Real estate pros say these are the smartest home upgrades you can make for under $30

“One of the first things I recommend is a tube of caulk to freshen up tilework in bathrooms and kitchens,” says Jodi Bakst, a realtor and developer based in North Carolina.

This 100% silicone caulk seals out water, air, and moisture to instantly elevate the look of your bathroom and kitchen tile. It won’t yellow, shrink, or crack, and it’s mold-resistant. Plus, it’s safe for indoor and outdoor use, so you can also use it on your garage, gutters, windows, exterior doors, and more. After application, it’s water-ready in just 30 minutes.

“I also suggest replacing outlet and light switch covers if they have been in place for many years and may be discolored or scratched,” Bakst says. This 10-pack of toggle light wall plates feature a sleek, elegant design that will seamlessly fit into your space and blend right in. They’re heat- and fade-resistant and have soft edges that won’t collect dust. Available in six colors, this pack even comes with screws that match the wall plate for easy installation.

“One of the smartest home upgrades you can buy for under $30 is a smart water leak sensor,” notes John Gluch, realtor and owner of Gluch Group. “These sensors can detect leaks early and alert you before significant damage occurs.”

Place a Wi-Fi-connected water sensor like this one near sinks, toilets, water heaters, and other water sources to detect drips. Not only will it let out a super loud alarm if a drip or leak is detected, but it also connects to an app that can send a notification to your phone so you can monitor up to 10 sensors around your house from the palm of your hand — no matter where you are.

“Smart light switches are another upgrade I'd recommend,” says Gluch. “You can replace your traditional light switches and allow for remote control and scheduling if your lights and other connected devices.”

Check out this smart light switch, which is a bestseller on Amazon with over 30,000 five-star ratings. It connects to an app that not only takes you through the installation process step-by-step but also allows you to control your lights and appliances remotely. You can use voice control or schedule timers to automatically turn things on and off so it always looks like someone’s home.

Another quick and easy way to upgrade your space is with paint. “Adding a coat of paint or painting an accent wall is a nice option for an upgrade that can cost you less than $30...” Gluch recommends. This fast-drying paint is water-based, so it can be used indoors or outdoors to freshen up your space. One can covers around 120 square feet and dries in just 30 minutes, which means you can change your vibe in an instant. Plus, the glossy finish is chic and elegant, great to paint a wall or your next DIY project.

Gulch says that “adding a shelf or two can also really add to the look of a space,” and that’s certainly true for this two-pack of floating shelves. Despite being lightweight enough to hang on your wall, these wood and metal wire pieces can hold up to 13 pounds each, making them a great place to store knicknacks and pictures while adding dimension to your walls.

Award-winning Vancouver real estate agent Adam Chahl suggests adding window film like this rain-style one, to add privacy without blocking natural light. “Window film designs come in different patterns and styles that can add a touch of elegance to your windows while also providing privacy and UV protection,” he explains.

This window film attaches to glass with static cling so it can be easily removed and reused without leaving any kind of sticky residue. It can also help protect your skin — as well as your floors, art, and furniture — from UVA and UVB rays, while still letting all the natural light in. The rain-patterned film is great for bathrooms, bedrooms, and other windows where you want a little more privacy.

“One of the fastest and easiest ways that you can upgrade your home for under $30 is by external magnetic garage door hardware,” says Danny Margagliano, a realtor with DestinPropertyExpert.com and World Impact Real Estate. “This upgrade will only take a few minutes, a few dollars, and can be done by any skill level. It will instantly increase the look and the value of your home.”

These magnetic garage accents are a great option if you’re looking to elevate the look of your home without breaking the bank. The set comes with six pieces — four flat magnets that look like chic hinges, and two smaller, slightly angled magnets that look like handles. The magnets are made of strong and durable iron, so they’re weather-resistant and great for long-lasting outdoor use, which is why they have a 4.8-star rating on Amazon.

