October 3, 2024

Ampac

Friendly Interior

Home Improvement Products That’ll Save You Money In The Long Run

Big improvements on your home minus the big impact on your wallet.

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.

Table of Contents

1.

A basic drill with a 10-piece bit set to meet your needs. I bought this set for assembling furniture, hanging frames, and other small projects when I got my first apartment, and it’s still going strong! And reviewers swear by the 109-piece drill and screwdriver set for bigger home improvement projects.


Amazon

Promising review: “It’s a very simple tool kit and very easy to work with. It’s small, compact, lightweight. It’s priced very well, and is of extremely high value compared to so many alternatives. It’s not the same quality as a heavy duty Milwaukee or DeWalt unit, but its also not as pricey either; it’s a great value. Overall, I highly recommend it to all homeowners, do-it-yourself-ers, hobbyists, and for light contractor use. Invest in this wonderful toolkit to save yourself time and money!” —Clif Bridegum

Get them from Amazon: the Drill with 10-Piece Drill Bit Set for $49.13 or Drill with 109-Piece Drill and Screwdriver Set for $53.98.


amazon.com

Promising review: “This is seriously the most amazing product I have EVER purchased! I used it to remove a dry ketchup stain from white carpet. It removed every speck of the ketchup without ruining the texture of the carpet!” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $12.65.

3.

An overhead garage storage rack to store the tools you already have and make room for more! Dishing out money for a storage unit? No thanks.


Amazon

Promising review: “Very nice and sturdy. Not difficult to install, but it is time consuming. Someone wrote they installed it in 40 minutes. That’s just not true (unless you have 4 people). It takes at least 2–3 hours as there are about 60 sets of bolts and nuts, plus the time it takes to measure, mark, find studs, and drive the anchors (all above your head on a ladder). Yet, the work pays off. The instructions are fairly easy to follow and well-illustrated, and the final product is sturdy and looks sharp. The shipping was incredibly fast and arrived in perfect shape. I put approximately 400 lbs. of weight on it and it seems to be holding very well with no sagging. It says it can hold up to 600 lbs., which seems about right. I would highly recommend this product.” —ChadL

Get it from Amazon for $148.74 (available in white or black).

4.

Expertly curated wall paint that just may have you painting your whole house yourself instead of paying someone else to do it! Reviewers say it is easy to use and has minimal smell compared to other brands — that’s a win-win if you ask me.


Clare

Clare is a Black woman-owned small business that makes paint shopping easy and inspiring, They offer high-quality paint, designer-curated colors, peel-and-stick color swatches, and supplies so your painting experience is hassle-free.

Promising review: “Clare is super easy to use. Doesn’t drip much. Looks stunning. Customer service is solid. Shipping and shopping is a dream. I painted four rooms with three colors — can’t stop, must do the whole house!” —Jayne L.

Get it from Clare for $54 per gallon (and $2 per swatch, choose from 60 colors).

5.

A power washer so you can make your wooden fence look like new, or save tons of money on car washes (when paired with a foam cannon).


Amazon, amazon.com, amazon.com

The set includes a high-pressure washer and 20-foot hose, five interchangeable high- and low-pressure nozzles to wash various surfaces, 35-foot power cord for use on all exterior outlets, one spray gun, one water filter, one cleaning pin, one connection lance, one adjustable spray lance, one screwdriver, one wrench, manual, and one-year warranty.

Promising review: “Bought this for one thing and one thing only….FOAM CANNON CAR WASH!! I was very disappointed when the only pictures I saw were of people washing their driveways and fences. But wait! Here you are! The best car wash review!!! I bought a cheap foam cannon (here on Amazon) MATCC Adjustable Foam Cannon 33 fl. oz. You do not need an adapter or anything special, it works perfectly! This is a great power washer. I have used it four times so far, and have no complaints.” —LMF dot Com

Get it from Amazon for $149.

6.

A large tile stencil that’ll stay in place and help you paint over old tiles in your bathroom or home, so you don’t have to dish out big bucks for brand new tile.


Cutting Edge Stencils / Via Etsy

Promising review: “Love it! Worked so well, it did not slide at all. I didn’t even use tape or anything to hold it down. So happy with my results!” —Hope Anderson

Get it from Cutting Edge Stencils on Etsy for $16.95.

7.

And a pack of gorgeous peel and stick mosaic tiles to give your space ~fancy~ vibes with minimal effort.


Wayfair

Promising review: “These are awesome! Super quick and easy to apply. The outlets took a minute to cut out, but I highly recommend them!” —Shannon

Get it from Wayfair for $3.37/sq ft (minimum orders start with a two-pack of tiles, which covers nine square feet).


amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: “I have 12-inch white tile in my whole house that is 20 years old. Even though I have kept it looking nice, the grout still was getting dark. I cleaned the grout and let it dry good ’til the next day then used the grout pen. It looks like it is brand-new. One thing that I found out was that if the tip of the pen starts to look worn you can just pull it out and turn it over — it is the same tip on both ends. It will take some time to do the whole house but it looks so great that I will just do a section at a time ’til I finish. One other thing that I did was run my finger down the grout line after I apply the grout pen then wipe down the tile line with a paper towel so no other cleanup was necessary.” —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors and two sizes).

