45 Cheap tricks designers use to make homes 10x better

Amber Shay, the national design director at Meritage Homes, says that making your home better isn’t about how much you spend. “It’s all about finding pieces that help you feel great about your space,” she adds. One upgrade she recommends is “upscale hotel-style bedding” like this crisp microfiber duvet cover. It’s available in 27 colors and six sizes in the listing. It also comes with two matching pillow shams.

Shay says, “When it comes to luxe décor, the price tag doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with it.” While this monogrammed bath towel may look pricey, it’s surprisingly budget friendly for a personalized item. The 100% cotton towel features a decorative fringe and is available in all the letters of the alphabet in the listing.

Another item that Shay recommends for adding a touch of luxe decor is a stylish mirror. This round mirror is nearly 16 inches across and features a hanging chain that adds to its appeal. Velvet on the back ensures it stays in place and doesn’t scratch your wall. It’s also available in two smaller sizes in the listing.

“Consider investing in a high-quality area rug that’s designed to look like a priceless heirloom,” suggests Shay. “It can set the tone for the entire space,” she adds. This lightweight rug has major vintage vibes and comes in lots of colors and sizes in the listing to fit any space. Even better: It’s machine washable.

“Bright doors are in for the season,” explains Shay. This sunny yellow front door paint can be used to add the “bright pop of color” she says is on-trend for this year. If you’re not a fan of yellow, the paint is also available in 14 other colors in the listing. The paint is fade- and UV-resistant.

Another trick Shay uses to make homes look better is to bring the outdoors in. “I advise customers to look at their favorite exterior textures and incorporate them into the home in a natural way,” she says. This handcrafted rattan pendant light has an adjustable length of up to 47.2 inches and comes with a dimmable LED bulb to add a touch of texture to any room.

“It’s surprising how many unique ways there are to incorporate [outdoor textures like terracotta] into your home,” says Shay. This terracotta vase is a sizable 8.6 inches tall to hold any pampas grass, greenery, or other decor you’d like for a fresh, outdoorsy vibe.

Another item you can use “to make the indoors feel a little more like the outdoors,” per Shay’s suggestion, is these cord-free roll-up bamboo window shades. They come in two colors and three widths in the listing, and they have earned more than 9,000 five-star reviews.

Michele Iapicco, the principal at Iapicco Design Studio, has a clever trick for adding height to any room: Installing the curtain rod high and using a long curtain. The “drape should just touch the floor,” she adds. These thermal blackout curtains come in six colors and five lengths in the listing, including 84-, 95-, and 108-inch options.

To “immediately [make] your room feel larger” as Iapicco suggests, install this brass-finish curtain rod about an inch from the ceiling. It extends in length from 36 to 66 inches and includes the brackets and all hardware needed for installation.

“Reduce clutter in your entryway, bedroom, or mud room with a storage ottoman,” recommends Nichole Abbott, a FLOOR360 interior designer. She suggests this roomy ottoman that’s earned an impressive 4.7-star overall rating on Amazon. It comes in four colors in the listing and can hold 50 pounds of spare blankets, out-of-season clothing, and other clutter throughout your home.

To make your kitchen look better, Abbott suggests using “an organizer that’s sleek and modern.” She likes this stainless steel sponge holder because it can hold your sponges, hand soap, dish soap and dish brushes inside. “The excess water from brushes and sponges will drain off the side via an attached spout,” she says. Choose from three finishes in the listing.

Another trick Abbott uses is replace hallway or entryway “boob” lights with something chicer. She suggests this rattan flush-mount light. She says it will play well with “boho, farmhouse, Scandinavian or even traditional home styles.” The fixture measures 11.8 inches across.

Thomas Borcherding, the owner and lead designer of Homestar Design Remodel, states, “Under cabinet lighting is a highly sought after kitchen feature right now.” By adding a thin LED light bar like this one, “you can achieve functional and ambient kitchen lighting,” he says. The touch-activated light is battery operated and can be installed via adhesive or screws (both of which come included).

