27 Helpful Things That Will Make Your Home Even Better
It's time for a serious yet ~minimal~ home makeover.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A minimalist table lamp with an adjustable dimmer so you can get the perfect amount of light you need.
2. A color-coded cutting board that'll keep all of your cutting/cheeseboards all in one place, plus the color-coding helps prevent cross-contamination.
This set includes one bamboo cutting board and seven flexible, BPA-free mats.
Promising review: "One of our biggest issues in the kitchen is always the prep space! I loved the idea of this cutting board simply because of the different mats that come with it. Since there are many mats that are labeled for different purposes, cross-contamination is never an issue. Additionally, cleanup is really easy as we no longer have to clean a wooden board and then maintain the board after washing damage. Great purchase!" —K. Vance
Get it from Amazon for $28.49.
3. A shower curtain with quick-dry mesh pockets to give you more shower storage without actually taking up more space! Plus it will keep your soap and loofahs stored and safe away from water — where they are likely to last way longer.
Promising review: "This liner may be the most useful product I've ever purchased! It allows you to organize all your various bath products in conveniently sized mesh pockets. The pockets are strong enough to hold full shampoo and conditioner bottles without tearing away from the liner. No more worries about cluttered edges causing things to fall off the sides of the bathtub. No more nasty soap scum from bars of soap resting on the edge of the tub. No more rust circles from cans of shaving cream. It's brilliant!" —G. Allen
Get it from Amazon for $19.
4. A stylish futon that can fit the whole fam and fold out as a guest bed when you need it to!
Promising review: "This is a 5-star product. It was really easy to put together. It's a little firmer than what I usually like, but it's not uncomfortable. I even took a nap on it the other day. It was even a little bigger than I thought it would be. My family of three has plenty of room when we all sit on it." —Lindy M.
Get it from Novogratz on Amazon for $298.85+ (available in four colors).
5. A set of wall-mount corner shelves to fill empty corners of your home with your favorite novels and books.
Promising review: "The shelves complement my living room perfectly. After ordering one initially, I ended up buying a second because it looks so good and was able to add decoration into corners of the living room that otherwise were too small to hang anything. I get so many compliments and I’m able to store all of my little trinkets and meaningful small things that are usually bound to get put away somewhere." —Sara
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in eight finishes).
6. A plastic bag and bottle dryer that you can fold up or hang from the eyelet dowel when not in use, so you can save on storage space and plastic bags.
Promising review: "Not a very complicated product, you're thinking, right? And who needs a wooden-fingered stand that simply holds an upside-down plastic sack, right? And it costs 20 bucks. 'Hmmm,' you're thinking. You'd never spend 20 bucks when you could just dry your bags with a towel. Or throw them away once you've used them. But wait — this really is a good product and worth the money. Wash the bag, hang it on the wooden dryer, and you've just saved a plastic bag from a landfill for as many times as the bag holds up. This holder doesn't take up much space, it's nicely made, and it's low-tech. A very pleasant thing to have on your counter." —Deborah Gardner Conta
Get it from Amazon for $23.95.
7. A handy paper shredder for anyone who needs to shred up the junk mail before it even makes it into the junk drawer.
Promising review: "Whether you’re a college student or a professional that needs something for the office, this shredder doesn’t disappoint. I really like the cross-cut feature because it utilizes more bin space. This means that it’ll be able to hold more shreds of paper. It’s powerful and reliable, and I haven’t had any problems with it since. I use it quite often and have only had to empty it once (out of the four months I’ve had it for). Its compact size makes it perfect for storing in tight spaces." —HandsON
Get it from Amazon for $40.42.
8. An upright spiral fruit basket to give you serious vertical fruit storage like you've never seen before, so you can get all your apples and citrus friends off the counter.
Promising review: "My family and I like this better than a fruit bowl . . . aside from the interesting display factor, it's also easier to see how much fruit you have left than having to peer into and/or root around in the fruit bowl." —The CB Hammer
Get it from Amazon for $18.58+ (available in two sizes).
9. A set of airtight food storage containers that'll open with a satisfying pop and keep all the pantry goods in ~clear~ order.
