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    "An Amazing Transformation": 40 Helpful DIY Tips For Upgrading Your Home On A Budget

    You're about to achieve HGTV-worthy upgrades at a fraction of the cost.

    1. Lather up your dirty fireplace in a coat of brick whitewash paint kit to make it look like your home was just featured on an episode of Fixer Upper. This can turn a painful eyesore into a stunning focal point, so what are you waiting for??

    2. Transform your old couch with velvet slipcovers because 1. it'll look like a whole new sofa, and 2. your wallet will thank you for this easy, affordable DIY upgrade.

    a reviewer turns their couches taupe with a slip cover

    3. Install a faux-ivy privacy screen to beautify your space *and* hide whatever chaos is currently ruining your view.

    A reviewer's balcony with the ivy hung on the railing

    4. Revive sad, worn-down wood surfaces with a wipe-on finish restorer so they look brand-new again. Use it on furniture, cabinets, and even wooden railings!

    reviewer's wooden stair railing before restoration looking worn and full of scratches / after using the finish, it's fresh and restored without any signs of wear or scratch stool before and after restoration, showing worn and refurbished states

    5. Or for smaller jobs, get yourself a set of wood repair markers that'll get rid of minor scuffs and scratches. This quick and easy DIY fix will have your stuff lookin' flawless in no time!

    6. Bring some whimsical light in with prismatic window film so your dull room becomes much more lively. It'll also give you privacy from your nosy neighbor, which is always a plus.

    7. Refresh the stained driveway or walkway by applying this magical oil stain remover. You'll bring the pavement back to its original glory days! Simply apply the formula, allow it to dry, then brush it away to reveal a stain-free surface.

    reviewer's three tiled surfaces showing before, during, and after cleaning demonstration to remove oil stain

    8. Get rid of that annoying gap between your furniture and the wall with a genius flat outlet plug. This is *much* more appealing than an outlet full of bulky plugs and cords.

    9. Snag a pack of peel-and-stick backsplash decals if you are officially ready to gouge your eyeballs out at the sight of yet another subway tile backsplash. Instead, try spicing things up with a pattern that matches your existing decor!

    10. Redo your floors *without* a contractor — get some concrete paint instead! It's a more affordable way to handle the depressing surface you have to set foot on every single day. It'll require some elbow grease, but the jaw-dropping before and after photos alone will be worth it.

    11. Stick some under-cabinet lights in those areas that need to be brought back to life. It's about time you revive that dark, shadowy area under your cabinets, don't ya think?

    reviewer image of kitchen cabinets with lighting installed underneath

    12. Slap some magnetic handles and faux windows on your garage door for what may just be the quickest and easiest DIY upgrade ever. You may have to confirm you pulled into the right driveway the first few times after installing these.

    Before and after of a garage door updated with decorative handles, hinges, and windows

    13. Easily hang curtains on bare windows — all you need is a set of NoNo Brackets to avoid drilling holes. These attach to your existing headrail with nothing more than a screwdriver. Apartment dwellers rejoice!

    14. Spruce up old surfaces with a waterproof, stain-resistant faux marble granite adhesive — you'll level up blah furniture for cheap without it actually looking cheap. Plus, you can change your mind later because it peels off without leaving residue behind.

    15. Or try your hand at a stone-effect spray paint that'll help transform tired surfaces before your eyes. This DIY project won't take long at all *and* you'll save tons of money on pricier upgrade options.

    16. Modernize your space with a removable arch wall decal when you want to be creative in *the* simplest way possible. Adding a pop of color to the wall has never been so easy.

    A minimalist living room with a white couch, patterned cushions, and geometric wall art

    17. Add a sound bar mount if you *finally* made the leap and mounted your TV but have nowhere to put your sound bar. The depth can be adjusted to almost 7 inches, and it can support up to 20 pounds!

    TV mounted on wall displaying Apple TV interface, with soundbar and decorative items on the shelf below

    18. Mask any scuff marks or scratches with a mini bottle of touch-up paint so you don't have to live with those imperfections a moment longer. Use it on your walls, furniture, cabinets, etc. It's no wonder renters love this stuff.

    19. Upgrade old furniture by opting for metal furniture leg replacements, which will instantly transform the whole look of an old cabinet or sofa. Buying a new piece of furniture isn't always in the budget, but this revamp is an affordable alternative!

