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Nov 11, 2023

47 Ways To Upgrade Your Home Without Breaking Out The Toolbox

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.

No need to figure out where in your place where you last left your screwdriver or hammer. (Maybe your neighbor asked to borrow it last month. Eh, not worth texting about it.)

BuzzFeed Staff

Cover up dings and discoloration on door frames and molding with some wood scratch cover so everything will blend in like normal. Also, it requires no sanding or refinishing! Cue to you on the prowl for more wood surfaces you can fix up.

Repair chips, dents, cracks, and other eyesores with a set of 50 wood fillers. Dog scratched up your hardwood floors? NBD.

Kick the blinds to the curb and get some privacy without the cord (it can be dangerous for kids and pets!) by applying a window film that'll still let in SO much light. I did this to my bathroom window and congratulate myself for it every day.

Promising review: "I’ve been wanting to upgrade our garage door for a long time and now I have no idea why I waited! The magnets are super strong. Purchased two sets but only used one set of 'handles,' I wasn't a fan of how close I had to place each set next to each other with the narrow spacing on the door itself. Paired with the magnetic 'windows,' it looks like a brand-new door!" —MrsPirate

Get them from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in several sets and variations).

StoveShelf is a small business, and these shelves are built to last a lifetime.

Promising review: "This is an excellent buy. The shelf helped me declutter my cabinet, and it is an awesome storage space for my more often used spices. It is sturdy, easily installed, and attractive. I recommend this shelf." —Pamella R.

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in six types and three sizes).

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 $7.98+ (available in 11 sizes).

Promising review: "Very awesome stuff. The bottom of my cabinets had a rough, crumbly texture. This is a great fix to keep the silicone pieces of my dishes from picking it up. Feels a lot cleaner and it looks great! Highly recommend for looks and function!" —Kelsey Ware

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in six sizes and 19 colors and patterns).

Promising review: "I have a golden retriever and the shedding is out of control. My fabric sofa is constantly covered in hair and I finally decided to try this after reading an article about popular TikTok products. The reviews do not lie, this thing works magic!! I wish I had taken a before and after picture because the difference is noticeable. I watched the video tutorial before I tried it to ensure I was using it properly and everything he says is true, you do really have to put your arm to work with vigorous back and forth movement! However, I find it's a great arm workout and it works wonders." —Joanne Ertel

Get it from Amazon for $29.95.

I have VERY narrow kitchen drawers in my NYC one-bedroom apartment kitchen and buying one of these organizers has transformed my cutlery drawer. I'm able to safely reach in and grab whatever I need (like a manual can opener for tuna salad or a mini whisk for a hot chocolate) without having to sift tools around.

Promising review: "Yes, this little utensil tray is really that good! I went from using 12 inches of horizontal space in a lovely but huge wooden utensil tray to about using about four inches (whatever the width of this godsend is). It stores my butter knives, steak knives, spoons, forks, and a slew of little teaspoons. I'd guess that the max capacity for each slot is about 10 pieces. For example, I fit four butter knives and four steak knives into the first/knife slot easily, with good wiggle room. This is such a great design. Using this tray opened up about half of my 18-inch wide drawer, which allowed me to decompress the other drawers in my kitchen a bit. I highly recommend this item. It's worth every penny." —Kathleen Cooke

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "I need this in bulk!! I have tried so many cleaning solutions to get out hard cooking stains on my stovetop and nothing worked! This stuff took it right out without a problem!!" —Micaela Gunderson

Get it from Amazon for $5.97.

OK so the color of the metal parts of your outdoor furniture is a small difference that's more of a medium-size project BUT way to get more bang for your buck with the stuff you already own!

Get it from Amazon for $11.20+ (available in a variety of metallic colors).

Reviewers note that using this may darken the leather, so keep that in mind!

Promising review: "Excellent product! So happy I tried it! I wore kitchen gloves and smoothed a thin layer of the product all over the couch, instead using of the cloth. Went way faster and I didn't waste product soaked up by the cloth." —Kristie

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "This is one of the most beautiful and practical rugs I ever owned. I absolutely love this rug. It looks divine on my deck. Delivery was fast. The rug being made of recycled plastic is a great plus. Good for the environment , great looking on my deck! What more can you ask for. Oh, and the price is very reasonable." —arwenabelle

Get it from Amazon for $55+ (available in two sizes and two colors).

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 can't believe how well Old English works! I recently purchased a home where a dog previously lived and had horribly scratched the woodwork. I thought I may have to sand and refinish the woodwork around two doors. Old English saved me a lot of work! " —Behold Behold!

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (also available for light woods).