Promising review: "This is the second set of POP containers that I've purchased. I bought the really big set a while ago...and was hooked. No longer will my white rice/grains/rolled oats/grits go wormy ( I know, 'yuck') and my cat's Kibble is stored in a clear container so I can see when it's running low. (FYI: the pet food container is not included in these sets, but is worth the additional purchase) I love these containers... they are lightweight enough so there's no strain on the wrists, yet heavy enough they don't tip over easily. The lids are easy to clean, and you could apply labels to distinguish between flours and sugars. They are expensive, but I believe you get what you pay for...Quality costs extra money." —Judith A Loue
Get them from Amazon for $42.99 (set of three)
10. A set of drawer insert dividers to store all your favorite sweaters, socks, and underwear with minimal drawer space!
Promising review: "I will never be a person that folds underwear. It's never going to happen. That photo that comes with this product? Not me. But a simple tool like this turned out to be what it takes just to know where things are. Left. Center. Middle. Any organizer made of cloth was out. I wanted something rigid but adjustable. If an organizer has soft sides, it's going to end up underneath the things it's supposed to be separating.
These fit firmly where I put them and there are no corners to snag clothing or hurt your hand on when you reach into the drawer. Well engineered product. I created three sections to my large top dresser drawer by adding the partitions front to back. I am so pleased with the difference that I am ordering two more sets so I can do my other drawers also.
These OXO dividers cost more than the flimsy ones, but if I wasn't able to buy these, I would just not buy organizers." —SeattleBookMama
Get them from Amazon for $19.99.
11. A set of magnetic spice jars as pretty as they are useful. All of your guests will want to know where you got these.
Promising review: "Where have these been all my life? These are perfect. So happy to have my spices off the shelf, and up on the door where I can see them ALL (and they're even organized alphabetically). One tip: If you're putting labels on, turn the container so the 'sprinkle' lid is in the upper righthand corner. This will keep very fine spices (baking soda, for example) from leaking out when on the steel base." —Robyn
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (choose from three-, six-, or 12-pack).
12. A Habitation Box subscription that sends out eco-friendly decor designed to look stunning in any home. Time to take the work out of sprucing it up for the holidays!
What you'll get: Eco-friendly, seasonal home decor sourced from small businesses that'll brighten up your space! Each box is curated by a professional designer trained in multi-functional, user-friendly design in a neutral color scheme that goes with any style/color home.
Promising review: "Each box is hand packaged with love and it is evident! Each piece is generally neutral and is able to fit into everyone's home. This is a wonderful way to bring joy to your doorstep! We also loved the free bonus gift. Thank you Habitation Box for my happy mail!!" —Kelly A.
Get it from Cratejoy for $57.50/month.
13. A roll-up dish-drying rack you can also use as a prep board, a flat colander, and a large trivet, and store it out of sight when not in-use!
It's heat-resistant up to 400 degrees F and can be tossed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
Promising review: "It is incredibly versatile and a wonderful addition to our kitchen. So far I have used it for drying large items over the sink, filling a pot when the sink was already full, and as a counter trivet for a hot pan, and it performs beautifully in all these roles. The metal rods are strong and sturdy enough to hold heavy items, long enough to span our sink from multiple angles, and best of all, it rolls up for easy storage when not in use. All around a great kitchen tool, and I'll never be without one again." —T. Eicher
Get it from Amazon for $19.98.
14. A handmade minimalist concrete vase so you can add an earth-toned home for flowers and dried plants wherever you need it!
15. A pair of hypoallergenic, chemical-free dryer eggs you can reuse in place of dryer sheets and fabric softener.
The egg nodules lift and tumble clothes for faster drying times, and they soften clothes to eliminate the need for fabric softener.
Get a two-pack from The Grommet for $17.95.
16. A Instant Pot that truly does it all, and fast as heck too. This baby consolidates a rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker (and more!) into an absolute unit, and it can make 20-minute mashed potatoes.
The IP's seven functions are: rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, and warmer. I have one at home and I use it all the time to whip up quick meals. The sauté function gets nice and hot really quickly.
Check out Instant Pot Hacks from Tasty to see more fun ways you can use an IP.
Promising review: "This is quite possibly the coolest, most versatile kitchen gadget I’ve ever owned. I love it so much that I’ve purchased two more for friends and relatives. What can it do? I think the real question is 'What can’t it do?' I truly believe you could replace every cooking appliance (including your oven and stove top) and do EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot. I purchased two sizes for my own use: the 3-quart (which is my almost-every-day workhorse for two person dishes) and the 8-quart (which I bring out to handle my dinner party dishes). Everything I’ve tried has been fabulous. In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is no better investment than the Instant Pot. Highly recommended!!!" —Stereoman
Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in three sizes).
17. A coat rack and storage shelf to keep entryways neat and orderly with ease.
Promising review: "It’s a great fit in my small house! It’s lightweight and I was able to put it together by myself with the tool that was supplied. Fits lots of shoes and coats. I don’t have it mounted to the wall since we aren’t allowed to put holes in them, and it still holds up great!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $65.95.