    20. Swap out your old lighting for some modern pendant lights — the kind of DIY upgrade you'll never stop bragging about. You'll actually enjoy looking at 'em and your guests will never stop complimenting them. Win-win!

    21. And if necessary, grab a recessed light conversion kit so you can bid farewell to the hideous recessed lighting in your home and hang those luxurious pendant lights instead!

    reviewer's bathroom using the kit on recessed lighting to convert it to pendants

    22. Bring your dead grass back to life with a lawn repair formula! This helps regrow the grass and reverse scorch marks caused by pet urine, digging, and general wear in high-traffic areas.

    Before and after view of a lawn, left side shows cleared soil for planting, right side shows fully grown grass

    23. Apply a pack of terrazzo tile stickers to make any bore of a floor *much* more exciting. If you're overwhelmed by all the white in your home, you may just need to add a pop of color!

    a person standing on a terrazzo tiled floor

    24. Or get creative and use some *reusable* stencils because your home's not a regular home, it's a cool home. Place the stencil, paint, and revel in the final product. Has any DIY project ever been this easy?

    25. Give any room a moody vibe by adding an LED light strip, which provides a colorful backlight to your TV! It comes with a remote *and* you can change the colors, brightness, and effects! The lights are on a double-sided adhesive strip for a super quick and easy install.

    26. Dress up bare walls with peel-and-stick floral wallpaper for an HGTV-worthy upgrade at a price you'll love. Everyone will ask for the deets, so be prepared to share.

    27. Or you can use this peel-and-stick wallpaper to upgrade any room with a Mediterranean feel. It's the perfect way to spice up your kitchen backsplash or brighten up your neutral stairway!

    28. Give dull metal fixtures a major upgrade with metallic spray paint instead of buying new ones. All those old dingy doorknobs, faucets, and light fixtures in your home? They don't stand a chance.

    29. Elevate your cabinets by installing new brass pulls all around the house. This is an instant *and* budget-friendly upgrade that requires minimal effort.

    30. Enhance the exterior of your home with some front door paint. If you've watched one too many home makeover shows and now you need to update your bland door, try this!

    31. Treat your outdated counters to an HGTV-worthy makeover with this granite-esque countertop paint kit. You'll get rid of those ancient countertops you hate so much and instead be filled with joy whenever you enter the kitchen!

    32. ~Switch~ up all your boring beige plates in favor of these chic switch plate covers. Your home will no longer be plagued by standard-issue plate covers that you hate looking at.

    An assortment of decorative light switch covers next to a light bulb on a flat surface

    33. Get handy with a drywall repair putty to banish all the oopsies living on your walls. Apply it in a circular motion, then paint right over it. DIY project complete *and* security deposit intact.

    Step-by-step wall repair: applying spackle, smoothing it, and painting over the repaired area

    34. Get your hands on a stainless steel fridge kit so you can rejuvenate your decades-old appliance rather than buying a whole new one. It requires a bit of time and patience, but the jaw-dropping outcome will def be worth it.

    35. Hang a bold gallery wall for a simple but impactful home upgrade everyone will ask about. Blank walls? Not in your house! It comes with 10 pieces of art (you pick the sizes!) so you can create the gallery wall of your dreams.

    the gallery wall prints framed and hung above a media console

    36. Install interlocking teak tiles if you want to turn your space into a dreamy oasis. You can use 'em to spruce up the flooring in your outdoor area or in your bathroom!

    37. Make your home look even more elegant with pre-made wall panels to give the room more depth. All you need is some DIY enthusiasm, a nail gun, and some glue to achieve this lovely refresh!

    38. Cut down on counter clutter and install a fruit hammock, which also happens to be a compliment magnet. It screws right onto the underside of your kitchen cabinets OR you can opt for some Command hooks.

    kitchen with a fruit hammock hanging down from the bottom of a cabinet

    39. Make your yard *the* hangout spot with outdoor sconces to brighten up the space. It'll be so inviting to guests that you'll probably have a hard time getting people to leave — can you really blame 'em?

    40. Add a metal kick plate to your doors and watch your curb appeal *immediately* improve. That drab back door you loathe so much? It's about to become your new pride and joy!

    Two doors side by side, left without a door mat, right with a gold mat

    Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.