9.

A bidet to give your bathroom a quick but powerful bathroom upgrade. Not to mention the savings on TP.


Tushy

Promising review: “I am loving my Tushy! It is powerful and so easy to install! Not gonna lie, I wish my sink was on the same wall so I could do the warm water option but it is super effective and definitely wakes you up! I believe this is the best way to keep things happily clean and, coupled with my Squatty Potty, I think 2019 is going to be the year of the happy BM!” —Natalie D.

Get it from Tushy for $99 (available in nine colors).

10.

A wall-mounted wet dry vac for anyone in need of an easy solution when it’s time to clean the car in the garage or the garage itself after messy home improvement projects.


Amazon

This 12-amp vacuum converts to a blower and picks up both wet and dry messes. The 4-gallon dirt tank is semi-translucent, and the hose stretches to 32 feet. Comes with seven attachments and an accessory bag.

Promising review: “It is a little big but fits nicely in a corner of my garage. My wife and daughter love it also and I’ve never seen the inside of their cars look cleaner. For a residential garage vacuum, it seems to be high quality. So far, very satisfied and would definitely recommend.” —t4528js

Get it from Amazon for $205.06.

11.

And a stainless steel shop vac that can also handle wet/dry messes, and is easily transportable via a built-in dolly.


Amazon

This shop vac features a five-gallon stainless steel tank for wet and dry messes, a dolly for easy maneuverability, a lid latch and rear blower port. Plus, it includes a 7-foot hose, three extension wands, crevice tool, gulper nozzle, floor nozzle, plus cartridge filter, foam sleeve, and filter bag.

Promising review: “The vacuum works great. So far it picked up everything I asked it to pick up. The blower function also works quite well, especially on dry leaves and spider webs. The easy-rolling casters make the vac ‘follow’ you wherever you go. Our garage is super clean now :).” —CMT

Get it from Amazon for $135.16.

12.

A moldable glue to fix all the small, breakage-prone items in your home — from computer chargers to toys, this babe has you covered. You can even use it to hang things without making holes in the wall!


amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: “If you own a Mac laptop, iPad, or iPhone, SUGRU will save you money in the future…molding it around the power plug connections makes them last way beyond the expected life of these little problem children!” —NAJ

Get an eight pack from Amazon for $16.99.

13.

A no-glue privacy window film that’ll fill the room with rainbow light when the sun filters through and give you the privacy you need without pricey curtain sets.


amazon.com

Promising review: “My kitchen window is on the sidewalk near the community mailboxes. Lots of people walking by. I loathe mini blinds which collect dust and grease. Especially since the stove is next to the window. Curtains are better, but still collect cooking smells and grease particles. I installed this in about 10 minutes. It lets in light, but hides me from nosy people.” —Gayle Smith

Read our full write-up of the window film.

Get it from Amazon for $7.98+ (available in six sizes).

14.

A “Still I Rise” DIY Embroidery Kit so you can create your own decor, and place Maya where she will shine when you’re done.


Create The Culture

Promising review: “Bought as a gift for my partner, which she loves! Fast shipping, even through the pandemic. Great product and shop :).” —Jas

Get it from Create The Culture on Etsy for $45.

15.

A storage cabinet for anyone who wishes they could just…create a storage shelf in that pesky good-for-nothing corner of the house. Now you can!


Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: “Absolutely love this cabinet! Delivery was fast, it was assembled (except for mounting hardware), and this 5’2” woman could easily add hardware and place it on door, the hardest part was removing the hinge pins! I was so pleased with the unit that I ordered another one the next day. For my use, I needed shelves from both units, a total of 12 to store thread, and have more on order for the second cabinet. I may order a third for the spare bedroom, if I like it for gift wrap.” —Malik

Get it from Amazon for $189.99.

16.

A seven-piece gallery wall kit that comes with a hanging template to take the guesswork out of hanging up your precious memories. Plus, it’s way cheaper than paying for custom framing!


amazon.com

Promising review: “I love this set! It was delivered quickly, all of the frames and glass came in perfect condition. My favorite part of the entire thing was the guide it came with. After putting the pictures in the frames, I hung the guide, made sure it was level, and drilled the holes right into the paper. Everything came out level, the frames and pictures look great. Definitely happy with this purchase.” —Cristina C Sanchez

Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors).

17.

A restorative wood finish to make those old cabinets or floorboards look fabulous once again, because why pay to replace when this magic product exists?


amazon.com

Promising review: “I found a video on YouTube discussing how to use this product, so I decided to see how much it improved the appearance of my 25+-year-old cabinets. I was amazed at how they turned out! They looked so good when I finished that I decided not to replace them! This saved me lots and lots of money. The Golden Oak color was an excellent match for the builders-grade Honey Oak color in my kitchen. I am very pleased with my purchase.” —M. Edelblute

Get it from Amazon for $9.68 (available in nine finishes).

18.

An investment-worthy, multi-use ladder capable of expanding from step stool all the way up to a 19-foot ladder, so you can use it for home decor and changing lightbulbs inside and cleaning the gutters outside.


amazon.com, Amazon

It converts to a 19-foot extension ladder and multiple A-frame ladders, wide-flared legs for stability, industrial rated up to 300 pounds.

