40 Things That’ll Help You Make All Kinds Of Home Upgrades You Thought Were Too Difficult To Try
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Yep, you can hang up curtains without drilling new holes.
Posted 13 hours ago
by Elizabeth Lilly BuzzFeed BuzzFeed Staff
As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.
If you ever watched a home improvement TV show (like This Old House, where I used to work!) and thought, "Must be nice, but I can't do that." Well, I have some news for you. There *are* all kinds of little projects you can do around your home with your beginner skill level! You just didn't know about these specific products I rounded up to help you execute them. I'm talking about something that'll get you a few more inches of tub water every bath lover needs, a stretchy slipcover for stained-beyond-repair cushions, and no-drill Roman shades. Yep, you read that correctly.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I live in an apartment so I didn’t want to damage my wall with nails and all that. So I’m very glad to have heard about this product. It was so easy to set up, it holds the weight of my blackout curtain and curtain rod well. I even pushed down on it a little to see how secure it was and it did not break. I definitely recommend it for anyone who is renting to keep the walls damage free." —Alyssa
Get a set of three from Amazon for $17.95 (also available in other colors and styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I knew I wanted something to finish off my bench seat windows. These blinds were not only easy to install, but I am impressed with the quality and how easy it is to raise and lower them. I think all four were out of the box and installed in 15 minutes. Offers light filtering, which is perfect for my needs. If I want to take them down for my holiday garland, it will be super easy to remove and put back up after the holiday." —doug huntley
Get each panel from Amazon for $43.30+ (available in 10 styles and a range of sizes).
Promising review: "Such a great and simple solution to help redirect A/C and heat. Super simple and easy to install. Universal fit makes it a cinch to work with any vents within the size range." —Heydaddy
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in packs of four and six).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It features a programmable LCD controller with a heating and cooling thermostat and automated fan speeds.
Promising review: "My home was generally too hot in the summer and a bit cooler than I liked in the winter. Now, with this product, the entire house is much more balanced — upstairs and downstairs. In the winter, after my HVAC system shuts off, the unit continues to run as long as the duct continues to put out heat. In the summer, the unit puts out cold air upstairs even though the HVAC system is off, making upstairs bedrooms very, very comfortable for an afternoon nap. Setup is not difficult. Best of all, my energy bill went down. I was concerned that it would go up since these units are plugged into a receptacle, but the units appear to be 12- or 24-volt units (low amperage). Bottom line, an outstanding product that I feel is well worth the money I spent." —Sharon
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in two sizes and two colors).
Promising review: "Where do I start? I absolutely LOVE this product. I wanted to replace our bathroom mirror, but due to the size, it would have cost a lot! I came across this on Amazon and decided to give it a try. The application process was super easy and applied without bubbles as long as you go slow and rub it down as you go. I kid you not. It looks like wood and feels like it, too! You can feel and see the 'wood grain.' It’s absolutely stunning and looks like I bought a whole new mirror." —Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
SnapPower is a small biz that specializes in unique and innovative lighting products.
Promising review: "I ordered this after seeing it on TikTok. I’m very happy with this product!" —Miss. Harris
"Game changer. When I get up, I don’t want to wake everyone up with flipping on lights and all. These provide plenty of walking through the house light. Super easy installation, too." —Monica Martinez
Get it from Amazon for$23.98(available in three outlet styles and four colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products. I had THIS very problem (as a renter) in the top socket in my sole bathroom outlet and one of these little things was a perfect, cheap fix!
Promising review: "I saw Snug Plug on TikTok and immediately ordered them. I have outlets at home AND at work that I couldn't keep anything plugged into because they're so loose. Snug Plug quickly and easily solved that problem and now I can finally have a phone charger in my den. Yay! I highly recommend this product." —KSay
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "My pool is awesome when it gets into the hundreds of degrees here in California. We decided to grab a 20x20x20 triangle and holy cow does it do a number on the backyard! Not only does it keep my pool better-shaded, but it also keeps the sun off of my back patio during the hottest part of the day." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in 14 colors).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
PS: XFasten is a small biz.
Promising review: "My portable AC unit had gaps between the plastic piece where it mounts on my window. I tried tape but found it had no effect. I tried this tape, it lowered my room temperature by 5 degrees. Worth it!" —Tai T.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three sizes).
Promising review: "The weather stripping (rubber tubing) on our front door was compromised, and our AC couldn't cool the house. After replacing the original stripping with this foam, the temperature inside dropped by 10 degrees. Your mileage may vary, but it worked well for me." —HrVanker
Get it from Amazon for $12.48+ (available in 18 sizes/lengths).