Bob Berriz, the creative director of Berriz Design Build, says you can add soft lighting to various niches around your home to “create a warm, inviting atmosphere.” He likes this six-pack of night-lights because they’re affordable and easy to install. They’ll turn on automatically at dusk and give off a cool white light.

One cheap trick that’ll make your home look better and feel cozier that Berriz recommends? Incorporating new throw pillows. This two-pack of lumbar pillow covers feature a velvet fabric that’ll add a sheen to any bed, chair, or couch. They’re available in several sizes and lots of colors in the listing.

Throw blankets are another way Berriz recommends refreshing a living room or bedroom. This cooling cotton and bamboo blanket comes in a throw size and several bed sizes to fit either space. The textural blanket comes in lots of colors in the listing to match your decor.

“Spruce up empty walls with affordable wall art,” suggests Berriz. He recommends this six-pack of black and white art that’s abstract and striking. It “provides a variety of modern prints that can create an appealing gallery wall,” he says. A few other styles of art are also available in the listing.

“Incorporating plants can breathe life into a room,” says Berriz. He likes this six-pack of potted succulents, saying, “they add vibrant greenery and require minimal care.” Each plant is about 2 inches tall.

Berriz says decluttering can “keep spaces tidy and visually appealing,” and he suggests this four-pack of woven hyacinth baskets. They’re “stylish and practical for under-bench storage or kitchen organization,” he says.

Pam Hutter, the principal at Hutter Architects, says, “utilizing wall-mounted shelves can free up floor space and create a visually appealing display.” She suggests this pair of paulownia wood floating shelves. Each one is 17 inches long but a 23.6-inch version is also available in the listing. They come with all hardware needed to install them.

Because “less is more in small spaces,” according to Hutter, she suggests “multi-functional decor.” She recommends this 15.25-inch-tall wall display that can act as storage or a planter. It comes in a few finishes and a smaller size in the listing.

Shaun Green, the senior interior designer and the founder of The Furniture Shack, says a hanging pot rack “can create additional storage space, free up counter space, and add a touch of charm to any kitchen.” The iron rack is heat- and rust-resistant, and comes with ten movable hooks. Hardware and instructions are included for a fast and easy installation.

Green says this battery-powered picture light “can add a warm and cozy ambiance to any room, highlight artwork or family photos, and even make a small space feel bigger.” The light is 16 inches wide, comes with a remote, and will run for up to 50 hours per charge (depending on the brightness setting used).

“The front door is where first impressions happen, so a door knocker with personality is the perfect way to start off on the right foot,” says Jennifer Burt, the interior designer and creative entrepreneur behind Mississippi Maximalism. This lion-shaped cast iron door knocker has an antique brass finish and Burt says it’s “so simple to install, all you need is a drill.”

Burt says you can utilize outdoor spaces in new ways by adding outdoor curtains on a patio. She suggests this grommeted pair of outdoor curtains that are waterproof and feature triple-woven material. “They bring a soft texture outside, and can also shield you from the sun's strong rays,” she says. Choose from a variety of colors and sizes in the listing.

“I resell vintage furniture and one of my must-haves in my tool kit is furniture repair wood markers and wax sticks,” says Burt. This 13-piece repair set comes with markers and crayons in a variety of wood tones that can be blended for a perfect match to fill scratches and hide other damage to wooden pieces throughout your home.

Nitya Namya, the interior designer of Nityanamya, recommends using peel-and-stick backsplash tiles to revamp a kitchen. “They are cheap, easy to install, and come in different designs,” she says. Each of the ten included sheets measures 1 square foot. Choose from six styles in the listing.

“Get a bedside lamp that gives off a gentle warm glow,” says Namya. This sleek glass bedside lamp stands 13.5 inches tall and comes in several colors in the listing. The rotary switch is on the cord.

Namya suggests replacing your dated or worn shower curtain for a new one “with patterns or textures that match your bathroom.” This linen-textured fabric shower curtain comes in a wide array of colors and sizes. It’s also machine washable to keep it looking fresh.

Another idea Namya has to make your home better is to “add a stylish doormat [...] to your entryway [to] set a positive tone for anyone entering your home.” This welcoming “hello” welcome mat is made with natural coconut coil to help keep dirt outside and absorb moisture. The backing is made of rubber to keep it in place and prevent water from pooling beneath it.

