We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. Use vinyl peel-and-stick tiles to make your backsplash look brand-new (and to make it easier to clean than bare wall).
2. Fake cute "shiplap" wooden siding basically wherever you want with similar peel-and-stick vinyl plank flooring.
3. Paint your cabinets if you want them to feel fresh or different. You could definitely hire a professional if you don't feel like DIYing. But if that's not in the budget, a cabinet paint set is one of the easier ways of making this happen, and reviewers say it can be done in one day!
4. Or go even further and switch out your cabinet doors — without ripping out your built-in cabinets. One Etsy seller makes custom-size unfinished, pre-sanded cabinet doors so you can get exactly what you want, easily.
5. If you don't love the ones you have right now, swap out your cabinet and drawer pull handles. Find ones that are the same length (and use the same holes) as the ones you have already so you can simply change 'em out, no drilling required.
6. Handy with a drill? You could even add cabinet knobs and pulls with the help of a reusable template to make sure the holes are always perfectly spaced and parallel.
7. Soak your builders-grade brass drawer pulls or door handles in brass ager for 10 seconds if you hate how they look, but don't want to shell out for new ones.
8. Install beadboard or beadboard wallpaper to upgrade the kitchen cabinets you already have. Pair this with that easy paint set for a project that's wayyy simpler and more doable than it looks!
Beadboard wallpaper will also transform a boring wall into an accent wall.
10. Update your circa-1990s appliances for less than the cost of dinner for two: simply cover them in stainless-steel-effect contact paper.
11. Mount some stick-on, plug-in, dimmable, remote-control lights under — and maybe even on top of — your cabinets so your prep and cooking workspace has some nice extra light, not to mention a luxe look. And it should only take about an hour to set up!
12. Lay peel-and-stick vinyl flooring in your bathroom or another small room in your home for some instant wow that doesn't involve any grout.
13. Imitate the look of trendy pressed-concrete patterned tiles without ripping out your floor — just paint, stencil, and seal.
14. Or opt for some peel-and-stick vinyl tiles to get the look you love for less money, less time, and less effort.
15. Ditch your colorful 1960s-style tubs, sinks, and tile by refreshing them with a tile and tub painting kit.
16. Enlist that same paintable beadboard wallpaper for the walls of your small toilet room — or elsewhere in the bathroom — to make it a more pleasant space to spend so much time in.
17. Swap out the regular bulbs on your builders-grade light fixture with some gold-dipped bulbs for a project that creates instant results with no mess and no stress.
18. Update metal fixtures — knobs and hinges, builders-grade overhead or mirror lights, vent covers — with metal-look spray paint to make everything look completely new in just an hour or two.
19. Peel-and-stick tile can give you a "wow" moment in the bathroom too — just take a look at how glamorous this tile makes a regular old sink look.
20. Hang up some pre-made wainscot wall panels. They take just an afternoon's work with some glue or nails — or if you're a renter or just non-committal, Command Strips! — add a little architectural charm to a boring, blank wall, door, kitchen island, or hallway.
Reviewers have figured out all kinds of ways to attach these and if you own your home, gluing or nailing them on is the way to go! But I'm a renter, and I think that Command picture-hanging strips would be a super easy way to hang them without having to worry about damage. Oh, and they come in a bunch of different sizes and dimensions, so you'll be able to find one that works for your project.
Single panels start at $9.33+ on Amazon, but you can also get them in packs of 10 in the same listing. Or for something a little more whimsical, try a scalloped version!
21. Pull your brass fireplace out of the 1980s with a coat or two of high-heat spray paint.
22. Conjure your own built-in bookcases using a bunch of Ikea's $49 Billy shelves.
23. Quadruple the function of a basic closet on the cheap by swapping the flimsy wire shelf and rod with an easy-to-assemble shelf and rod kit.
24. Stencil a pattern you love to create a custom accent wall. It's cheaper than paying for a wallpaper installation, and you can do it over the course of a weekend if your wall isn't too large.
