Handymen swear by these cheap tricks to make your home look more expensive

George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services, recommends using this conversion kit “if you've got boring recessed can lights and wish you had something more dramatic.” It requires no electrician to install, and it’s designed to cover 4-, 5-, or 6-inch standard recessed can lights, turning it into a mounting point for hanging lighting (like a pendant or chandelier).

“Most standard toilets come with a cheap-looking plastic chrome handle that feels flimsy when you flush it,” explains Kevin Yau, a licensed master plumber at The Clean Plumber. However, for less than $20, you can grab a metal handle like this to replace it. “It takes two minutes to screw on, and it instantly gives the bathroom a more high end hotel look and feel,” he adds.

The founder of My Reno Service, Kur Win Lau, swears by adhesive backsplash tiles like these that “can look like a real renovation.” They boast a 3D, textured surface, and the vinyl material is 100% waterproof, making it simple to keep clean ... a must for kitchens and bathrooms. The set comes with 10 square-foot tiles.

These faux hinges and handles magnetize right onto a steel garage door to instantly up your curb appeal. George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Service, recommends this pick, adding they’re “weather-resistant, [...] completely removable, and shockingly convincing from the curb.” Four faux hinges and two faux handles come in your order.

When it comes to making the outside of your home look more expensive, Kur Win Lau, the founder of My Reno Service, points to a modern address sign like this as “one of the best value options.” The sign can be customized with your house’s numbers, and the 36 LEDs will flip on at night (it’s solar powered), illuminating it for easy reading.

“A house feels cheap if the bedroom doors rattle in their frames every time the AC turns on,” expresses Walter E. Bennett, a handyman and HVAC/air duct cleaning technician at Green Leaf Air. However, he says that weather stripping like this placed “inside the door frame stops the shaking and gives the door a heavy, expensive ‘thud’ when it closes.” It’s a simple yet genius solution.

It doesn’t matter if you own or rent your home: If you dislike your kitchen or bathroom counters, you can use this marble-print contact paper to cover them up. It’s “thick, waterproof, and peels right off when you move out — it genuinely looks like stone from a few feet away,” remarks George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services.

To easily carve out a crisp border between your lawn and sidewalk, Scott Flores, the CEO of Empire PLS, suggests this edger tool. “That nice clean line is what can make an average landscape look professionally maintained,” he adds. It boasts a serrated spring steel blade for superior strength, plus a wide footplate (so you can maneuver it while standing up).

A crack in your driveway, patio, or other concrete surfaces seems like it’d be a pricey problem. But Scott Flores, the CEO of Empire PLS, says otherwise. A crack filler like this “can fill in the spiderweb cracks that make any driveway look 10 years older,” he shares. It comes premixed and ready to pour straight from the bottle — it self-levels, too.

Jeri Goodkin-Dause, a general contractor at SBC USA, says that messy cords and cables “sneak out more than you’d think.” One fix is this outlet concealer. It plugs into a standard outlet to cover the whole thing, then the power strip (which is on a 5-foot cord) can route to a hidden location to keep everything plugged in as usual.

“Lighting is one of the first things people notice,” swears Edward Acosta, the electrical manager at Awesome Home Service. So with that in mind, he recommends changing out outdated fixtures with modern pendants like these to “elevate the look of a room without requiring major electrical work.”

Dingy grout in your bathroom or kitchen screams old and dirty. But George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services, explains this water-based paint marker is the low-cost fix. Run it “along grout lines and [it] instantly makes tile look freshly installed; covers staining, mold shadows, and discoloration without re-grouting,” he notes. Each of the two pens included can cover up to 150 feet of grout.

“Visible wires, power strips, and tangled cables instantly make a space feel unfinished and messy,” notes Jeri Goodkin-Dause, a general contractor at SBC USA. Luckily, these cable management boxes offer a sleek space to hide all of these. There are ventilation holes to prevent overheating, plus built-in slots to run cords in and out, keeping everything plugged in and powered.

George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Service, swears the number one thing dragging down your home’s curb appeal “is faded, washed-out mulch.” But you don’t need to replace it to fix it. This mulch concentrate gives the mulch a fresh, like-new color ... like it was just installed. Simply mix it with water, and the bottle covers up to 2,800 square feet.