“If your property currently features dated blinds, I would highly recommend switching to floor length curtains for an elevated look,” says Jennifer Okhovat, an agent at Compass in West Hollywood. These linen curtains look elegant and chic but won’t break the bank. They’re made of a rich, blended linen that’s breathable and sheer to offer style and some privacy without blocking out the natural light. Each panel has eight grommets to install on a curtain rod and they come in a bunch of stunning, muted colors and various lengths that will instantly elevate your space’s aesthetic.

“One of my favorite home upgrades done for under $30 is buying new curtains and curtain rods,” says Okhovat. “Window treatments don't have to be expensive.” Enter: this sleek curtain rod. It’s made of super durable metal with curved ends that not only look great but mount directly to the wall so your curtains can fully surround the ends of your windows to completely block out light for a blackout effect. It can hold up to 20 pounds and has an adjustable rod to customize to the length of your window.

“Another one of my favorite home hacks for under $30 is painting your front door,” says Okhovat. “Painting the front door can make the entire facade of a home look fresh and new, and is a great DIY project.”

This two-in-one paint and primer is highly pigmented to give you great indoor and outdoor coverage while cutting the paint time in half. It requires no prep work — just cleaning — only needs one coat, and is super fast drying. Plus it comes in a bunch of vivid colors and is available in gloss, satin, and matte finishes depending on the look you’re going for.

Swapping out dated hardware around your home is also a wildly easy and budget-friendly way to elevate your space in a matter of minutes. “I recommend many of my clients to switch out hardware on doors/closets, which can be purchased cheap on Amazon and are another great DIY project,” Okhovat continues.

This luxe indoor knob immediately elevates your space and creates a designer look without the designer price tag. It has a modern square base with a circular handle and works on interior doors. Plus, the installation is super easy — all you need is a screwdriver. This knob comes in three popular finishes and four styles, including those with and without locks.

Real estate and design expert and founder of AustinRealEstate.com Jim Olenbush says this Daoya hanging shower caddy “maximizes previously unused space in the bathroom for all your toiletries.” It holds up to 40 pounds and features three sturdy tiers that have enough space for all your hair products, skincare, and other shower time essentials. It has a nonslip rubber top that secures around the arm of your shower head, as well as two large suction panels that keep the caddy from swinging as you add and remove your toiletries.

This indoor herb garden starter kit from Meekear comes with five essential herbs to not only elevate your kitchen but also your cooking. “One client of mine recently transformed an unused corner of her kitchen into the cutest little herb garden using a starter kit she found...” Olenbush explains. “Now she has easy access to fresh ingredients right at her fingertips.”

The kit comes with seeds for basil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and mint as well as five jute bags, five soil disks, five plant markers, shears, and a guide to make the most out of your new herb garden. In anywhere from two to eight weeks, the plants will start sprouting and turn your kitchen into the herb garden of your dreams.

“Motion-activated lights are a favorite of mine for under $30 investments,” says Ryan Fitzgerald, realtor and the owner of Raleigh Realty. “Whether you're needing extra security or just want hands-free illumination, battery-operated motion lights do the trick without wires or hassle.”

These Amir motion sensor lights are battery-operated so you can put them in your closet, garage, stairwell, cabinets, and other spots that might need some more light but aren’t near an outlet. They detect motion up to 9 feet away and automatically turn off after 20 seconds of stillness. Plus, they have a warm white glow that’s gentle on your eyes in the dark.

Fitzgerald also recommends “door and window alarms that mount with adhesive,” calling them “discreet but mighty deterrents for would-be intruders.” This Hendun wireless alarm is magnetically triggered to let off a super loud noise when the base and the sensor are separated. It works great on doors, gates, garages, windows, and more. Plus, it wirelessly pairs with a remote that can loop onto your car keychain that allows you to turn the alarm on and off with the press of a button.

“In the kitchen, a backsplash makes a big difference visually, and peel-and-stick varieties have come a long way -- they're so easy to install and refresh a space,” says Fitzgerald. This peel-and-stick tile wallpaper gives off a 3D effect to bring a removable backsplash that looks like you spent major money on it. The surface is waterproof, oil-proof, and heat resistant, making it a durable backsplash behind your sink, stovetop, and oven that not only looks great but is also super easy to clean. Because it’s installed with self-adhesive and not glue, it’s easy to remove and doesn’t leave any sticky residue.

