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Without any DIY that a contractor *should* be doing in your home.

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.

When you spend a lot (and I mean a LOT) of your time at home, you notice all kinds of little things that you'd like to update. I don't think I'm the only person who feels that way.... Chances are, we're kindred renovation-yearning spirits but realize calling in a professional to rip out kitchen cabinets or install a bunch of subtle lighting right where you want it just isn't in the picture right now. So I rounded up a bunch of things that'll help *easily* give you all kinds of home updates for that rush you get with a nice big upgrade. 

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 $58.99+ (available in nine styles and a range of sizes).

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 $24.98 (available in three outlet styles and four colors). 

Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products. I used one of these in my bathroom because my hair dryer kept falling out of the socket. It works like a charm and, because it's clear, you don't know it's there. 

Promising review: "These are SUCH a game changer. We rent, so I can't do much about the loose outlets around the house. These have made several outlets usable again!" —Minerva G.

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99. 

You run your bath, add the cleaner, watch the gunk emerge, drain your bath, and then clean off the gunk! Btw, Oh Yuk is a small biz. 

Promising review: "It's disgusting to see what comes out of your jets when you use this product. I can't believe we bathed in this! I've run bleach and dish detergent through my jets before, and that combination never cleaned with this efficiency. I highly recommended this product." —Amazon Customer

Promising review: "Wished I upgraded my showerhead sooner. Installation was very simple, and it even came with a guide if needed. It comes with an extension arm that connects to your existing water pipe. No leaks whatsoever, and I did not need any other tools. Took less than five minutes to install. It feels really nice standing right under the showerhead, and it covers your whole body with nice pressure and looks nice! Definitely recommend it to those looking for an upgrade!" —Vincent Horng

Get it from Amazon for $40.99+ (available in two sizes and four finishes). 

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

Promising review: "This bracket is awesome and was extremely easy to install. We were able to hang curtains over our vertical blinds in just a few minutes and didn't even need any tools. Great product!!!" —Amazon Customer

Get a set of two from Amazon for $17.95 (also available in a range of colors and designs).

Also, built-up lint is a fire hazard! Make this a part of your weekly cleaning routine.

Promising review: "This brush is stiff but flexible enough to feed under my dryer's lint filter. Several weeks ago a trouble light came on that indicated the air flow in my dryer was becoming obstructed. I had the dryer vent and area under the lint filter cleaned. (Not much lint was pulled out, so maybe the dryer sensor gave a false alarm.) I felt a small investment in a brush such as this is better than paying for a future vent cleaning. I've been using it once a week and it picks up a little lint each time, but that's lint that won't have a chance to build up in the dryer vent!" —blueskys

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

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). 

Promising review: "We rent a house, and my mom parked her car in the driveway while we went on vacation. When she left and went home, we noticed an approx. 10 x 10 spot. Being that we rent and the fact that spots on the driveway look ugly, I purchased this, and it pulled the stain right out. When it was all said and done, where the spot was looked just like the rest of the driveway! Awesome! Super easy to use. Just follow the directions." —Dan

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: "Leaving mine out, so I did use landscape fabric and pea gravel under it. It keeps dogs from tracking in mud when it rains and from trampling my plants. Sturdy and convenient! I bought a second one. I love it so much." —Kindle Customer

Get an 8-foot path from Amazon for $78.49.

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 $34.90.

Reviewers have successfully used this on fences, mesh outdoor chairs, Sunbrella chair cushions, decks, vinyl siding, and cedar siding.   

Promising review: "I first used this product about two years ago on the awning on my RV. That awning was so bad that I thought I was going to have to replace it. After using this Scott's product as directed, the mold and mildew completely disappeared. This product definitely works and it works GREAT! What more can I say — it saved me nearly $500." —R. Latreille

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 $46.70+ a gallon (available in two shades of gray).

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 $24.87 (available in three finishes).

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 $38.49+ (available in several sets and variations).

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

You can check out the full TikTok showing how easily these go on. 

BTW, they're from ReVent Covers, a small biz! 

Promising review: "My DW panel was a poor grade of stainless, impossible to clean streaks, and had a dent to boot! This solved the problem and looks great. I'm very happy!" —Laura Berger

Get it from ReVent Covers on Etsy for $49.99+ (available in four designs and many sizes). 