It has an about six-step installation process and includes all the parts you'll need. The brace adjusts to any size between 4–6 inches and fits the standard base sockets. They can be used on sloped ceilings up to 45 inches, works in damp locations, has a 50-pound maximum load rating, and is paintable with no visible screws or hardware.
Promising review: "This was a pretty easy installation considering the work is on the ceiling. I've been wanting to change out the two can lights over my sink for years, so I started investigating the easiest possible way to do so. Ran across this item, and watched the video on YouTube. What the heck, I thought! Rewatched the video before installation, looked at the directions on both the converter kit and the pendant light, gathered the necessary tools described in all instructions, and set upon my mission. The hardest part (for me) was getting the self-tapping screws started. I'm pretty pleased with the outcome, I must say! By the way, I'm a 55-year-old female who has worked at a bank all of my life. Yes! It was that easy. I would highly recommend it." —Trisch Reeve
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Promising review: "The attic drop-down door in the home I'm renting is located in the interior of the home in the bedroom hallway, plus the door is warped, leaving a half-inch gap open. In this flaming hot summer, the heat was pouring into the hallway, and my AC ran 12 hours per day to keep the house reasonably cool. The thermostat is 3 feet from this attic door (poor design), which exacerbated the problem. Within five minutes of installing this, I noticed a complete change! In the South, it doesn't get terribly cold in the winter, but this will keep the cold from leaking in as well. Great product for less than $40. Beats paying for a new attic door on a home I don't even own." —C A
Get it from Amazon for $25.95+ (available with or without a staple gun).
Amanda / Amazon / Via www.amazon.com, Amazon Customer / Amazon / Via www.amazon.com
FYI, it installs like a regular outlet cover. Of course except with the wonderful shelf. Can also be installed so the shelf is below the outlet.
Promising review: "I absolutely love this thing! I have much less clutter on my sink thanks to this. If there's anyone not sure if it will fit due to an object, all you need is 1.25 inches of space between the edge of your existing outlet plate and the piece of furniture. I have a GFCI with a standard wall plate." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four colors).
Elypro is a small business in New York City making clever organization products for the home.
Promising review: "I use these to organize my coffee mugs and my glasses in smaller cabinets. They not only look nicer, they save space without tilting when you try to stack mugs without support. I also use these to stack ramekins and that is also better now. These are adjustable to fit different sizes. I highly recommend these organizers!" —Amazon Customer
"Doubles my cup space. Really works." —JR Chicago
Get a set of six (to organize 12 mugs) from Amazon for$24.99 (available in three colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Easy to install. Lights provide ample lighting; USB allows lights to be a standalone fixture without tying up another wall socket. The USB interface also acts to turn the lights on and off with the TV. Backlighting also seems to make the screen seem sharper." —Shaun
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in five sizes and two styles).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Works really well for holding outside decor without wear and tear as long as it is not too heavy." —Kitt Smith
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $6.98 (also available in packs of eight or 12).
Promising review: "Do you see that??? My husband was so mad and has said for years that our front doors are ruined by the dogs. I was so determined to prove him wrong and find a way to fix them!! Okay, so after wiping down the doors with a wood cleaner, I used an old sock to coat them with the Old English, and voila!! I saved us thousands of dollars!!! No new doors needed!! The scratches have disappeared, and the dogs get to stay!!" —Beth Young
Get it from Amazon for $4.82 (also available for light woods).
The kit includes a 10-ounce bottle of Cerama Bryte Cooktop Cleaner, one cleaning pad, and one scraper to make it a quick and easy job.
Promising review: "Works on my new range and cleans up beautifully so that my cooktop looks as shiny and clean as it did the day it was installed. Follow the directions exactly, and you can't go wrong. Very easy and quick to use. Not a lot of cleaner is needed, so the bottle will last a long time. I clean the cooktop with this almost every day, and I find that it cleans better than with regular cleaner." —Darcy
Get it from Amazon for $16.98+ (available in three styles).
Promising review: "After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and dishes just not getting clean. Then, I became aware that the water softener was no longer doing its job so I had the rental company replace it. Dishwasher performance improved somewhat. I decided to do two more loads before deciding to purchase a new one. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway so I added that to my order. When it came, I tossed one of the tablets into the bottom of the full machine per the instructions and ran the regular cycle. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I will use this faithfully every month, as recommended. I can even put it on my subscribe and save order so I will get a new pack every six months. I am amazed!" —Sheila
Get them from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in a carton and pouch).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "So easy to set up! All you do is peel tape and adhere to a CLEAN and DRY door. Also looks great, I don't even notice it. I had a huge gap under my door. I could smell and hear everything from the hallway. Smells, drafts, and sound all are less of an issue now." —Brit B.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors).
Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." —BBP623
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.49.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Cleaned three items in less than five minutes. Vacuum brush head and two hair brushes that have three girls' long hair. I can’t wait to get the whole vacuum and rug cleaner bristles cleaned. I had to write this review after testing it out. Design is strong, sturdy, and handles great. Highly recommended." —Rob
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
Promising review: "These have worked great! I like bamboo sheets, which are slippery and the corners always came up. Since I started using these my corners haven’t come up and the sheet stays relatively wrinkle free." —Beachyfun
Get them from Amazon for $14.99 (available in three colors).
Promising review: "Love this stuff! My stove had two chips in it for many years. Very pleased, so easy to apply! Would definitely recommend for small touch-ups!" —Sally Jo
Get it from Amazon for $6.29+ (available in four colors and in multipacks).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
SlipX Solutions is a small biz.
Promising review: "Love this so much. We have a textured bath/shower surround in the place we rent, which also includes one of those tiny little bathtubs that adults can’t fit into. This thing stuck where other suctioned products could not. I can’t believe it. After buying this, it made the bath situation 1,000% better. I am able to fill the tub nearly all the way up, making baths so much more enjoyable. I love it." —Emma
Get it from Amazon for $9.49 (available in nine colors).
Promising review: "This is one of my favorite things I've ever purchased from Amazon! The fact that they're so customizable allows you to cut them and shape them to any drawer size! I think this will be my go-to gift for all of my friends who love cooking as much as I do! Freeing up cabinet space and having something that can so easily be rinsed off in the sink makes this a for sure buy!" —momonono
Get a 10-foot roll from Amazon for $15.99.
Amazon
Space is a small biz that's passionate about eliminating curtain cling and giving people more shower space! Their design is also machine-washable, so you don't have to replace it like a run-of-the-mill liner.
Promising review: "Wow! This is exactly what I was looking for! I have a tiny bathroom in an old apartment building, so I have an untreated window that needs to be covered with a shower curtain inside my shower. Every time I'd shower, I'd be attacked by curtains from both sides. That is until I purchased this curtain. It gives so much more room in the shower, like a curved shower rod, but without all that hardware and work associated with it. It's weighted enough so it doesn't move, either. I'm no longer attacked by my shower curtains. 100% would purchase again." —Brittany Hopkins
Get it from Amazon for $41.50+ (available in seven colors).
OK, so painting your concrete patio may not sound like the easiest upgrade but if you're no stranger to painting and want a big impact, give it a try!
Promising review: "Excellent, easy to use and clean up. My outdoor patio is a little rough, and it took a full gallon to cover 200 sq feet." —RLB
Get it from Amazon for $50.34+ a gallon (available in two shades of gray).
Promising review: "I have a weird skinny window in my house where no normal window covering works. People walking on our community trail can see up into our upstairs bathroom when the light is on and it's dark outside. Not a good plan at all. So I used this window film and cut different-sized circles and placed then on this window to interrupt the view into the house. Worked perfectly! Very easy to use." —Marsgard
Get it from Amazon for $5.51+ (available in 14 sizes and four colors).
This kit comes with separate-to-apply elements, so it'll work on a variety of window dimensions. If this isn't quite your style, there are lots of other stained glass window decals and window cling styles.
Promising review: "These stained glass decals worked great on the fireplace windows in my early 1900s bungalow. If you get up close, or look at them from the outside, it's pretty obvious they aren't real, but you'd have to be looking really closely. Don't forget to buy one package of caming lines for each set of decals, you'll need it. If you're someone who gets stressed about applying sticky things, or making things straight, don't worry too much about it. I am really bad at that stuff typically and I found it really easy. Wash your windows first, measure so you have a rough idea of where to put the center decal, and keep some scissors on hand to cut the caming. It's easy and so cool! Our house already has a lot of 'old house charm' so these fit in perfectly." —Linds
Get it from Amazon for $7.69.
I've used this several times on my rental bathroom tiled floor and normally have to redo annually. But it's so cheap that it's totally worth it. If you're doing it on tiled walls or backsplashes, the effect tends to last longer.
Promising review: "I installed an expensive soft white tile (if there is such a thing) floor in the kitchen when I bought my house. At the time, it was a new product and it was beautiful — that fuzzy, warm feeling changed the first time I dropped a fork. I have been so frustrated no wanting to rip up and put down replacement tiles. The grout pen made it look new again, I am thrilled with the results!" —K. Robles
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).
Promising review: "I like this so much that I actually just ordered another one for under the bathroom sink. Not only did it tidy the clutter and make items easier to find at first glance, but also made it possible for me to store another few items below the sink, including the spray cleaners I use for my countertops. I didn't configure it around pipes (as I see can be done), but actually used the flexible shelving options to place taller or larger items directly on the floor of my under-sink storage — rather than on the lowest shelf (see last photo) — to maximize my storage possibilities and keep regularly used items accessible. I also didn't fully extend the shelving, just as suggested by the manufacturer for stability purposes ... and still found it offered ample storage. Easy to assemble, with some flexibility for shelf height and placement — highly recommend!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.87+ (available in three finishes).