“Cabinet hardware is another quick fix,” adds Fitzgerald, saying that swapping out old handles with modern, updated ones like these cabinet pulls “transforms the whole look.” These are made of stainless steel with various finish options to either match your kitchen’s other fixtures, or add an eye-catching modern contrast. The Euro-style pull can be used on any vertical or horizontal cabinet or drawer to instantly elevate the look of your kitchen without the price of a costly kitchen update.

Adding these Tenmiro LED light strips “behind the TV, under cabinets, or along mirrors introduce[s] ambient light without construction,” Fitzgerald explains. It installs with adhesive tape, can be cut to the ideal length and can be controlled with an app or a remote. It has millions of customizable colors, 25 different lighting modes, and can be synched with music to create a truly unforgettable light scape. Plus, they’re dimmable and have a timer function for utmost control.

Another easy, inexpensive, and game-changing upgrade is this Honeywell programmable thermostat. It “optimize[s] comfort while saving on energy bills,” according to Fitzgerald. It’s compatible with gas, oil, or electric systems and features separate program options for weekdays and weekends so that you can customize it to your lifestyle. The digital temperature display gives you precise control down to 1 degree, and is backlit so you can always see the situation — even in the middle of the night.

Fitzgerald also recommends smart locks like this easy-to-install keypad by AppLoki to “give the convenience of keyless access, both for yourself and temporary guests.” Battery-operated, this keypad can store data for 20 user codes, including temporary passwords that are great for granting one-time access to maintenance workers, cleaning staff, and others if you’re not home. It’s waterproof and temperature resistant from -22 to 158 degrees, so it can be used outside without worry.

Some upgrades are so simple — like getting your bathroom essentials off the floor and counter and onto a sturdy over-the-toilet caddy, which Fitzgerald recommends. This organizer sits on the tank of your toilet and comes with two shelves, a removable basket, and an optional toilet paper holder to make this space super functional. It has two adhesives stickers that secures it to the tank and prevents it from scratching the porcelain, and it’s elevated so it won’t block a top-tank flushing button.

“The entryway organizer can help declutter your space and organize essentials for under $30,” says real estate broker Nicholas McMillan. This one features three large hooks for bags and purses, four small hooks for keys, one slatted shelf to toss your mail, and one open shelf to add a little piece of decor or other random small essentials like pens or sunglasses. It’s made of sleek wood that holds up to 20 pounds and mounts to the wall with included screws. “With its dedicated space for everyday items, the organizer enhances the aesthetic appeal of your entryway but also simplifies your routine.”

If you’re looking to add both function and unique style to your bathroom, McMillan says using “a jumbo clothespin to hang towels in your bathroom is a creative and affordable home upgrade that adds uniqueness to your space.” Hung with super strong adhesive tape, this clothespin is 12 inches tall and 2.5 inches wide, and has a nonslip grip to hold your towels, robes, washcloths and other bathroom essentials with ease. It has a strong spring that’s coated in stainless steel to make sure your things stay put.

“Weighted blankets have taken off in recent years,” explains Crystal Olenbush, real estate expert at AustinRealEstate.com and one of Austin's top luxury realtors. “...You can get one that provides just the right amount of deep-pressure stimulation to relax the body and mind. I find they help promote better sleep too.”

This weighted blanket is a great option if you’re looking for something heavy but breathable. It’s buttery soft and features a silky outer layer with a quilted design that keeps the inner weight evenly distributed throughout the blanket. It comes in multiple weight options.

Olenbush also recommends this Equsupro essential oil diffuser, saying that it’s “great for creating a calming atmosphere.” She expands, “You can experiment with different scents like lavender, eucalyptus, or lemon to set the mood.”

This diffuser has a gorgeous floral and wooden design that looks so expensive and features seven light color options that can act as a nightlight or be used to match your scent of choice. It has four timer options — 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, or unlimited continuous mist, depending on how much scent you’re looking for — as well as a 100-milliliter tank which offers up to three hours of continuous working time.