Psst, if you're all but ready to give up on your stainless-steel appliances ever looking clean, try out this holy-grail Therapy stainless-steel cleaner.

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

Promising review: "Moldings came in well-packed and quickly. It was super easy to install. Used White Lightning Speed Grip to adhere the panels. These panels gave a high-end look to an otherwise drab wall and peninsula. So classic and affordable and it will never go out of style!" —JM

Get a single panel from Amazon for $9.32+ (available in sets and 17 sizes).

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 $12.99+ (available in six sizes).

This uses three AAA batteries and includes a remote that lets you set the light to different brightnesses and schedule a timer for 15, 30, 60, or 120 minutes.

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

Get it from Amazon for $27.54+ (available in three colors).

Just make sure to measure your cabinets before ordering, because pulls come in different sizes and depths!

Promising review: "The handles are made with high-quality heavy metal so they will stand up to everyday usage. I am very happy with how they look and showcase my kitchen cabinets. They will make your cabinets look like a high-end, very expensive item...a 10 out of 10 for sure." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in six styles and 11 finishes).

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

Promising review: "I bought this so my puppies could traverse to/from their backyard pen area...and keep flying insects out. It is AWESOME! The puppies figured out quickly that they could go through the screen — the screen snapped back into a closed state immediately after they got through the opening. If only all things in life could be solved this easily!" —Lynette S Quigley

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: "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

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 $29.77+ (available with or without a staple gun). 

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 $6.48+ (available in four colors and in multipacks).

Promising review: "These babies have transformed and reformed my slobby life. My dog sitter thought I got a new sink and fridge. I have never had more fun cleaning in my life — wait, I have never had any fun cleaning. But these magical creatures make it so freaking satisfying. No toxic stuff. No fumes. Just heavenly cleanliness. These are also much, much bigger than Magic Erasers. I cut them in half lengthwise, and they are STILL bigger. And they are a ton cheaper. Buy these. I don’t have much of a life, but I finally have a spotless sink." —Jimmy Jim Ereeno

These work on almost any surface: leather, fabric, furniture, hardwood, pans, metal, WHEREVER. And! They'll clean up grease, oil, tar, dirt, ink, lipstick, nail polish, food, and a whole lot more.

Promising review: "Only within a couple seconds of using these wipes, I get a clean result. I am a busy mom of three, and need something quick that ACTUALLY works. This product is amazing. I would highly recommend. Renting an apartment, it's hard to clean the walls without removing the paint. This gets the job done 100%." —Sirena

Get a pack of 90 from Amazon for $16.45 (available in nine sizes/packs).

Promising review: "This is the ONLY product that has gotten the horrible rust/hard water/iron stains out of the toilet in the older house we’re currently renting. I’ve scrubbed and scrubbed with pumice stones, and other products that promised to get these ugly stains out; none of them have worked, except for Iron Out. 10/10 would recommend to everyone with similar issues. It also managed to get rust and hard water stains out of my bathroom sink, and bath tub." —Roo

Get it from Amazon for $13.46+ (available in three sizes).

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

It includes a remote that can adjust the brightness.

Promising review: "This is a wonderful product; just what I wanted. It's super easy to install, and I love that it breaks off into sections so you don’t have any hanging over to hide. The remote is awesome, and there are lots of brightness settings. I’m going to use these everywhere!" —Queen Halloween

Get the six-piece kit from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in three light colors).

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: "Some would say I'm a clean freak, no harsh feelings though! I have used many 'ring' remover cleaners and none have worked like this pumie stone. It doesn’t scratch your bowl and the best part, you're not gagging on fumes from other harsh toilet bowl cleaners that promise removal of harsh water stains in your toilet. Not sure how it affects a well system though I’ve read that it’s ok." —Amazon Customer

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* If Your House Is Your Favorite Place To Be, Here Are 45 Things To Make You Love It *Even More*

* Things To Turn Your House Into A Home Without Drilling, Painting, Or A Major Renovation

* Your Home Will Be Soooo Much Better Off With These 43 Under-$25 Convenient Products

Plus, the home products we gave 2026 Buzzy Awards to and finds from Amazon, Target, 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.