18. A dishwasher-safe adjustable measuring cup you'll use every time you're in need of a sticky ingredient.
Promising review: "Excellent OXO quality in an adjustable measuring cup especially made for sticky items such as peanut butter, honey, yogurt and other gooey ingredients. I use this almost every day and will probably get another one as an extra to have on hand. It gets every bit of sticky ingredients out of the cup and it's dishwasher-safe. A must for any kitchen, especially for bakers." —E. Deland
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (two-cup measurer).
19. An investment-worthy Aerogarden that'll grow herbs, salads, tomatoes, and peppers in a neat and orderly fashion. This is a hydroponic growing system with no soil and will grow your plants in ~no thyme~ even if you have little to no sunlight to work with!
Promising review: "Love this new garden! It's my fourth AeroGarden and they just keep getting better. This one has a very sleek design and takes up less space than I thought it would without sacrificing grow space or water capacity. Set up was a breeze with the display walking me through the steps. I love that on their larger gardens you can set the time on the garden, plus this one is wifi enabled so I can keep track of my garden's needs on my phone! My favorite new feature though is vacation mode, which will slow down the light and water use so I don't have to worry about my plants so much when I'm out of town. I can't wait for my plants to grow. I recommend it!!" —Ted
Get it from Amazon for $279.27+ (available in multiple sizes and styles).
20. A desktop stand riser with drawers to maximize storage options for your keyboard, mouse, notepads, and other necessities.
Promising review: "I purchased this to raise my monitor up to a better viewing angle, and to provide extra storage. I love the look of the bamboo, and the cut-outs provide a nice parking spot for my phone, pens, etc. It was nice to see that it holds a very heavy monitor (my computer is a Dell XPS 2720, which is an all-in-one computer). The space underneath is perfect for 'hiding' my wireless keyboard. Perfect for my needs!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
21. A simple but genius magnetic knife stripe reviewers swear by for holding up their color-coded knife set, and even heavy-duty kitchen utensils for quick access.
Promising review: "I love this knife holder! Living in an RV full time we need every space-saving device we can get. This came promptly, was easy to attach, and holds knives, a spatula, tongs, peeler, and wine opener in sight and within easy reach. I recommend this product." —Rita D'Alvarez
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
22. A three-tier plant stand so you can show off your plant babies with minimal effort.
23. A tip-out tray for anyone who has false drawers under the sink you'd like to put to good use.
Promising review: "We remodeled our kitchen and have been trying to find ways to create more storage space and be more organized. This kit works out perfectly to make use of the false drawers in front of the sink. They were super easy to install — it only took me 10 minutes." —Z Miller
Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in two sizes).
24. An EveryPlate subscription for anyone who wants to simplify family dinners — hello affordable meals, and goodbye trips to the grocery store! Each week you can choose from 11 different recipes for a four-person plan to keep everybody happy.
EveryPlate offers the following meal types: veggie, meat, fish, poultry, premium, and premium plus.
What does it include? Recipes with six simple steps, labeled ingredients, and cold-packed shipping
Promising review: "It takes all the work of having to meal plan and grocery shop. It not only saves me so much time, but it also saves me so much money!" —Kelsey Brackett
Get it from EveryPlate: a two-serving plan starting at $38.93/week for three meals; or a four-serving plan starting at $68.87/week for three meals.
25. A blank acrylic dry erase board that's so functional yet minimal, I think I may have feelings for it. Use this baby as a calendar, for grocery shopping- and to-do-lists, jotting down song lyrics, keeping track of personal goals, and more!
26. A stylish computer desk with versatile storage options to help you tuck away WFH accessories and stay organized.
Promising review: "I recently got this desk and have been using every day since. This desk from Nathan James. I like to draw a little when I get any time to myself. That doesn’t happen a lot with two kids and a busy schedule, but now I have the perfect spot for some mama time. This desk was so easy to put together and it’s so beautiful. I loveeee how much space there is to fit everything. Even the dog loves it. Very sturdy and big enough to hold so much." —Lyndsey Dickerson
Get it from Amazon for $161.45+ (available in seven styles).
27. And a wall-mounted table ideal for those who need a functional work/creative space, with less space to work with! You can also use it as a kitchen-prep table and fold it up when not in use. Genius.
Promising review: "Very good product. I live in a small apartment in New York. I was hoping to save space so my daughter can play, and I don't want my daughter to mess with my work documents. This cabinet helps me solve these problems. When I don't use it, I can fold it up and it won't take up space. When I want to work at night, it can quickly become a desk. It's very convenient." —Jason
Get it from Amazon for $189.99 (available in two colors).
You, satisfied with your expertly crafted home:
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.