I used this gadget to de-fuzz a coat that I FORGOT isn't mean to be fuzzy. You can read my full fabric shaver review here.
Promising review: "Literally stopped mid-use to write this review. I never write reviews, but just wanted everyone who has cats to know that you can save your furniture! This thing is awesome!" —Melanie Abrams
Get it from Amazon for $9.69+ (available in six colors).
Promising review: "It has doubled my closet space in my apartment where I can’t make any damage in terms of adding another permanent shelf — so this has been a perfect solution. It was easy to assemble and is sturdy. I’ve had it for a couple of weeks now with no issue. Your closet has to be pretty high for this to work or else your shirts above are going to get caught on the hangers below and for my case, some of my shirts are dragging on the floor — just keep this in mind when you’re thinking about purchasing." —Alex
Get it from Amazon for $18.87 (available in three colors).
Poplight
Poplight is a woman-owned small biz founded by entrepreneurs Rose and Caroline Matthes. They sell renter-friendly lights that are sleek and modern!
Promising review: "I love this light! I’ve been on the hunt for a simple, elevated-looking bedside light for a long time, but wasn’t sure if a sconce was the right choice due to cost and my ABSOLUTE lack of electrical knowledge. My pop light has exactly the look I was going for and was SO easy to install (bonus for being renter-friendly too!). I hope there are more sizes and styles to come in the future, I’m just about ready to cover my entire apartment with these!" —Nicole
Get it from Poplight (available in eight colors) or Amazon (available in seven colors) for $99.
Chelsea Stuart / BuzzFeed
Tulip is a small biz from Lori Smyth. Her inspiration? The drab lighting in a college dorm! Her innovative design requires no re-wiring, no power tools, no nothing! Check out the different styles and how easily they install via Tulip's TikTok.
My colleague Chelsea Stuart has tried and loves this: "I just had a chance to try one of these and I am simply OBSESSED. I live in NYC in a rental and I have a really drab light in my kitchen that even an electrician couldn't get off of the ceiling without breaking... so I gave up on replacing it right after I moved in. Alas, fast forward a year and I found Tulip on TikTok! Instantly, I thought 1. This is absolutely genius and 2. How has no one come up with this before?!?!
"Installing" it (installing makes it seem way more involved than it is) took all of 10 minutes and that includes removing it from the box, Command Strip-ing the ring to the ceiling, and then popping the magnetic shade in place. (Honestly, the thing that took me the longest was fishing my step stool out of the depths of my junk closet.) Not only is the shade itself beautiful, but the diffused light is just so soft and pretty. I can't wait to get another one for my entryway!!!"
What's included: Ceiling mount, Tulip shade, 12x removable tape, and 3x screws (as needed for textured ceiling applications).
Get it from Tulip for $149 (check out more styles).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Perfect way to get lighting under your cabinets if you don't have any. They charge easily and fast. Light is good. They stay up with strong magnets. I actually put these ones in my stairway to the basement, where there was only a light at the bottom. There are many other places where I think they would work well if you need more light." —Glenda N.
Get two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and in packs of four and six).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Where I live, it’s so dark and I have no outside electricity off my screened-in deck. I wanted lights for my stairs for safety and found these lights, which work and look great! They come with everything you need to fasten them to the stairs so they don’t fall off as well. I even bought extra and tested them in the event that the ones that are currently outside get damaged for any reason, and they are no longer sold. Definitely recommend for the price, nice and bright, and easy installation. Plus, they last all night long!" —Brooke
Get it from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in warm or cool white light and five pack sizes).
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 $34.49+ (available in five sizes and 21 colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
It has three different brightness options so you can set *~the mood~* perfectly. It also requires AA batteries, so be sure to pick those up as well.
Promising review: "This light is great!!! It has three settings, to adjust the amount of brightness you need. Lowest level is great for just sitting around your patio table and having a couple of drinks with friends. Brightest setting is PERFECT for playing cards! We play cards a few times a month. We decided to try and play outside. There are two 70+-year-olds who did not complain that they couldn’t see. So, works great in my book! 😁" —Mandie Jordan
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
* Products To Transform Your Home Into A Cool Oasis In The Midst Of All The (Cringe) Heat
* Easy Little Fixes You Can Do Around Your Home For $10 Or Less
* Budget-Friendly Home Upgrades You’ll Feel Like A Genius For Buying
* Products That’ll Stay In Your Home Forever Because They’re That Useful
Plus, finds from Walmart, Wayfair, and World Market.
BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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