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Low-effort upgrades you can totally handle yourself. 🛠️

If your running list of "tiny" fixes is getting longer, but you’d rather not book a pro, these easy home improvement products might be exactly what your place needs. We found beginner-friendly DIY home repair tools reviewers swear by — from peel-and-stick tiles and grout pens to drain cleaners and renter-friendly window shades. They’re the kind of low-effort home upgrades that can help you tackle annoying little problems in just a few hours — promise.  

Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small, direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." —BBP623

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.49.

Snug Plugs is a small business that specializes in home improvement products. 

Promising review: "These are SUCH a game-changer. We rent, so I can't do much about the loose outlets around the house. These have made several outlets usable again!" —Minerva G.

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $10.99. 

Promising review: "This actually works! It works like magic! I was excited, I couldn’t wait five minutes, as suggested, after pouring the liquid. But it still worked like a charm. It’s so therapeutic to see the grout fall apart. 😊" —Srivi

Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in two sizes and with or without a brush).

Promising review: "I moved to a rental unit where the grout in the kitchen had clearly been mopped with dirty water and left to dry enough times that the beige grout was mostly black and gross. I tried to clean the grout, but my best efforts still left the grout splotchy, and it was hard work. When I tried the grout pen, the difference was absolutely amazing — it looks like new grout, and it takes only one or two coats to restore and recolor the grout completely. I'm going to order a couple more pens and do as much of the floor as I can. What a difference! It now looks like a new floor. Love it." —Minnmac

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available with narrow or wide tip).

Promising review: "So Pinteresting! I used this adhesive film to turn two cheap Ikea tables into less-cheap-looking Ikea tables because I'm not made of money, but I would like others to believe I am. Super simple to use, and a ton of it for the price. I was really pleased overall. The pattern actually looks like marble, not a weird pixel-y repetitive pattern, so that's great as well. Also, it was delivered the same day, which was miraculous as my DIY inspiration tends to fade approximately 48 hours after I discover a project I want to do." —Spencer House

Promising review: "Since the installation of the new toilet in my apartment, the connection between the base of the toilet and the floor tile looked so unfinished. Finding this caulking tape was a godsend. It made such a difference and was easy to cut and install. The only tool needed is a good pair of scissors, plus make sure the designated area is cleaned." —Melanie Nowlin

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four options).

Promising review: "It fits great on the blinds that are in my apartment. One less thing to drill and then fix when I move. It holds up great to the blackout curtains. Easy to install and use. Definitely recommend if you need curtains in a rental and can’t or don’t want to drill holes." —Martha

Get a set of two from Amazon for $18.95 (also available in brown).

Promising review: "Quality product. Exactly as described and so very easy to install. Sturdy construction. Fits snugly and does not move when opening from the bottom or top. Perfect privacy for the large primary bathroom window. Perfect room darkening. Opens from the top and bottom easily. I plan to buy several more." —Christine O'brien

Get them from Amazon for $41.99+ (available in dozens of sizes and 12 colors).

The full kit — from small biz Giani Inc. — comes with two cans of cabinet paint, a roller arm, two roller covers, and an angled paint brush; it requires no stripping, priming, or top coat or sealer, and there's no need to remove your cabinet doors. 

Promising review: "Amazing! Amazing! Amazing. It took more than one coat, though. My cabinets were bare wood, and I still needed a couple of coats. My kitchen is medium-sized, not too big, and it only took one can. This took my kitchen from looking like a cheap rental apartment kitchen to a high-quality kitchen with just this paint and new knobs. The paint is perfect for cabinets — it's not too thick, so you still see the wood grains. It comes with EVERYTHING you need. I didn't have to buy a thing. The project is super easy, the paint dries fast, and I did it at first by removing the cabinets, but it wasn't necessary at all. I would recommend EVERYONE to purchase this and give your cabinets a chance before making a big investment in new cabinets. Wood is wood, and it can be refinished." —Brandon Moronta

Get it from Amazon for $36.95+ (available in 11 colors and two styles).

Promising review: "These touch-up pens are super! And the ladies at SlobProof are so sweet and helpful if you need something! I love using these to touch up dings/scrapes here and there that come with living life in a rental. My recommendation is to twist the bottom slowly — a little twist goes a long way!" —New Mom

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.99 (also available in a five-pack).

The mold-resistant tiles are sold in 11.43 x 9-inch sheets, and each pack comes with five in total. The sheets are finished with self-adhesive so you can literally peel and stick them to any surface. They can also easily be cut to size since they're thin and lightweight. Removal is just as simple — peel them off, wipe the wall down, and you're back to square one.

Promising review: "So easy to install and they look stunning. People are shocked when I tell them that these are peel-and-stick. I'm very impressed with the look. Makes our powder room look very modern." —BonStuch

Get a pack from Amazon for $37.98+ (available in 11 styles). 

Promising review: "This is the perfect solution for hiding a cord! It looks like it is just a part of the baseboard. Mine is covering a cable wire only, but I think they are big enough to hide more than one cord if needed. I didn’t cut mine, and I bought two. You can tell where the two meet if you look closely. However, I do not think anyone would notice. I can’t believe I let our cable cord sit across the floor for this long. I wish I had found these sooner!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in three sizes and five colors).

Reviewers attached these in different ways, with some just using mounting tape in apartments for no damage to walls. Others installed them on doors and kitchen islands!

Promising review: "I really wanted an accent wall but don’t have any tools to create my own frames from molding, so this was such an easy DIY solution! I used liquid nails only to adhere to the wall and had no issues." —Megan

Get a single panel from Amazon starting at $19.16+ (available in sets and tons of sizes).

Tulip is a small business from Lori Smyth. Her inspiration? The drab lighting in a college dorm! Her innovative design requires no rewiring, no power tools, nothing! Check out the different styles and how easily they install via Tulip's TikTok. 

Promising review: "I have been searching for a paper lamp or replacement for my current apartment lights, but they either wouldn't fit or it would require too much effort that my landlord wouldn't appreciate. That's when I came across Tulip. I can't be more blunt than this — you literally Command Strip the ring to the ceiling and the shade attaches via magnet... seriously ingenious." —Oliver O.

What's included: Ceiling mount, Tulip shade, 12x removable tape, and 3x screws (as needed for textured ceiling applications). 

Get it from Tulip for $149 (available in three shapes and 13 designs; check out all styles).

Promising review: "This stainless-steel wrap worked out great! Our fridge now matches the rest of our appliances. I like how it's thicker than normal contact paper. It made it much easier to install." —rach

Get a 15.8-inch x 78.8-inch roll from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes).

The gel formula is safe to use on/around windows, sinks and baths, shower heads, pools, tiles, silicone sealant, and more. Leave it on the area you're looking to clean for six to eight hours (no scrubbing required). Some reviewers with really bad mold/mildew note that leaving it on for longer and/or doing a second round of cleaning made a huge difference!

Promising review: "I live in a rental home and was a little hesitant to use this at first, so I tested it in a small corner of my bathroom. The directions say to leave the gel on for 5 to 6 hours, but I only let it sit for 3 hours just to make sure nothing bad would happen. Wow! I was so impressed. I literally just applied a small amount of this gel to the corner and wiped it off with a wet sponge — the stain was gone! I didn’t even have to scrub or anything. I was so amazed by the results that I then applied the gel to the inside of my shower and most of the tiles on the floor (and let the gel sit for the full 6 hours as directed this time). This stuff is legit. Buy it! You won’t regret it!" —Sarah W.

This solution works great with Bissell, Hoover, McCulloch, Rug Doctor, Kenmore, and Carpet Express vacuum cleaners.

Sunny & Honey is a family-run small business making cleaning products safe enough to use around pets and powerful enough to get rid of pet stains.

Promising review: "Worth every penny. I’ve bought this product so many times now, I have it on auto ship! Saw the reviews and figured I’d give it a try. My cat likes to pee over the litter box and has stained the brand-new carpet. I used this in my Bissell and it took all the stain and smell out!!! I’ll never use another cleaner." —Wendy

Get it from Sunny & Honey on Amazon for $20.99+ (available in two sizes and three scents).

Each kit comes with six pre-cut LED light strips (9.8 feet in total) and adhesive strips for mounting. The 17-key remote can control basic functions like turning the lights on/off, setting a timer, dimming the lights, etc. Plus, it works at distances up to 60 feet. 

Promising review: "Awesome product!! I love the ease of installation and the extra included pieces for a good fit. Perfect for adding some much-needed light to my dark kitchen. Dimmable and comes with a remote! There's no downside!" —Breezy Lady

Get a set of six from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and three styles). 

A La Maison Ceilings is a small biz that sells a wide range of moldings, ceiling medallions, and ceiling tiles. 

Promising review: "If you’re even considering doing it, JUST DO IT!! I can’t even begin to tell you how easy this was, and the end result is mind-blowing! When people come over (we’re remodeling our newly purchased home, built in 1865), their jaws drop. When you actually get them on the ceiling and look at your finished product, you’d never guess it’s Styrofoam. My advice (from watching hours of YouTube videos and doing research) is to find the center of the ceiling and work your way out. It took us two hours to do a fairly large space. We definitely overestimated how many it would take, but I’m glad we had extra on hand in case we messed one up. Also — make sure your blade is SHARP!" —Steven

Get it from Amazon for $31.92+ (available in packs of 8, 48, 96, 144, and in eight colors).

Promising review: "I don't often write a review of a product. But this was so impressive, I thought I should let others know. We have a set of vinyl outdoor chairs that were constantly covered with mildew. When we were feeling ambitious, we'd take the time to power wash the chairs, which worked pretty well but was a lot of work. The problem was that a couple of days later, the mildew was back almost as bad a before. With this mildew stain remover, we sprayed the chairs, let them sit a few minutes, and hosed off with a regular garden hose. Easy. And they were cleaner than they ever got using the power washer. When we put the chairs away two months later, they were still clean." —Christine A. Simonson

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes). 

Promising review: "I have ordered numerous leather cleaners and conditioners over the years. I ordered both the cleaner and the conditioner and they restored my leather sofas. The cleaner and the leather conditioner are amazing! My sofas look like new and feel soft and supple again with a nice sheen. I will use these on my leather purses and jackets as well. So glad to find this MADE IN THE USA product. A bit pricey but well worth the extra cost." —CJ

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three sizes).

And pick up a $6 wallpaper tool kit — with smoothing tools and a utility knife  — to make the process even easier. 

Promising review: "My foyer needed some color and personality. This did the trick! I’ve gotten so many compliments on it. This wallpaper was reasonably priced and easy to apply by myself. I have been hesitant to use wallpaper in the past because I’m so afraid I’ll like it for a few months and then get tired of it. This is a great solution. It’s an easy DIY so no hiring a professional to install it, and the product itself is fairly inexpensive, as wallpaper goes. Plus, it’s easy to reposition, and it doesn’t damage the wall, so you can easily remove it. The seams lined up pretty well, and it was easy to smooth out any bubbles. I’d definitely buy this brand again." —Jennifer Bacon

Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in two colors). 

Promising review: "I have two cats; one is an avid climber. They are inside-only cats, but I like to leave the door open with the screen door secured shut so they can enjoy the air and sounds of outside, but I did not trust the standard screen material to stand up to their claws. Damage is one thing, but I definitely did not want them to tear the screen out enough to escape the house when I was in another room. So I was hoping to find a screen material stout enough to give me the peace of mind to keep the door open during the pleasant months, so I gave this one a try. Soon after installation, I heard the familiar sound of claws testing out the new screen door. Despite even finding one cat six feet off the ground, climbing up the screen, there was not a hint of damage to the screen material! It has also held in the sliding door frame very well, even with the weight of the cat suspended on it. No bulges or sags! I have had it installed for over four months now and there are still no rips or tears anywhere and I have not had to adjust anything despite cats climbing, scratching at it, and bouncing off of it while chasing their toys. The fact that this stuff is only a few dollars more expensive than the standard fiberglass screen is astonishing. I think it is worth many times the price!" —K. Michals

Get it from Amazon for $15.42+ (available in four sizes).

KittySmart is a small business that invented the CarPet Scratch Stopper so scratched carpet would never be a concern, hoping to reduce declawing in cats.

Promising review: "My kitten used to be obsessed with scratching the carpet at the door entry. Slipped this right in and the problem no longer exists. Now she rests on top of it. The clear plastic isn’t an eyesore either." —Rita Serrano

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in five sizes).

Promising review: "Wow. I’m so impressed with this floor, especially considering what it cost! It’s absolutely perfect in my 1920s era home! With the exception of a couple of places, it matched up well. Easy to install, and the adhesive is working great! I recommend this for a quick and inexpensive update for a floor." —Rebecca Sayer

Get a pack of 10 tiles from Amazon for $17.

Promising review: "These medallions were much prettier than I expected and were super smooth for the reception of paint. It took me a few days to decide on the color placement and style, as they will be in rooms that are visible to one another. Pre-colored medallions are expensive; doing it myself saved me money I used to upgrade my chandeliers." —Cris

Get it from Amazon for $34.19+ (available in dozens of colors).

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Plus, options for your WFH space, and finds from Anthropologie, Etsy, Ikea, Urban Outfitters, Walmart, and Wayfair.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Chelsea Stuart is a seasoned Shopping Editor with more than 10 years of experience covering travel (her favorite), home decor, fashion, and pet products under her belt. 

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.