buzzfeed Press
47 Things That’ll Help Deal With All Your “I Can’t Move Right Now” Frustrations
Images
BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More Let’s focus on a few more upgrades to optimize your current space. After all, moving is a chore. 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. So you're staying put for the time being. That means you can also get a little creative and strategic to make your current home work better for you...all without any renovations. I'm talking about simple ways to make your kitchen cabinets look better, magnetic charging lights you can stick *right* where you need them, and all kinds of things that'll help you buy more storage space out of thin air. I rounded up all kinds of small tweaks you can make to love your home even more. Promising review: "My toilets had a few stains that no matter what cleaner, bleach, or scrubbing I used, I couldn’t get them off… Until this. A bit of hard scrubbing and my toilets are back white like new! Very easy and effective!" — Jennifer McCutchon 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 used this in my guest closet to put hats/gloves/mittens so you could see all the pairs of winter gear and get to pieces easily. It's so neat and organized. I love it." —Trisha Get it from Amazon for $8.97+ (available in seven colors). Promising review: "We got this for the house we rent because the front door had a big piece of glass that was very cloudy, but you could still see-through it. We put it in both sides and the door looks so much better as well as gives an extra sense of privacy. Easy instillation and directions were easy to follow." —BreAnna Vaughan Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in seven sizes). 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 Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc. Promising review: "This product is AMAZING! The kitchen cabinets in my new rental were quite old and needed lots of love. Some had big areas that had almost no finish left. We used steel wool, Feed-N-Wax, and they are BEAUTIFUL. They look almost like they would have in the mid '50s when they were new. I can't begin to tell you how in love with this product I am." —Amazon Customer Promising review: "Worked wonders! I spilled nail polish remover on my nightstand. This worked like magic! Just rub lightly with the cloth." —JMac 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! Promising review: "Rather than ditching furniture into a landfill, which is bad for the environment and one's pocketbook, this product allows you to give new life to existing furniture. Between the Soto touchup and new handles, my entertainment center looks like new....for less than $35. If you can use liquid paper, you can use this. I just ordered another bottle for porcelain. This is a fantastic product. You will love it!" —LexiNYC Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in 24 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 two sizes, four colors, and in multipacks). 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 $17.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL). 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 $44.99 (available in six types and three sizes). Promising review: "My 1929 enamel cast-iron country kitchen sink needed all new plumbing so we ripped out all the scrap wood the original owners has cobbled together to make shelves and there was no way that junk was gonna be reused. This shelving system made it really easy to span and work around all the newly configured plumbing and yield tidy looking shelves to store all the regular things I keep under the sink. I'd recommend this to anyone who has the same challenge." —Bob Get it from Amazon for $24.87 (available in two finishes). And when you move or change your mind, you can easily remove or reposition it! Promising review: "I bought this to do a little update to a dishwasher I didn't want to replace since it is fairly new. I simply added a piece of it to a black dishwasher and it really helped to tie it in with our other new stainless/black appliances. It's been on for over a month and is holding up perfectly." —KFran Get an 18-inch x 6-foot roll from Amazon for $15.47. Promising review: "Perfect! Exactly what I needed to organize my mop, broom, scoop, etc. Efficient and easy to use. A little hard to get my scoop into it but that’s cause it’s thicker than the rest of items. Love that there are hooks. Spray bottles and cleaning product bottles hang perfectly on there too." —Kavita Chandanie Check out a TikTok of the Command spray bottle hangers in action. Promising review: "Love these! They have helped organize all my products underneath my kitchen sink. The Command hooks are strong and nothing has budged even with the weight of the spray bottles! Highly recommend." —Talayfor87 Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.61. macraYAYmacrame is an Indianapolis, Indiana-based shop that makes a variety of cool macrame accessories. My colleague Jenae Sitzes owns and loves this: "I recently picked up this macrame basket (in the Cactus shade) and *highly* recommend it if you're looking to add a cozy touch to your kitchen. As someone with a relatively small NYC kitchen, I need every bit of counter space I can get, and this lets me keep produce out without having to take up space with a fruit basket or banana stand. I'm a big fan of utilizing vertical space as storage, and this does just that; plus, it allows for ventilation to help your fruit stay fresh for longer. I'm constantly cooking with onions or grabbing an apple as a mid-day snack, and having them right there at an arm's reach is sooo nice. BTW, these come with hooks that screw directly into a cabinet, but if you (like me) want to avoid that damage, I recommend using Command hooks — I'm using four of these small toggle hooks and they've held up the basket *with* produce in it wonderfully." Get it from macraYAYmacrame on Etsy for $33. Promising review: "This organizer is so useful! I recently moved and ended up with a much smaller kitchen, so I've been doing everything I can to make sure there's a place for everything and no wasted space. Luckily, I have pretty wide cabinets, so this works out perfectly. I have one holding my cutting boards (four standard plastic boards) and another holding my foil, cling wrap, and parchment paper boxes. The organizer is super easy to assemble and it's completely versatile. Hang it over the cabinet door or attach it to the wall/cabinet door, which means it's great for renters and owners." —Kerry 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 degrees, 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 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!!!" Promising review: "I have been searching for a paper lamp or replacement for my current apartment lights, but they either wouldn't fit or it would require too much effort that my landlord wouldn't appreciate. That's when I came across Tulip. I can't be more blunt than this — you literally Command Strip the ring to the ceiling and the shade attaches via magnet... seriously ingenious." —Oliver O. What's included: Ceiling mount, Tulip shade, 12x removable tape, and 3x screws (as needed for textured ceiling applications). Get it from Tulip for $145 (check out other styles). 