Promising review: "I can't believe how well these work! Much better than I was expecting. I just had my home interior painted and the painters damaged a fiberboard medicine cabinet when they removed the masking tape. It ripped off the fake wood veneer. These markers completely filled in the ugly spots and the colors blended well. I love that it appears to have some clear coat in it too as it dries with a slight shine that makes it look more like wood stain rather than marker. I also used them to stain wood filler in two spots in my maple kitchen cabinets where a previous home owner had hung a paper towel holder and I really struggle to see the hole! It looks fantastic. I highly recommend this set. It's a good value and works very well." —Shane

Get a set of 13 from Amazon for $8.99.

Promising review: "I love my new runner! The neutral gray fits perfectly in my neutral fall table decor and will easily transition into my Christmas decor. It's a lightweight cotton (100%), so I will use my washer's delicate cycle and then hang it to dry. I anticipate I will have to iron it afterward, which is no big deal. For the style and inexpensive price it's worth the effort." —Florida Gal

Get it from Amazon for $12.54+ (available in seven sizes and seven color combos).

Check it out on TikTok here.

Promising review: "Just another thing TikTok made me buy! The quality of the plastic is really great and I love that you can move the shelves as you see fit." —Reagan

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Promising review: "It was always a pain to reach down the side of my bed to reach my chargers, not to mention the wad of cables I’d have to sift through just to charge my phone. I finally searched for a solution and came across these. They’re great! They’re really easy to stick on and they stay in place. I haven't had an issue of them falling off. Whenever I need to charge a device they’re right next to me, easy to reach and untangled. I definitely recommend!" —Nelis Perez

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $7.97.

Check out a TikTok of the egg storage roller in action.

YouCopia is a woman-owned small business that specializes in home storage solutions.

Promising review: "Here it is! The best egg container on Amazon! How can I say that? Easy! Engineering! The slight tilt angle on the bottom of the container that the egg drawer sits on forces eggs to lightly roll forward, keeping all your eggs in the front, and never in the back, where you don't need them. It's super easy to use, so easy to clean, comes apart and can hold a full can organizer on top without issue, so no issues with sturdiness. It can easily hold 14 large size eggs. Easily one of my favorite purchases." —Karingen

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Promising review: "It fits easily and neatly on the refrigerator so the family can see dinner plans for the week. Plus, it has an extra section where you can start writing down the next week's menu ideas! As a busy mom, wife, and teacher I find this comes in handy for meal prepping." —Jennifer Kaczor

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "My wife bought these for kitchen appliances after seeing a TikTok video. They work great and help things look neater!" —Josh&Shan

Get a 13-pack from Amazon for $10.98+.

Promising review: "I have never been so excited about a slipcover. Total transformation of our couch and love seat. 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 $42.92+ (available in five sizes and ten colors).

Covogoods is a Utah-based shop that specializes in storage solutions.

Get it from Covogoods on Amazon Handmade for $29 (available in a variety of colors and sizes).

Promising review: "My baby niece Sharpied my orange suede couch. Didn't think it would ever come out. This stuff is amazing." —levi schofield

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "This box does the trick. I'm able to place a few cords in here and the only thing I would change is to make it so the top stays on; maybe a groove it has to slide through so it can't fall off. It looks nice and it works well." —Gigi

Get it from Amazon for $17.99. Check out an option that'll blend in with wood floors.

Get it from RugsUSA for $57.90+ (originally $128.90; available in five colors, three shapes, and seven sizes).

Promising review: "This is the second privacy screen I've purchased from Amazon. I have an area in my garden visible from the street. The screen hides all my gardening stuff (i.e. wheelbarrow, buckets, etc.). It truly looks like the real deal!!!" —soooz

Get a roll from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three roll sizes).

Promising review: "It's a little hard to squeeze but that totally makes up for the AMAZING results. I was embarrassed about our tubs because the people we bought our house from didn't caulk or seal them properly and this resulted in mildew buildup. I tried EVERYTHING until I saw this on TikTok, I believe — MIRACLE FREAKING WORKER. I will be buying more, the only complaint I will ever have is the shipping got mixed up but that is not a problem and was fixed very easily!" —Brooklyn Nguyen

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

Includes 133 total, with 106 brown and 27 beige in various sizes.

Promising review: "We should have bought these sooner! No more screeching sounds as chairs are pulled out on ceramic tile! Furniture almost glides on the floor when we need to move it to mop! Great product!" —Kindle Customer

Get them from Amazon for $9.99+.

This is also a better option than an organizer that hangs over your faucet because the weight of those can mess with your water flow!