Namya also mentions adding potted plants to your entryway to create a welcoming feel. This lattice-design planter box is made of durable polypropylene with built-in drainage to prevent overwatering. The planter stands 13 inches tall and is nearly 15 inches wide.

“String lights can transform any outdoor space into a magical retreat,” says Namya. This solar-powered strand of lights is 27 feet long and fully waterproof to last through the seasons. A 48-foot version is also available in the listing for larger areas.

Pete Trentacoste, the head of interior design of gosummer.com, says, “adding peel-and-stick wallpaper or decals can make a significant impact on a room's aesthetic without a long-term commitment. This peel-and-stick wallpaper has a grass-weave look and neutral tone that’ll brighten any space — but it’s available in plenty of other shades in the listing, too. Trentacoste suggests using wallpaper “for accent walls or small areas like behind bookshelves or in nooks.”

Another suggestion Trentacoste has for making the most of your space is “strategically placing a mirror opposite a window can reflect natural light throughout the room, making it appear larger and brighter.” This four-pack of mirrored wall tiles can be used separately or together to bounce lots of light. Each panel measures 12 by 14 inches and is self-adhesive for easy installation.

Catherine Hooper, the owner and lead Designer of iSPY Home Design, has a deceptively simple trick for upgrading a room: adding a quality rug pad. She specifically suggests this felt rug cushion, saying, “I swear by this brand of rug pads that hold your rugs in place, protect the floors underneath, and make thinner rugs feel cozier and more luxurious.” The pad is a 0.25 inches thick and measures 5 by 7 feet, but other sizes and thicknesses are available in the listing (and it can be trimmed to fit).

“While I know getting quality frames may seem like an unnecessary expense, it actually takes a room to the next level,” advises Hooper. She suggests this glass-paned pair of floating frames made with solid wood. They come in seven shades in the listing and lots of sizes.

Because Hooper warns against “cheap frames with bad finishes and plastic protectors instead of glass,” she also suggested this aluminum frame with real glass if you prefer a metallic finish. It comes in four finishes in the listing and several sizes.

“I’m a firm believer in the power of a good cord cover to hide and organize unsightly cords around the house,” emphasizes Hooper. She suggests this cord cover that can hold up to three cables at once because it can be painted to match your walls. The set comes with 157 inches of cover and includes corner pieces. The pieces can also be cut to fit.

Hooper also suggests covering cords running on the ground for “a cleaner (and safer!) look.” She likes this floor cord cover which is 6 feet long and comes in five shades in the listing. It can easily be cut to fit any area. “These can make a huge difference, especially in spaces with a lot of appliances,” says Hooper.

“Don’t sleep on your switchplate covers,” advises Hooper. “I’m a big fan of the screwless style that come in lots of colors and finishes and are super easy to clean,” she says. She suggests this matte switch cover that resists fingerprints. It comes in lots of finishes and styles in the listing and is just as easy to install as a traditional switch cover.

“For a more vintage look, you could opt for a brushed brass finish that feels like a real statement,” says Hooper. She likes this brushed-brass switch plate that boasts clean lines. It’s available in a few finishes and styles in the listing (including antique copper and hammered metal versions).

Hooper warns that older homes often have recessed lighting in the wrong places “including in spaces that no designer would ever recommend them, such as living rooms and bedrooms.” She suggests this cordless lamp “for a super minimalist look.” It comes in four shades, has three light color temperatures, can be dimmed, and will run for up to 10 hours per charge.

“Adding ambient lighting fixtures wherever possible [...] makes a space feel really sophisticated,” adds Hooper. She suggests this plug-in pendant light with a 15-foot cord that doesn’t require any professional wiring to install. It has a matte white shade but a brass option is also for sale in the listing.

An “eye-catching [...] floor lamp” that Hooper recommends is this elegant brass model that has a flexible cap at the top, three color temperatures, and a heavy base that ensures it won’t get knocked over. It comes in a few other finishes in the listing as well.