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: "I tried EVERYTHING for two years to get the ring of baked-on grime off of our stovetop. Nothing worked. I figured I’d give this product a go since the kit was just $10. IT’S AMAZING. A little scrape with the razor and a few scrubs with the cleaner and pad. BOOM! Nasty rings around the burners are GONE!" —OperaDiva Get it from Amazon for $10.95+ (available in two styles). Promising review: "This faux mulch border was just what I was looking for. I wanted something simple (not elaborate) to keep my bark in place. It looks good and now I need to order more : )" —Eva Get a 1'' H X 120'' W X 4.5'' D roll from Wayfair for $30 (also available in a tree ring or pathway). Promising review: "Good quality. Easy to assemble. Parts are individually bagged and labeled. Holds two 32-gallon round barrels — which is what I wanted it for. Very compact, which was a factor for where i had to put it." —Joe in Brooklyn Get it from Amazon for $279.98. Also check out a similar shed in several sizes to find the right one to fit your space and needs. These have a built-in magnet that'll stick on most metals, or you can use the included adhesive tape to tape them onto an existing surface. Promising review: "These lights are so worth it. I have a closet with no light in it, and I installed these in maybe two minutes flat, and it has completely fixed my disdain for the previously dark and disorganized closet. If you think you need these, you probably do." —HD Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two sizes and in warm or white light). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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). 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 square feet." —RLB Get it from Amazon for $50.34+ a gallon (available in two shades of gray). Promising review: "Perfect for our patio. Easy to clean and feels great on feet!!" —JS Get it from Amazon for $67.99+ (available in three sizes and five 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). 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). Before ordering, measure your existing cabinet pulls and make sure the depth and length line up with the ones you're ordering! Promising review (from June 2026): "Budget-friendly and good designer drawer pulls. They have been very strong and durable since my purchase in 2022. They say they are metal, but they are not heavy; they are actually lightweight. The brushed matte look is so versatile in any designed room. They are easy to install. They are easy to grab and use, the perfect size. They look amazing for the price; they come for a 12-pack." —Chaise Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in quantities 1–60 and in black, gold, or silver). Promising review: "I went in skeptical, I'm not going to lie. We had grease spilled on our brand-new paver patio. The grease had been sitting for a few weeks, and I saw an ad for this stuff. I ordered it to try because why not? Well, I'll be damned because this took the spots right off! No evidence we ever spilled anything! I'd buy it again." —Susan Promising review: "Unbelievable! My daughter just moved into her first home. She thought she would have to paint her brick fireplace because of the heavy soot stains that had been there for years. We applied the product twice and put in a whole lot of elbow grease, but what a difference! It’s a messy process, but well worth the time and energy." —MM Promising review: "Living in Hawaii you have to select wise items that are weather-, salt-, and red dirt–proof, etc... In total I ordered 11 boxes to complete my yoga deck. I have a few left over to make steps on the back. Very pleased and happy. May order more for an outdoor shower project!" —Adazzle Promising review: "I used this Gloss White to paint an old garden arch, gate and a trellis over a garden bench. It was just a dreary, tired black; the white changed the look and feel instantly. Definitely get the trigger grip accessory if your project takes more than one can — mine was eight cans and that grip was a great idea.The paint is a true bright white with a bit of a shine after it dries. I did have to do two full coats to completely cover the original black wrought iron, but there's no color bleed through as a result." —Dogs & Horses Get it from Amazon for $15.94+ (available in a variety of metallic colors). Promising review: "Great product! I bought it for my backyard picnic table. I think the table and bench covers are well made for the price I paid." —Maria Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in eight patterns). 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 (for the pic on the right): "Very pretty print, actually grips unlike everything else I’ve tried from Home Depot. Worth spending a few extra bucks." —Marie Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in six sizes and 13 colors and patterns). Promising review: "Um, why haven't you bought it already? This stuff WORKS! As a repeat boil-over offender, this has saved my stove time and time again. No regrets buying it! First photo is after a messy cooking session, second photo shows just how great the pink stuff is at cleaning up!" —M.C. 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. Made from heavy-gauge steel and can store up to 36 cans of various sizes. Promising review: "These units were easy to assemble. They felt sturdy. I love that they are made of metal and not cheap plastic. I'm considering buying two more, and going side by side and stocking up on can goods!" —Amazon Customer * 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 * Effective Solutions To Address All The Ugly, Gross, Or Weird Problems You’ve Been Avoiding Eye Contact With In Your Home * Products That’ll Stay In Your Home Forever Because They’re That Useful * Products That’ll Make Your Home More Comfortable *And* Stylish * Products That’ll Help Disappear Home Eyesores So Well, Your Space Will Feel Totally Refreshed 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.
Comments
You must be logged in to comment.