People who stage homes swear by these weird tricks to make your home way nicer

“We’ve brought in tile refinishing companies to coat dated tile counters and backsplashes with a fresh white look,” says Lori Bitter, owner and lead designer at Dalia Staging & Design. If you want to DIY fresh tiles for less, check out this grout pen. The white paint marker traces your grout lines in the bathroom and kitchen to cover grubby stains and make your tiles look brand new again.

Sometimes simpler and quieter is better. Stager Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home suggests that “a couple of hefty fashion or art books and a vase of your favorite peonies will telegraph your calm, collected life to anyone lucky enough to hang out in your living room.” What’s brilliant about these decorative books is that they double as storage — yep, you heard that right. While they look like chunky coffee table books, the insides are hollow so you can store remotes, glasses, pens, and other essentials inside to further simplify the clutter.

When it comes to upgrading the outside of your home, Mike Bowman of Patio Productions loves to “place small LED spotlights behind each pot to create a slight glow on the foliage at night, which creates a significant amount of depth in the overall space.” These red carpet-worthy spotlights can be staked into the ground or installed on a wall or roof to add some eye-catching focus on the hard-earned greenery around your home. They have three brightness levels and they’re solar powered, so they can run for up to 24 hours.

“Little lamps on bookshelves or in a dark corner of a kitchen look great and add more light,” raves Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design. Don’t be deceived by the sleek and minimalist design of these cordless table lamps — they let off way more light than you’d think. They work for up to 40 hours at a time and can be used indoors or outdoors to brighten up your space.

“As a home stager, the issue I see most often is clutter,” explains Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. “Invest in a small bamboo storage piece that sits on your bathroom countertop, hiding a multitude of sins.” This one is great because it has three pull-out drawers that can store your essentials tucked away and out of sight, without making them inconvenient to get to. Plus the top doubles as a shelf so you can add some eye-catching decor.

This toilet paper storage basket is a great bathroom upgrade if you’re looking to capitalize on the decluttering advice given by Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. It holds up to 12 rolls and has a narrow design that can easily fit into tight spaces. Every bathroom needs some spare toilet paper and this is a great way to keep it accessible without making your bathroom look bland or busy.

Shari Casanova of Casanova Home Staging always recommends refreshing your kitchen and bathroom’s finishes — like swapping out old and dated faucets with something like this modern brushed gold faucet. According to the brand, it installs in just 15 minutes, making it an easy DIY project that totally transforms the look of your space into something upscale and gorgeous.

Realtor Ben Kruse of Choose Kruse, says, “True impact comes from balance and light,” so make a statement using easy-to-install lights to create a vibe in your space that feels intentional and expensive. What’s great about these wireless strip lights is that they’re motion activated, providing a helpful glow on demand without draining the battery.

“People have too much stuff, and they tend to keep it on full view,” says Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua. So to tackle bathroom overflow, consider this elegant makeup organizer to get your collection in check without parting with any of your favorite items. It has a super chic design with raised edges to keep everything inside secure. And it has two drawers for smaller things you want to keep out of sight.

To follow Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua’s decluttering advice in your home office or near your TV setup, hide your stray cables and wires in these sleek management boxes to keep them out of sight and out of mind. The best part is that each one has entry and exit points on either end, so you can fit a ton of cords and power strips inside while still maintaining easy access.

Home stager Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design recommends adding a backsplash if you’re looking for a “simple, inexpensive update.” These peel-and-stick tiles have a three-dimensional finish that’s waterproof, heat resistant, and stainproof, making them a great addition to your kitchen. Plus they have a ceramic look and a classic subway shape that’s always trending.

“A technique that has worked extremely well for me is draping throw blankets over the tops of the outdoor sofas,” explains Mike Bowman of Patio Productions. That’s because blankets like these instantly make the space feel cozier and more lived-in — and who can resist a snug and welcoming outdoor setup? And, most importantly, this blanket is made of durable and fade-resistant fabric that’s washable so you can use it outdoors without worry.

“I firmly believe there is a basket for every decorating and storage need,” says home stager Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. “Have a bunch of remotes? A small tabletop basket can corral them stylishly.” This adhesive basket was specifically designed for all your remote controls, not only corralling them so they’re always in the same place, but reducing the clutter on your coffee table or side table. The most unexpected part is that you can choose to mount it to a wall so they take up even less surface space.

Home stager Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home recommends finding new and unique ways to better store and display your favorite plants. “A sturdy floor basket will contain that tree in a properly scaled manner, adding gravitas and charm,” she advises. This one has a two-tone woven cotton rope design that’s effortlessly chic and can fit with almost any aesthetic. Plus if there are any spills or messes, it’s easy to clean so you can keep it looking brand new.

Channel the decluttering advice of Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua and stash this mini trash can by your bed or on your desk. This way, you can toss your late-night garbage or crumpled snack wrappers before they accumulate and create an eyesore. It has a pop-up lid that opens fully and closes to keep any unwanted odors inside.

Channeling Mike Bowman of Patio Productions and his appreciation for outdoor lighting, these solar-powered deck lights instantly upgrade curb appeal. They have a unique L-shaped design that installs to the edges of banisters, stairs, or porches to add light around the perimeter of your space — exactly where you probably need it most.

“A tired old tile counter with dirty grout looks like a chore,” says Wendy Glaister of Glaister Interiors. That’s where this brilliant contact paper comes into play. It’s not just for walls — you can install this marble-looking paper onto your countertops to completely refresh the look of your kitchen without paying for a whole expensive renovation. Most importantly, the contact paper is easy to clean and waterproof.

“If you want an even less expensive decor option, nothing beats a large vase of curly, entwining leaves and branches,” explains Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. These faux branches are a great option because they’re made up of hyper-realistic olive leaves and fruit that can be bent to create a full bouquet. And because they’re faux, they don’t require any maintenance, unlike fresh blooms.

“For those smaller bathrooms with very little hidden storage, repurpose a narrow shoe cabinet meant for a hallway,” says Robin DeCapua, design expert and owner of Mad Mod Home. This shoe cabinet has a slim profile that'll take up minimal space when pushed up against your bathroom wall. Open up the cabinet doors to store small items like hair tools, spare washcloths, nail polish, and backup toiletries.

“To provide some ambience when decorating rooms for photo shoots, I will place outside lanterns that have battery-operated candles inside them,” says Mike Bowman, of Patio Productions. These chic wired lanterns have a gorgeous modern farmhouse style that’s unique and eye-catching, whether you set them on a mantel or a bookshelf.

Mike Bowman of Patio Productions advises using candles to create ambience, and these flameless candles come in gorgeous smoked glass jars that make them feel so much more expensive than they really are. The pillar candles are remote operated and have flickering flames that makes them look so realistic. Stick them inside lantern frames as Bowman suggests for a sophisticated finishing touch.

“So many kitchens and bathrooms simply feel old because of knobs and pulls,” explains Shari Casanova, owner of Casanova Home Staging. “Changing those out — especially with modern options you can buy in affordable contractor packs — offers tremendous bang for your buck.” These best-selling pulls are such an easy way to refresh your space. They have a modern matte black finish and they come in packs of up to 60, so you can refinish your entire kitchen without paying for a pricey renovation.

“We encounter a lot of homes that are builder-grade and have very little lighting,” says stager Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design. “I’m currently obsessed with small, stylish, battery-operated lamps.” You can place them in areas that might not have easy access to an outlet to brighten up your home and make it feel way cozier and more inviting. Plus, these have stunning crystal shades that create a geometric lighting effect that looks so high-end.

Melinda Christman of Olive + Opal Interiors loves “giving awkward or quirky spaces a true purpose.” This tree-shaped floor shelf is a fantastic way to partition the space and designate an elegant workstation complete with storage. Despite its open design and small footprint, each of the six shelves can hold up to 10 books. And it has a hook on the back to secure it to the wall as an added safety feature.

When refreshing a bedroom, Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua says, “update the bedding first” and “start the process of layering” from scratch. The first step? “A fluffy down or down-alternative duvet to cover the entire mattress and box springs.” With an exceptionally luxurious look, this down-alternative comforter is made of high-quality microfiber filled with synthetic feathers in a quilted design that keeps things evenly distributed, no matter how much you toss and turn in your sleep.