Promising review: “Perfect ladder for everything we need it for around the house both inside and out. Its great to use as an A frame ladder such as replacing lights in the ceiling or cleaning the ceiling fans. When set up as a step ladder we can get on the roof outside with ease. The ladder has built in wheels for moving it around and they work great! Very good quality and easy to follow instructions to learn how to use its many features. Very happy with this ladder.” —bill

Get it from Amazon for $229.

19.

A 39-piece tool box that comes with everything you’ll need for picture hanging, box opening, screw tightening, furniture assembly, repairs, and more!


Amazon

The set includes a claw hammer, lineman pliers, tape measure, utility knife, bit driver with 2” bit extension and 20 most popular bit sizes, precision screwdrivers for small screws, 8 hex keys, and a pair of scissors.

Get it from Amazon for $17.59+ (available in four colors).

20.

An easy-peasy and affordable marble adhesive to give fireplaces, countertops, end tables, and other unsightly home areas a quick makeover.


amazon.com

Promising review: “Used a little more than one roll for a quick makeover for an ugly fireplace in a rental apartment. Easy to cover the tiles with the film, and I could stretch the film out about 1 mm if had cut the strip too short. Makes a huge difference for minimal effort/price.” —zhen

Get it from Amazon for $10.47.

21.

A chalkboard paint so you can make a Pinterest-worthy chalkboard wall in the kitchen or playroom without hiring a pro!


amazon.com

Promising review: “This paint is great. Covers well with one coat and super with two coats. Perfect for any chalkboard project.” —MusicGal

Get one quart from Amazon for $20.82.

22.

A collapsable sawhorse workbench that’s ideal for folks with a list of repairs and projects to tackle at home but no storage or workbench to get things done.


Amazon

This workbench is made of resin and lightweight aluminum legs, it has a weight limit of up to 1,000 pounds, and it folds down to 4.5 inches.

Promising review: “We have a small-ish town house, so there isn’t room for a big garage workbench and all that kind of stuff, so this has really helped. The table sets up in a flash, and takes down quite easily. When it’s set up properly it is quite sturdy and the two levels are nice so you can have a place to put tools or materials you’re not actively using but will need. The included clamps are a nice touch, but are a bit on the cheap side I noticed, I left them out in the rain once and they are now thoroughly rusted, but since they were an add in, I’m not holding that against them. All in all, a handy little piece of equipment if you’re on the move or have a shortage of storage space.” —Andrew Paquette

Get it from Amazon for $79.99.

23.

An expandable gutter cleaning system that’ll work with any blower to get the gunk out of the gutters yourself instead of paying someone to do it for you!


Home Depot

This cleaner has an 11-foot reach and eight feet of tubes and is universal, so it will fit most blowers.

Get it from The Home Depot for $45.41.

24.

A 16-pack of furniture socks so you can prevent scratches on the floor and save yourself the time/money fixing them. It also works against Roombas that may or may not be guilty of bumping into the furniture legs!


Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: “Purchased these to prevent our Roomba from causing further damage to furniture legs. They stay in place (even on tapered legs), blend in on similar colored furniture, and it only took a few weeks before my wife stopped making fun of me for installing these socks on our end tables, coffee tables, and TV stand.” —A Customer

Get them from Amazon for $9.99.

25.

An easy-to-maneuver weed whacker and edge trimmer set durable enough to rid your lawn of those pesky weeds!


Home Depot

Promising review: “Both items work very well! Lightweight, yet heavy enough to get the job done. The edger/trimmer really surprised me at how well it performed. My arms, shoulders and lower back did not hurt when I finished. That’s a plus right there.” —G Davis

Get it from The Home Depot for $119.

26.

A set of wood repair markers designed to blend into scuff marks and dents and make damaged wood furniture look like new.


Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: “I can’t believe how well these work! Much better than I was expecting. I just had my home interior painted and the painters damaged a fiberboard medicine cabinet when they removed the masking tape. It ripped off the fake wood veneer. These markers completely filled in the ugly spots and the colors blended well. I love that it appears to have some clear coat in it too as it dries with a slight shine that makes it look more like wood stain rather than marker. I also used them to stain wood filler in two spots in my maple kitchen cabinets where a previous home owner had hung a paper towel holder and I really struggle to see the hole! It looks fantastic. I highly recommend this set. It’s a good value and works very well.” —Shane

Get a set of 13 from Amazon for $9.99.

27.

And some blueprints to this greenhouse for anyone with the skills and space to build themselves an amazing backyard upgrade! I see many happy plants in your future.


The Hillside Market / Via Etsy

Promising review: “Great blueprints. Easy to read. Love the size and materials for my greenhouse!” —mhmbb

Get it from The Hillside Market on Etsy for $20.41 (instant PDF download).

Me feeling extremely powerful after assembling a piece of furniture by myself:


Buena Vista Television

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!


BuzzFeed

What’s your favorite product?

Need A Shopping Buddy?

Get great products – from pros in the fine art of buying stuff online – delivered to your inbox!