25. Or achieve your accent wall dreams with some peel-and-stick removable wallpaper that'll make everyone who sees it "ooh" and "ahh." Not to mention the spark of joy (from how beautiful it is) and pride (because you did it yourself) you'll feel when you see it every day!
26. Hang those pendant lights you've always dreamed of, no electrician required: Just pick up a couple of conversion kits for your builder-grade can lights.
27. Or opt for a pendant lamp, which couldn't be simpler — all you have to do is hang it up and plug it into any regular outlet for that rustic bedside glow.
28. Extend your ceiling fans lives with a little spray paint TLC, too, to make them feel brand-freaking-new.
29. Refinish any furniture (or even a bathroom vanity or front door) that's seen better days with the help of a gel stain — it's much easier to use than regular liquid stain because of its thicker consistency. After sanding and a wipe-down with a tack cloth, it applies easily: wipe it on with a soft cloth, wait for a minute or so, then wipe off.
Once you've done a small project with the gel stain, you could even use it to completely transform something bigger, like your some cabinets. Just look at this kitchen transformation!
30. Convert any door you want into a sliding barn door using an inexpensive hardware kit. You may need a couple of people and some skill with a drill and a stud finder, but it'll be worth it!
31. Give your just-blah piece of furniture a new life that looks custom and hand-painted with a set of furniture decals. You just rub them onto your piece with a wooden stick, so it's the perfect project for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
32. Or opt for some peel-and-stick wallpaper or even more classic, some marble contact paper — your hand-me-down, thrifted, or discount furniture will suddenly become the star standout piece in whatever room its in.
33. Replace the blah-looking house number next to your front door with a modern option for a quick curb-appeal boost.
34. And achieve your dreams of a bright, friendly (or dark, moody) entry with some specially formulated front door paint. It doesn't require any sanding and is fast drying, so it's a project you can do in a morning or an afternoon!
This review gives detailed instructions to help everything come out perfectly, and most people will also need: a drop cloth, a regular paint brush, a small roller brush, touch-up brushes, and some painter's tape for the edges and windows. Oh, and you do have to clean your door quickly before you get started!
One reviewer says it's a thick consistency paint that doesn't drip or run, which makes it very easy to work with. And it comes in 15 different colors, so you're bound to find one you love!
You can get it from Amazon for $38.95+.
35. Install faux stone tiles on the outside of your house or garage to disguise an ugly layer of foundation or just add some visual interest.
36. Overhaul your faded garage door, or just give it a nice faux-wood finish, by coating it with gel stain.
37. Pick an outdoor-grade metallic paint — with the hammered finish built in! — to update your rusty porch lights.
38. Build a simple fire pit for less than $40 using heat-resistant concrete pavers and retaining wall stones.
39. And enlist those same concrete pavers to create a walkway or patio by laying them over gravel and sand to make a level surface, and filling the gaps with pretty rocks. Think of how nice it'll be to spend summer nights out there, relaxing!
40. Facing a patio or balcony that's *not* so much your aesthetic jam? Cover it up with interlocking teak tiles — they (thankfully!) don't require tools at all and are pretty simple to put together.
41. Hang a roll of faux ivy to solve one issue or several problems at once: conceal an ugly equipment, create a little extra privacy or shade, or block a view you wish you didn't have to see.
42. And finally, add a cozy, high-impact, low-effort glow to your yard or patio by installing waterproof globe string lights — they'll make it easier to see without harsh light. You can attach them to your roofline, string them in swags on a pergola or your fence, or drape a couple of lines between your front door and patio umbrella.
According to reviewers, make sure you remove the bulbs first and hang just the wire, to prevent breaking the bulbs. Once the wire's secure, then screw the bulbs back in! I did this in a yard once and it worked really well.
Each bulb socket has a clip on it to make for easy hanging/securing. And they're waterproof, so you don't have to worry about rain. Cable ties or screw-in cup hooks would work well for installation! You can get them with either a white, black, or green cord and sockets, so you know they'll match your house, trees, or decor.
They're on Amazon for $18.99+ (available in three lengths).
You congratulating yourself and feeling like an HGTV star after finishing even one of these projects:
