Sep 14, 2023
34 Ways To Hide Or Transform Eyesores In Your Home
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Because hiding the ugly electrical panel behind a cute printed tea towel and fixing the spoiled finish on your dining table will give you a noticeable sense of relief every single day.
BuzzFeed Staff
Promising review: "Love this decanter. Looks great. Has very tight seal when you cap it. It holds a full 750ml and a no drip pour. Also the price is reasonable for such a great quality decanter. I'm very happy and satisfied with my purchase." —Guglielmo Goodman
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
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 the set of four hinges and two handles on Amazon for $16.68.
Read the full tutorial on Clean & Scentsible.
Get a gallon of concrete paint on Amazon for $62.19.
Protip: If you can't find shams with the exact same measurements as your throw pillows, go for covers an inch or two smaller for an ~overstuffed~ look.
Get this set of two 16"x16" covers from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 17 colors and eight sizes).
Of course, depending on your decor preferences, Amazon has dozens of under-$25 throw pillow sets available (velvet, fuzzy plush, geometric patterns...) — I bet you can find something you'd love!
Promising review: "Perfect for what I needed! I wanted these to hang out on my ugly porch to kinda spruce it up! I needed them to be sturdy and able to withstand outdoor conditions but be cute and boho and these are perfect! Ive had them for several months now and they haven't showed any signs of wear and tear and are just a beautiful addition. 10/10 recommend!" —KimRN
Get this set of two on Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three sizes).
From the geniuses at Apartment Therapy.
Get a similar wood wall hanger from Hanger Frames on Etsy — a Salt Lake City, Utah based small business — for $20 for an 11-inch frame (available in 14 sizes starting at six inches, and six different finishes).
And there are all kinds of places to find nice tea towels: this Amazon listing has dozens of designs in packs of 3 for $24.99, and Etsy has a wide selection from a variety of sellers too.
Promising review (for Hanger Frames): "Could not be any happier with this product. I’ve searched for a conventional frame for this art piece with no luck. I’m so glad I chose this instead of an old school frame. Came quickly, great quality, and they even added twine and a nail (which I didn't expect). Love, love, love!!" —Emily
Promising review: "I recently bought a brand new mattress that came with a free box spring that I was looking to hide nicely until I move and buy a new bed frame. This did the job! For the price you can't beat it. I love that the entire piece of fabric is one color (in my case black) vs. some of the other products that have the layer between the mattress and box spring white in color. It's a nice length and runs right to the floor." —Matthew L.
Get this one on Amazon, $10.09 for a queen (also available in twin, full, and king/cali king, and in seven colors).
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 from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three sizes).
Oh, and you can totally use the rest of your regular liquid soap refill with these! Just combine one part liquid soap with five parts water.
Promising review: "These arrived today and they are actually nicer/bigger than expected (even with measurements, sometimes it's hard to picture the size of something). The glass is heavy/sturdy; the "chrome" part is not actually metal, but it's really, really hard to tell that. It looks/feels like chrome. (I think one of the reviews said it was metal and I don't blame them, it's that hard to tell). I've had metal ones corrode, so plastic is better, to me. I'm very happy with them, would recommend them, and would buy again." —RDP9201
Get a pack of two dispensers on Amazon for $20.49 (available in seven color/finish combos).
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 from Amazon for $9.26+ (seven wood finish colors available); many reviewers follow up with the same brand's wood polish and conditioner (they're meant to be used together!), which you can get for $9.98 from Amazon.
They work on walls, furniture, wood, doors and many more surfaces! Maika Daughters is an Austin, Texas based small business focused on selling all kinds of materials for upcycling projects. If you like the idea of furniture decals but these aren't quite up your alley, they have 96 different designs available, although many of them are floral or vintage-y.
Promising review: "These poppy decals are the best! Not as much work as I feared and they look sensational!" —ElizabethMeredith
Get the sheet with all these decals with from MaikaDaughters on Etsy for $29.99.
Promising review: "I bought these to replace the ugly, plain registers that were on my ceiling. Installed in less than 10 minutes and they look beautiful. I ordered white and spray painted them nickel to match my ceiling fan. Couldn't be happier." —AsMeow
Get one on Amazon for $12.32+ (available in three sizes).
This is from The Jolie Market, a small business based in California that carries chic home decor!