George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services, says that you don’t necessarily have to replace dated brass fixtures or hinges. Instead, try applying this wax finish that gives the surface a lustrous antique golden finish. There are other shades in the listing as well.

The director of Thomas Matthew Kitchens & Furniture, Matthew O’Grady, swears acrylic caulk like this is the “quickest [way] to eliminate gaps that collect dust and cast shadows if you’ve got small spaces where cabinets meet the wall or ceiling.” It’s flexible, quick to dry, and paintable for a much more finished look.

Kur Win Lau, the founder of My Reno Service, recommends lining walkways with solar lights like these as a “quick, easy way to elevate curb appeal, with no wiring or electricians needed.” They’re also nice around flowerbeds, gardens, and patios. The waterproof lights turn on and off automatically, glowing for up to 12 hours.

Cameron Figgins, the president of Absolute Maintenance & Consulting, recommends replacing all of your kitchen cabinet pulls with new coordinating ones for a lower-cost upgrade (especially when compared to a full-blown reno). These cabinet handles are perfect for this. They’re $4 each, and the matte black finish and squared-off edges feel contemporary.

“A well-lit entryway will make your place look nicer and will improve safety as your home will also feel more welcoming after dark,” explains Edward Acosta, the electrical manager at Awesome Home Service. This solar-powered light is a good option for this. It has a sleek design, can be set to four brightness levels, and turns on and off automatically.

Use a decorative outdoor planter like this to “make a space feel elevated,” shares John Bacon, the president of Bacon Roofing. Measuring 15 inches tall, it’s perfect for your patio, front porch, or other similar outdoor spots. And since it costs just $20, you can easily grab a few of them.

The president of Bacon Roofing, John Bacon, cautions not to underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint on your home’s front door. “Make an entry feel custom with a bold, well-maintained door color,” he shares. This water-based paint comes premixed, and it dries to a satin finish in as few as 45 minutes.

Another outdoor upgrade that “doesn’t cost much but will look like you paid a designer,” per John Bacon, the president of Bacon Roofing? A nice door mat. And this area rug has the benefit of also being machine washable to look new for a long time. It’s made from a cotton blend with a striped pattern, though there are other choices to consider in the listing.

Josh Mitchell, an HVAC technician and the owner of airconditionerlab.com, suggests “replacing old, yellowed air vents and return grilles” to make a room look instantly cleaner. This air vent cover is made from solid steel with a powder-coated matte white finish, all for less than $10.

“Under-cabinet lighting in a kitchen does more for the ‘high-end’ feel than almost any other single upgrade,” notes George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services. To pull this off, he recommends this lighting kit that comes with six LED light strips and a remote control to adjust the settings.

“New cabinet pulls make a huge difference, but only if they're installed straight — misaligned handles instantly read as DIY and cheap,” confirms George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services. He suggests this hardware jig to ensure perfect installation every time. It’s user-friendly, no DIY skills needed.

A little trick from George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Service? A ceiling medallion makes “a basic light fixture look like it was always meant to be there.” The medallion is lightweight for hanging (with glue or screws). And Johnson recommends caulking around the light fixture “for an instant architectural detail that reads as custom millwork.”

Pull together a room by ensuring all of the door handles have the same finish, explains Cameron Figgins, the president of Absolute Maintenance & Consulting. This best-selling lever-style door handle comes in many different finishes — including modern matte black or polished chrome — so you can find the perfect option for your space. It’s simple to install on left- or right-handed doors.

Alfred Pintor, the founder of Copper Collar Services LLC, stands by the fact that “bathroom satisfaction is tied more to function than finishes.” For example, he recommends a slow-close toilet seat like this that won’t slam when it shuts. It comes in various colors and is simple to install — and the whole thing lifts off for easy and thorough cleaning.

Visible cords behind your TV are an eyesore. However, George Johnson, the owner of Lee Air Services, calls this best-selling cord-hiding kit the move for fixing this. “You run the wires inside it flush against the wall, paint it to match, and they basically vanish,” he confirms.

Kur Win Lau, the founder of My Reno Service, says that a large area rug like this can give “an anchored look to an entire room.” It boasts a low-pile design, a soft feel, and a nonslip backing to stay in place. When dirty, stick it in the wash to get it clean.

This may come as a surprise, but replacing an outdated or discolored thermostat with a new one can actually be quite cost-effective — and the fresh panel looks way nicer, too. This particular thermostat boasts an easy-to-read screen, customizable settings, and an under-$35 price point. Josh Mitchell, an HVAC technician and the owner of airconditionerlab.com, is the mastermind behind this trick.

Use these steel trimmers to cut down any rogue branches or foliage outside, including plants growing around your AC unit. “I recommend leaving about two feet of open space around the unit,” notes Josh Mitchell, an HVAC technician and the owner of airconditionerlab.com. “It improves airflow while making the landscaping look intentional instead of overgrown.”

Ben Raabe, the CEO of Bella Contracting Services, recommends using this peel-and-stick wallpaper in a room — even if it’s just as an accent wall. “This will give the space a lot more character and purpose,” he confirms. The paper features a geometric pattern with beige and white hues. And it’s made from vinyl that’s 100% waterproof; the rolls covers about 9.5 square feet.

Ben Raabe, the CEO of Bella Contracting Services, explains that a fast way to change how your home’s value is perceived is to upgrade the hardware throughout. This includes decorative floor registers like this one. It drops right into the vent, and there are various finish options to consider in the listing.

You may not have considered this, but chairs scraping across your floors as you move them in and out “[creates] a sense that the home isn't as high-class as it looks due to the noise,” shares Ben Raabe, the CEO of Bella Contracting Services. His fix is these felt pads that stick on the bottoms of the chair legs to make them glide smoothly. It costs under $10 for 48 of them.

Installing a dimmer light switch like this gives any room’s lighting an upgraded feel, explains Kur Win Lau, the founder of My Reno Service. It’s simple to install in just 15 minutes, and it provides over 250 lighting levels once in place.

Ralph Severson, the owner of FM Pro Remodeling, says a favorite trick to make a bathroom more luxe without spending much is to swap out harsh bulbs for ones that glow warm white like these. The LED bulbs are suitable for many different fixtures, and they’ll last 25,000 hours, making them cost-effective. Six come in a pack.

Scott Flores, the CEO of Empire PLS, recommends this turbo nozzle that attaches to your garden hose to “blast away years of ground in dirt on sidewalks, patios, and curbsides in just an afternoon.” It’s made from highly durable metal, and there are various spray patterns to switch between, including a direct jet and a fine mist.

Ditch the crusty, old showerhead in favor of a rain-style one like this, shares Alfred Pintor, the founder of Copper Collar Services LLC. It boasts 90 silicone nozzles that put out a powerful stream of water for some serious relaxation. It’s simple to install on most existing plumbing setups.

“Smart thermostats look great, but leaving an unpainted hole or patched drywall behind them looks totally unfinished,” shares Walter E. Bennett, a handyman and HVAC/air duct cleaning technician at Green Leaf Air. Luckily, he has a solution: This wall plate cover is designed to cover up these nuisances for a sleek and more expensive look.

Rather than replacing dinged or damaged wooden furniture, the director of Thomas Matthew Kitchens & Furniture, Matthew O’Grady, suggests trying out wax sticks like these for a budget-friendly repair job. The sticks fill and conceal problem areas, and the five included shades ensure no one can even tell.

“It shocks me how many homes I've been in with creaky doors that just give it an old, outdated feel,” remarks Uri Pearl, the owner of Nealon Insulation. Luckily, he says you can apply WD-40 to the hinges, “and it'll instantly go from an antiquated feel to a modern, sleek one!” This particular bottle has a long, flexible straw for more precise application.

Ditch plastic cabinet shelf support pegs in favor of metal ones like these. “Plastic fittings give a mass-produced feel to cabinets, while metal supports create the sort of solid, well-made impression you’d expect from something more bespoke,” shares the director of Thomas Matthew Kitchens & Furniture, Matthew O’Grady.

The electrical manager at Awesome Home Services, Edward Acosta, shares that you should swap out yellowed, old light switches for modern, screwless ones with rocker switches like these. “This is an inexpensive upgrade that will make your room feel newer and more polished,” he adds. Five come in a pack.

These floating house numbers offer clean lines, a modern floating design, and have earned a 4.6-star overall rating on Amazon. And John Bacon, the president of Bacon Roofing, includes “crisp, updated house numbers” like these in his list of “the cheapest exterior home upgrades you can [...] to make the biggest impact for the money.” The numbers are 5 inches tall.