Promising review: "This fits our sink perfectly! It's not too big and holds a sponge and two bottles of soap. We have a standard apartment sink and it fits perfectly, it also holds very well. We have it suctioned on the sink not the counter." —Erin Johnson

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "This product did exactly what I needed it to. Before all my items were in a drawer and the cords were a pain, but with this metal basket it minimized clutter, keeps things organized and separate, and it also looks nice. It fits two of my blow-dryers, a flat iron, and curling wand. The bars are adjustable, as well (just use the twisties it came with to secure them in place). Worth the buy!" —Alyssa Jewell

Get it from Amazon for $20.49 (available in seven finishes).

Promising review: "Holy cow! Why didn't I think to make this!? This thing is probably the most helpful thing I own! I despise how liquid detergent is in these huge tubs with a spigot. It has to lay on it's side and it ALWAYS drips down on to whatever is underneath. It's so frustrating! However, this fixes that problem! It easily just slides on the tub and holds firm. I use it on the All tub, but I would imagine it would work with any standard size tub. I keep the cup sitting on the little shelf and it catches any drips. So no waste!" —Rachel L. White

Get it from Amazon for $12+.

Can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees F up to 446 degrees F/230 degrees C. Includes 24 tools and holder.

Promising review: "I love the neutral color, I find them easy to clean, the cup has come in handy even though I wasn't planning on using it. The measuring cups are a little too flexible for my liking, but it was really amazing finding such a comprehensive set of kitchen tools with a stylist design. I purchased this set because I moved into a new apartment with like zero kitchen equipment and this was the perfect set for me." —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $27+ (available in eight colors).

They also collapse to store flat when not in use. You get four bins: a six-cell (for scarves, hankies, and ties), an eight-cell (for underwear), a seven-cell (for bras), and a 24-cell (for socks).

Promising review: "I LOVE LOVE LOVE these organizers!! I almost did not purchase them due to the reviews saying that larger than a C-cup would not fit into the bra organizer. At just $15 for four organizers I took my chances and ordered two sets of four. I figured, worst case scenario I would have to cut the dividers out of the bra organizers. I wear a 32DD and the bras fit beautifully in the organizers. I am so glad I took the chance and did not listen to the reviews. I would have missed out on the best cheapest organizers I have ever found. I ordered another set for tank tops and other extras I did not think of before. I will also order my boyfriend the brown ones for his drawers. Great product for a great price!" —Elizabeth L. Blackwell

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $14.87 (available in seven colors).

Storage Theory is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based shop with tons of problem-solving products.

Promising review: "Easy to install and it cleared up a ton of space in my fridge." —Tara Ann

Get it from Storage Theory on Etsy for $12.87+.

Seriously though, the folks who live below you will thank you for the extra cushioning for foot falls!

Get it from Amazon for $27.97+ (available in nine color combos and a variety of sizes).

Promising Review: "We moved into our new home, and the shower had a really yellow grout. Cleaning didn't do anything, and I saw this grout pen online. What a saver! Otherwise, I would have just hired someone to replace my shower. I used this grout pen, and my husband was so impressed :D The tip loses its shape fast, but just pull out the TIP AND FLIPPED IT OVER, and you’ll have a new tip." —jennifer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "I originally purchased the mustard color for an accent color statement in my family room. Later bought the gray for an accent statement for our master bed. The obsession recently continued when I purchased the olive green, pink, and khaki as blankets for each of my kids’ rooms. Love the softness and quality with holding up to several washes. Fan favorite in this house!" —Laura O.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four sizes and 16 colors).

Promising review: "I actually love this more than I thought I would! It's soo soft and serves multiple purposes. I bought it to drape over a chair in my study area and to use on the floor for when I take pictures of my outfits in front of my mirrored closet doors. I now drape it over my bed in the morning after I make it as well. My step son is autistic and he loves the soft feel of this rug and loves wrapping it around him. It has shed slightly but not more than expected. Great value also." —Caity

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in a six colors).

Promising review: "Has a decent weight. It looks nice. I've had this set for awhile. All the glasses look great. No problems with them. The decanter holds just about a fifth of whiskey. Easy to pour drinks. It will make a great gift and a good set to your party, event, and home. Definitely worth the price. Do not hesitate to get it. I use it every day." —Yeah Dude

Get them from Amazon for $32.35 (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "My partner and I recently bought a 140-year-old home with original wood floors and wood work throughout. We had the floors refinished to their original beauty, but the baseboards and stair risers were a challenge. They were pretty banged up over years of use, and, after the floors were redone, all the nicks and scratches just stood out that much more. Our floor guy tried staining them, but it wouldn't take. The floors themselves took nine coats of stain because they were so old. The painter tried using pens from a well known paint company, but they didn't work either. My partner found these and showed them to me. To our delight the pens worked incredibly well. It's like a magic marker for wood. I'm still amazed how well they worked. I ordered two more packages because I didn't want to run out. The pens last a long time. Our painter came back to do some minor touch ups, and I showed him what I used. He couldn't believe it. He said he was going to buy them to keep in his arsenal, lol! I Love this product. Thank you so much for making them!" —Kathleen W

Get a set of 50 from Amazon for $31.99.