Promising review: "I ordered this item for my baby's nursery and it's perfect! The quality is sturdy and great size to hold laundry. It's a beautifully made basket that looks even better in person. Customer service was quick, friendly, and reliable. Very satisfied with my purchase." —ashley
Get it from The Jolie Market on Etsy for $95.99+ (originally $119.99; available in three sizes).
Promising review: "It's perfect for pool areas! It wasn't what I expected but i actually like it better. If I had to describe it...I'd describe very soft straws (like drinking straws) woven into a carpet. It doesn't stay wet and it doesn't get hot so it is perfect for our pool patio. It is light weight though, so if you don't have something set on it or put it away during a storm it will blow around." —Andrea Malcolm
Get it from Amazon for $42.99+ (available in seven sizes and 18 styles; see all the available designs on the Fab Habitat store page).
Promising review: "Purchased this for a nursery (space theme!) and found the color and print to be very true to the photos. Absolutely love it! It's also extremely soft (good for a baby to play on) and seems to be very well made. Extremely pleased with this rug!" —Kat D.
Get it on Amazon for $31.68+ (originally $128, five colors available in many sizes, or see all the rug designs available on the Safavieh store page).
Promising review: "This product worked great for cleaning up my mess of cables/power cords going to my wall mounted TV. The plastic is sturdy, yet easily cut to proper length, I did however, use a "T" type of expandable wall anchor because I was attaching it to exterior stucco wall. The channels are large enough to accommodate numerous cords, and the covers snap firmly in place." —TheoLogic1
Get the kit (which has six cable covers that total 150", self-adhesive tape, and 12 connector pieces) on Amazon for $18.26+ (available in two lengths and two colors).
Its lid removes completely so it's super easy to empty, and it has completely smooth interior walls so you never have to deal with gross buildup in a corner or next to a plastic seam.
Promising review: "We are heavy composters — lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, 1/2 pound of coffee grounds per week, lots of tea bags — all scrap goes in this composter. We have a ton of plants and use our compost. What clinches the deal on this product is that surprisingly, we have not once smelled any odors whatsoever with the lid closed. Also, none of our friends have picked up a see-through container off our counter top and said, "Oh, what's in here?" so no more embarrassing explanations of how we kept garbage in a bowl on top of our counter!" —Laura B
Get it on Amazon for $22.95+ (available in three sizes and six colors).
Get the how-to from Little House On The Corner.
Read the full how-to on Hawthorne and Main.
Get a quart of white primer on Amazon for $15.94.
Promising review: "These worked wonderfully to give some privacy to my back yard without blocking out everything. I have had them up for about a year now, and they hold up well to weather conditions (snow, rain, freeze, heat). Color has lasted so far. No issues with hanging them. I used green zip ties purchased separately. Easy to cut and adjust the size. Recommended." —Don't Be Hateful
Get a 94"x39" roll on Amazon for $39.99 (available in three sizes).
Promising review: "Great little shelf that comes fully assembled and you just have to attach it to the wall. Sturdy enough to hold jackets and purses. Excellent choice for small spaces. Would buy this again!" —Chris
Get it on Amazon for $34.99.
It's completely self-adhesive, so you don't have to mess with glues when you put it up. You do have to have a smooth surface painted with a satin or semi-gloss finish for it to work, though. You can also use it on furniture like bookshelves and drawers, or even stair risers!
Promising review: "Love, love, love this wallpaper!!! It is beautiful and unique, refined and elegant, and heavy duty quality. I found it super easy to install, though I opted to use it for a room border versus full wall coverage. I also found it very forgiving, allowing me to pull it back off and adjust areas without leaving permanent dents in the design. It gave my son's bedroom a whole new look and I have gotten lots of compliments!" —MB
Get a 20.5" x 16.5' roll from Novogratz on Amazon for $34.99 (see all the available patterns on the Novogratz wallpaper page).
Promising review: "My router connects to the outlet behind the couch and since the couch should be flush with the wall, the cords had bent. This completely changes the look and I no longer have to worry about cords bending or making a dent in the back of the couch. The length of the cord is a bit longer than expected but the outlet was so close to the ground which I’m assuming is not how everyone else's outlets would be; none the less, it looks sleek!" —Angie
Get it on Amazon for $23.95+ (available in seven versions).
Promising review: "Such a relief! The cords on my desk were such a disaster that I bought this for myself. I am so glad I did. It totally cleared up the rats nest of cords and my desk looks so much better." —Amazon Customer
Get it on Amazon for $17.99.