When it comes to bedding, Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua says, “Choose off-white, white, or beige cotton or linen,” and these buttery soft cotton sheets make it easy to follow her advice. Not only are they oh-so soft, but they’ll make your bedroom look like it’s straight out of a posh hotel. The fitted sheet has an ultra-deep pocket with a 360-degree elastic that keeps it in place so you never have to worry about it looking messy when you wake up. The best part? There are tags inside that tell you how to make the bed so you’re never putting the wrong corner in the wrong spot.

“A trio of accent pillows” is a strategy Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home recommends to make your bed look nicer and more expensive. She recommends having different sizes and textures to add dimension, and these fluffy pillow covers are a great place to start. Not only do they come in a ton of stunning and unique colors but their shaggy texture feels so soft and looks so high-end.

Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua recommends adding contrasting but coordinating sizes and textures to create a trio of pillows on your bed. Between the lumbar shape and the corduroy texture, these pillow covers do the trick. The striped pattern is so chic and the material is so thick and high-quality that they feel way more expensive than they really are.

Layering “a chunky or textured blanket folded in thirds [...] across the bottom half of your bed” is a key step in creating a stunning and expensive-looking bedroom without breaking the bank, according to Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. This one has a polished, diamond-woven design with an extra-long fringed tassel for a touch of whimsy.

For an easy kitchen refresh that doesn’t break the bank, Shari Casanova of Casanova Home Staging loves replacing hardware, and these brushed brass knobs really pack a punch. They’re shockingly easy to install and they’re such a great way to make your kitchen look fresh, new, and surprisingly playful.

“I love adding a gallery wall to a powder room or small bath,” raves Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. This set of 10 frames includes three different sizes that you can mix and match horizontally or vertically to create the eye-catching gallery wall of your dreams. Pro tip: “A good rule of thumb for a gallery wall is that if your art choices are all neutral, vary your frame styles and colors — black, white, wood, ornate versus simple — and if your art is colorful, keep to the same frame style and color," she explains.

“Nothing speaks quiet luxury quite like a healthy dose of minimalism,” says Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home, who recommends “a cute tray to hold a single fragranced candle” on your coffee table. It’s an easy way to declutter and make your space feel expensive at the same time. This concrete tray has a gorgeously delicate scalloped edge for a totally timeless look that encourages you to keep things neat and tidy.

Stager Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home shares that you can add a large vase to your kitchen as a statement-making piece of decor. “This should be the only item on a kitchen island — clear off all clutter — so it carries maximum impact." This one has an absolutely stunning ombré design that puts the “fun” in “functional” decor. It has a gorgeous glaze with sculptural curves and a wide opening that’s perfect for displaying leaves, branches, and fresh flowers, giving your home that effortlessly decorated style.

While having open storage is popular, it’s also easy to overfill with knickknacks and clutter. Mad Mod Home’s Robin DeCapua has a solution: “I'd choose one color for all your on-display decor — white is ever-popular and brown is trending — and have only this one monochrome decor visible.” These brown wooden arches are a gorgeous and sleek way to add some sculptural interest to your shelves without making it feel overwhelming, thanks to their color coordination. The best part is that they’re versatile — you can display them individually or intertwine them for one gorgeous, museum-worthy sculpture.

“A folding screen strategically located in a corner can hide all the trappings of life, leaving you free to entertain at a moment's notice,” raves Robin DeCapua of Mad Mod Home. “Throw all the ‘extras’ behind the screen and you're good to go.” This room divider is an easy and stunning way to hide a mess from guests — and let’s be honest, yourself sometimes, too. It has steel frame so it’s ultra sturdy, and the top has a lovely geometric design to make it look intentional and cute.

“We anchor spaces with large neutral-color rugs,” explains Lori Bitter, owner and lead designer of Dalia Staging & Design. This rug is perfect for high-traffic areas like living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens because it’s machine washable and backed with rubber to prevent it from sliding without creating any excess bulk.

Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design always recommends, “opting for large abstract canvas art to create a single focal point in the room.” This set of three neutral prints are the same size, feature the same frames, and boast coordinating patterns and colors to add some eye-catching art without making your walls feel cluttered or overwhelming. Group them together to create a focal point.