If you’re looking to turn a boring, underutilized corner into a cozy nook, Olenbush recommends tossing some comfy cushions onto the floor for extra comfort. “Suddenly you have a dedicated spot to unwind with a good book. It's amazing how much difference a few simple additions can make,” she says.

Just stuff this cozy cover with five queen-sized pillows and create the ultimate floor bed for lounging with a book or cozying up with your favorite movie. It has five pockets — one for each pillow — to make sure it doesn’t sag as you use it, and it’s made of a wildly soft fabric.

This super comfortable floor pillow is another option for creating a super cuddly corner in your home. It’s stuffed with shredded memory foam to offer unbeatable support and comfort without losing its shape. Meanwhile, it’s covered in corduroy that’s as durable as it is soft. Plus, it’s lightweight and easily portable so you can create a comfy little nook wherever you want one.

Once you have your preferred comfy base, the next step is adding a plush blanket to get cozy underneath. This one is reversible — one side has a 1.5-inch shag and the other a buttery soft sherpa, so you can be comfy and cozy all year round. It’ll not only keep you warm, but all of the wide-ranging color options will look great draped over the back of your couch when you’re not using it, which is why it has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon after over 26,000 reviews.

These string lights let off a warm white glow that’s perfect for setting the mood in your cozy little nook. They’re 40 feet long and up to five sets can be attached to create as much of a light scape around your reading nook as your heart desires. These lights are a simple and effective solution with over 9,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.

“When doing cheap upgrades, I always think about items that serve multiple purposes,” says Olenbush. One easy and budget-friendly DIY project she recommends is repurposing jars like these as storage.

With a wide mouth glass base, an airtight canning cap, and a rust proof metal rim, these jars are great not only for canning, pickling, and storing your food, but also to hold Q-tips in the bathroom, pens at your desk, or flowers on your coffee table. The set comes with 12 jars and 12 sticker labels so you always know what’s inside.

Another easy, budget-friendly way to refresh your space is to give old furniture a new life by painting it. This all-in-one paint contains a built-in primer, vibrant color, and top coat, to make the painting process way easier. It works on indoor and outdoor surfaces, and is great on wood tables, old plastic kids toys, metal chairs, laminate floors — you name it. And it has a chalky matte finish to bring a modern touch to your old furniture.

“One of the simplest upgrades you can make to your home also happens to be one of the first things that people will notice when they visit, your house number display!” says Bay Area realtor Sam Fitz-Simon. “...Updating your house number will boost curb appeal instantly & will fit within the $30 budget.”

This solar-powered address sign comes with four sets of numbers and one set of letters that stick to the backlit base, making it easy for people to find your address day or night. The top of the base has a waterproof solar panel that can light up the address for 10 to 12 hours at night after fully charging during the day. And, it’s weatherproof, which is important for something meant to live outside all year round.

“If you already have an Alexa controller in your home this is a great way to control various devices around your home with a quick voice command,” says Josh Chapel, a realtor in Park City, Utah. This Amazon smart plug turns any simple wall outlet into one you can control with your voice or with an app.

With this plug, you can start on your coffee machine from bed in the morning, turn your lights on and off while you’re on vacation, or prevent over-charge by using the schedule programming like Chapel did. “I’ve [...] added one in our garage for one of our E-bikes that recommends a 6 hour maximum charge cycle. In the Alexa app, you can create custom programs that will turn on the smart plug with one command and then turn it off automatically after a certain amount of time.”

“Turn your older garage door opener into a smart garage opener with this simple upgrade,” says Chapel of this easy to install smart controller. Compatible with most garage door brands, there’s “no need to spend $500 to get the modern convenience of a smart garage door controller” when this one is a super budget-friendly and effective option.

It connects with an app so you can open and close your garage remotely — great for double checking whether it’s closed, letting friends and family inside if you’re not home, and even opening when a package is being delivered so the delivery person can place it safely inside.