Basically, the spines of the books books are attached but have with all the pages and covers cut out of 'em, except the two covers on the very ends. You can choose the color scheme you want and how many inches long you need it to be, and CovoGoods, a Salt Lake City, Utah-based small business, will make it for you!
Promising review: "Wonderful!! We spent the past month remodeling our living room, but we didn't account for how AWFUL the cable boxes and modem were going to look on our beautiful new shelves. Saw this, and had to have it! Covogoods not only communicated quickly with me, but were EXTREMELY accommodating in my requests. Turned out exactly how I envisioned it, and dimensions were spot on! No more ugly cable boxes and wires!" —Lindsey Martinez
Get one from Covogoods on Etsy for $27+ (available in custom or 18 colors and 14 lengths) or on Amazon for $29+.
Promising review: "These are a great way to open up more storage potential in the garage. This is actually my third home when I've used these in my garage. If you have lots of room between your garage door and your ceiling, these can be used up there to allow you to store stuff in a space you would otherwise not be able to use. They're great for being able to store stuff way up high and not take up any floor space. We store all of our Christmas lights and other holiday decorations on them. They hold up the weight of 4 or 5 big bins full of Christmas light strings no problem." —Buster
Get the 45"x45" shelves (that hold up to 250 lbs of evenly-distributed weight) on Amazon for $79.98+ (available in two colors).
The doorknob photos don't have a "before", but I'd bet you $10 they were shiny brass. And the faucet has only a blurry "before", but it was a gleaming late-'90s chrome.
Promising review: "Best looking metal spray paint I have seen. It took me 90 minutes to prepare, mask, and paint my bathroom faucet. I used about 1/2 a can of this paint." —OC-Adam
Get it on Amazon for $10.98+ (available in 21 metallic finish colors).
Promising review: "Very handy item. Helped clear off counterspace and hide the clutter! My son and daughter share a small bathroom. The complaint was always HER hair items left on the counter taking up the space. Not anymore. Even a hot flat iron or curling iron can be put away to free up space and cut down on the complaints I have to hear! Worth every penny!!" —Julie Grant
Get it from Amazon for $20.49 (seven metallic finishes available).
It's a three-step paint process that goes right over your old countertops. It has automotive-grade durability and is made of safe water-based materials. One kit covers the typical kitchen's 35 square feet, or 16 running feet of standard two-foot-wide countertop. You could also use it to paint a counter a solid color!
Promising review: "It looks terrific and the application was straightforward. I’m about as artistic as Fred Flintstone but if you follow directions the granite effect takes care of itself. One hint: take your time masking and use Frog Tape, which gives you nice clean lines. I was worried about whether I’d be able to get a clear border around the sink and even considered taking the sink out but it turned out fine." —Carl D. Hausman
Get it on Amazon for $99.95 (available in five finishes).
Promising review: "Super easy to install and took less than 30 min to put together, level out and hammer in the stakes. My HOA doesn't allow the trash bins to be visible from the street so this fixed that issue plus it matches my house trim." —Joseph and Anne Sawyer
Get it from Amazon for $159.
Promising review: "Yes, it smells gross. Yes, it took me about half an hour of scrubbing at three spots on my table before they disappeared....but they did disappear, so I'm happy! I think the older the marks are, the longer you have to scrub at them. One mark was only a few days old, and vanished in about five minutes. The other mark was much larger, and was a couple of months old. That one took forever, and I almost gave up. So glad I kept going! My table looks brand new now." —Dove
Get it on Amazon for $13.33.
Promising review: "Love this buffalo check table runner! The quality is amazing, it will be such a transitional piece. I can use it for about any season. It fits my table just perfect. Love it!" —eric a.
Get it from Amazon for $6.20+ (available in two lengths and 15 colors).
Promising review: "Great storage bin. I didn't believe you can sit on it and still be sturdy but it really is. It doesn't feel like it's going to break. The kids' slime jars and other stuff fit to hide it out of view. Fit under a desk and we pull it out as needed for extra seating when their friends come over." —Amazon Customer
Get it on Amazon for $40.56+ (available in two sizes).
Promising review: "I love this. The house gets dusty, even in my closet sometimes, so this helps keep my shoes looking cleaner and keeps them out of the way. The drawer is fantastic for storing little items in my closet and I can set things on top if needed. I'm extremely pleased with this unit and recommend it for anyone wanting a nice-looking storage unit with doors and a drawer. I think it's a very versatile piece of furniture that will last me a long time." —echobunny
Get it on Amazon for $127.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.