Even the minimalists should get on board with this. Just go for one with clean lines like this one! I went a few years without one and then was floored by the difference it made in hiding all the stuff I shove under my bed. And I store A LOT of stuff under my bed!

Promising review: "I could not get it to fit right at first for some reason. Probably because I was having a bad week and wanted something to be angry about. When I was in a better state of mind I got it and laughed at how simple it was. Fits well and covers the mess I am hiding now that I went up to a king." —Dennis E. Marquardt

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in sizes twin–king and four colors).

Promising Review: "I live in an apartment. The sink is about 35 years old and has become badly stained and scratched from neglect and indifferent care. This has made a noticeable difference. This sink will never look brand new again, but your product removed, I would say, about 80% of the stains, without any extraordinary effort, and put a really polished look on the sink. It is gleaming and actually looks very clean for the first time since I have lived here. I am betting that with continued and consistent use of Therapy cleaner, it will continue to improve. Thank you for a most excellent product." —David Brennan

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+.

Promising review: "I had my doubts but I thought, what the heck, for the price I'd give them a try. I am in real estate and known as a lighting snob. The first thing I look at in a kitchen if there is under cabinet lighting. These are so nice (it helps if you have a lip at the bottom of your cabinets) They are a true white, very bright, and I was lucky they were just the length I needed. I just ordered a set and had them shipped to my mom's as her halogen transformer which is buried in a wall, fried and I drives me nuts that the workspace on the counter is dark. I can't wait until I make the 250-mile drive to install them. I may buy more just to use at our listings!" —pauly

Get a 10' strand with 60 lights from Amazon for $20.96.

Also, if you can't find an exact measurement match for your throw pillows, you can go down a couple of inches: The pillows will just look overstuffed, like you spent a couple hundos on them.

Get the two-pack from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in four sizes and 21 colors).

Psst — if you want to see them in action, check out this viral TikTok of the mug organizers that's clocked millions of views.

Promising review: "I love these cup organizers. I have a small cabinet above where my coffeepot is and these have made it a pleasure to open that cabinet. All cups are organized and easy to get to. They stay right where they should be. No more stacking them inside one another and them falling over when I opened the cabinet. I also use these for some bowls in my dish set. Works great. I just ordered a couple more and I am going to use them for my china cabinet. I wondered when I first bought them because the price was a little high. Worth every penny and more. I can not say enough good about these." —ChefGirl

Get a set of six (to organize 12 mugs) from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Great product for a great price. Very sturdy, but lightweight and small — under my bathroom sink is *very* small, and the metal frame is thin enough that it doesn't take up much space, and of course it allows me to utilize the empty vertical space instead of shoving things all the way to the back wall. I might rearrange the shelves, but it's just held with screws on each end so that's easy enough to do-comes with two supports for two shelves, but you can choose from four heights/positions. 👍🏻 Might need to order a second for under the kitchen sink..." —Jennifer Mowry

Get it from Amazon for $22.87 (available in two finishes).

The kit comes with one Baseboard Buddy and three reusable pads which can be used wet or dry.

Promising review: "Buy it NOW. Honestly, I had huge reservations for this thing. Yet another miracle cleaning tool that will break or bend or something. I was so wrong. It was easy to put together and I sprayed it with Mean Green and went to the baseboards. No more kneeling and no broken back. This thing is amazing. It is durable and the pad is super absorbent. I am so happy. I can't wait to do the rest of the house!" —artgirl

Get it from Amazon for $24.99.

Rocco & Roxie Supply Company is a family-owned small business established in 2013 that specializes in pet odor eliminators, pet toys, pet snacks, and pet accessories.

Promising review: "I don't know how I ever survived without this. There's tons of 'pet stain/odor remover' products out there, but this by far is the absolute best. I cringed paying the $20 for it when others are between $5–$10, but I have NO ISSUES paying now. I foster dogs, some puppies, some older, some not house broken and every room in my house is carpeted except the kitchen which means I have lots of accidents. I spray enough to saturate if it's a lot of urine, let it soak for 10 minutes then wipe it up with a hand towel. Then I put a larger towel on top of it if it's in a high-traffic area until it's completely dry. It's taken out every stain and more importantly the odor is gone! I will never stop buying this product. I recommend it to everyone who has dogs!" —Shelley

Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.