhere to the wall and had no issues." —Megan

Get a single panel from Amazon starting at $12.15+ (available in sets and tons of sizes).

25. A grout pen that'll deposit long-lasting, nontoxic ink to erase years of stains. If you've scrubbed, scrubbed, and scrubbed some more — all without result — then submit to the stains and just get this.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Holy cow! I never thought my stained grout would look so good! These pens are so amazing. After a little priming, they go forever! They cover very well and are super easy to use and cover the darkest of stains! I am buying four more to cover the rest of the house. The tip does not get into the very end of a line due to the border, but I prime it a bit for excess paint and push it in with my finger. Also, this is great for those deep small holes or grooves that are in the tile that leave dirt spots that are almost impossible to get out. Just prime it over the hole and rub it in with your finger and wipe off the rest. I have very light beige tile, and the beige color pens blend perfectly. I would NOT recommend white unless you have very while tile. This beige will blend well with white as well. Cannot beat it for the price and the amazing job this pen does. One pen will cover about a 3x20-foot area no problem." —NatJH

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available with narrow or wide tip).

26. Some broken mosaic tiles so you can transform old furniture and give it new life rather than tossing it to the curb. 

www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Most of the tiles were intact, so I used full tiles around the border of my table and broken tiles in the middle. Colors and patterns looked like the picture when I ordered." —PSB

Get a 15-pound bag from Amazon for $44.95.

27. A set of six dimmable under-cabinet light strips that'll instantly add ambiance to any space you see fit be it your kitchen, closet, desk, or wardrobe. They're also remote controlled, so you can turn on the wow factor even if you're comfortable on the couch.

www.amazon.com

Each kit comes with six pre-cut LED light strips (9.8 feet in total) and adhesive strips for mounting. The 17-key remote can control basic functions like turning the lights on/off, setting a timer, dimming the lights, etc. Plus, it works at distances up to 60 feet. 

Promising review: "Awesome product!! I love the ease of installation and the extra included pieces for a good fit. Perfect for adding some much-needed light to my dark kitchen. Dimmable and comes with a remote! There's no downside!" —Breezy Lady

Get a set of six from Amazon for $16.79+ (available in three colors). 

28. A bucket of front door paint if your home's exterior could use a little love. For less than $50, this will add instant curb appeal. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

Promising review: "Excellent product. Very easy to use. We were able to paint our front door with two coats and be finished all in one day. The product has a very thick consistency that doesn't cause it to drip, run, splatter, or ruin your paintbrushes. And there is very little prep work and clean up." —Jay

Get it from Amazon for $48.99 (available in 14 colors).

29. And a floral wall mural that'll make you feel like you're waking up in a chic Parisian apartment. Brb, gonna go watch Amélie again and dream of being in Montmartre.

www.amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "Absolutely stunning and everything I wanted, looks way better and more vivid IRL. I almost didn't buy this because the colors look so dull and old school in the pics, and I wanted more of a modern glam look, and this was perfect. Took two of us to install and three-ish hours with breaks. Took the advice of previous reviewers and bought premixed paste from The Home Depot. Definitely don't go easy on the paste; you need enough on the wall to make it easier to adjust and align. Don't worry too much about the bubbles, once it dries down it all adheres nicely. My guess is the bubbles are excess paste. The quality of this paper is thick and not sheer at all. However I do think it will look nicer if there's a lighter color under it to begin with. For the price, this is definitely worth it and then some. I would have paid much more for this had I seen it in person. You won't regret it: )" —Almond Joy

Get it from Amazon for $63.49.

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.