Adding vintage-inspired wall molding is another way to interpret owner of Dalia Staging & Design Lori Bitter’s advice to create a single focal point on your wall. This set comes pre-measured and cut and has an adhesive application that goes on seamlessly. Plus the pieces are paintable so they can match the color-drenching trend we’re seeing everywhere.

“We also use faux plants or greenery to inject life into the space,” explains Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design. This set of faux greenery has a full and bright finish that makes them look so realistic. Plus the pots have a cement-inspired design that adds an industrial touch wherever you put them.

“We often recommend fresh paint,” says Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design, adding that “warm whites are trending now.” This all-in-one paint is a great first step to refreshing your space because it has a built-in primer and top coat to make painting way easier. It has a trendy matte finish and it can be used indoors and outdoors to give your walls or furniture new life.

Swapping out mirrors and hardware in bathrooms is a really easy way to make your room look so much more expensive. Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design says, “We often replace the builder-grade mirrors glued to the wall with nice oval or round mirrors and finish with fresh lighting.” This oval mirror transforms your builder-grade bathroom into something that feels way more custom to fit your personality. It has an aluminum alloy frame plus built-in screw holes that makes installation a total breeze.

“A new towel bar with fluffy white towels signals a spa-like experience,” raves Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design. This one can be installed on the wall or the side of your countertop to give you the perfect chic spot to store your plush towels. The best part is that it uses a peel-and-stick application so it can completely change the look of your space in seconds.

An easy way to give yourself the “spa-like experience” that Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design recommends is to swap out old, stained linens for these fresh white towels. White towels exude the kind of clean and chic luxury that you’ll find at a high-end spa, but you can get it from the comfort of your own bathroom.

Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design loves using small apothecary jars like these to “organize containers of cotton balls, Q-tips, and makeup brushes [...] to elevate these ordinary items to a more spa-like feel.” These glass jars come in three sizes and the best part about them is that they have airtight lids, so you can put even pills inside and they won’t get sticky from shower humidity.

Lori Bitter of Dalia Staging & Design says one of the biggest storage hacks she’s found are these chic linen boxes to organize the classically messy boyfriend or husband drop spot. “The small one is perfect for his dresser or the entry table for keys, wallet, and phone. We’ve even drilled a hole so a charger cord can live in there for the phone or earbuds,” she explains. They look so chic and no one will have any idea of the total mess that’s hiding inside.

Shari Casanova of Casanova Home Staging recommends swapping out cabinet hardware — but you might consider extending that advice to your furniture, too. You can upgrade your cheap-looking furniture legs with wooden legs like these that elevate your pieces and make your space look so much more cohesive. They even have gorgeous golden accents that feels super chic and expensive.

“Most homes don’t have enough lighting and lamps are one of the easiest ways to change the mood of a room. They’re functional, but they’re also decorative tools that add height, introduce color, or help modernize a space,” explains Melinda Christman of Olive + Opal Interiors. A tall floor lamp like this is a great way to not only illuminate your space but also add some dimension to the room. Plus the shade rotates up and down to focus the light exactly where you want it.

“There are several things, large and small, one can do to help make a home look more inviting,” says Wendy Glaister, CEO of Glaister Interiors. “I like a nice, scented candle for the bathroom or the kitchen.” This candle is especially unique because it comes in a literal coconut shell. It has a wooden wick that crackles as it burns and is made of soy coconut wax that smells amazing and really sets the vibe. Plus it has up to 40 hours of burn time.

Realtor Ben Kruse of Choose Kruse says, “I use warm LED strip lighting on baseboards and shelves to create intentional design elements that also hide any imperfections.” These strip lights have 16 multicolor options, six solid colorways, and eight modes so you can fully customize the lighting in your space, whether you’re ready to relax or party. They can be cut to size and have adjustable brightness, too.

“Turning an unused nook into [...] a craft space or a small workout area instantly increases how buyers perceive the home’s functionality and value,” says Melinda Christman of Olive + Opal Interiors. This silicone mat is a great way to give yourself a dedicated art spot that also works to protect your surfaces from spills and stains. It has raised edges to collect any droplets, a built in palette for eight colors, and a collapsible cup for water.