34 Little Apartment Upgrades For Under $20

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Get a whole lot of things for your apartment, without breaking the bank.

BuzzFeed Staff

BuzzFeed Staff

Enhances the natural beauty and depth of grain on finished *and* unfinished wood. For use on antiques, dining tables, kitchen cabinets, wood doors and trim, etc.

Promising review: "I'm not able to sand and stain my floors until spring but they are so dry and worn. I bought this hoping to keep them moisturized until we can refinish and I am amazed with this product." —nicole feather

Get it from Amazon for $8 (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "It adds a feminine touch to my living room and keeps my 70-year-old chair clean when the dog gets on it." —Mimi

Get it from Amazon for $16.91+ (available in 10 colors and five sizes).

"I've used this on my own bathroom floor, which has a more complicated hexagon pattern so it took a bit of time. But I just listened to an episode or two of a podcast and got to work! I recommend doing two coats." —Elizabeth

Promising review: "We moved into our new home, and the shower had a really yellow grout. Cleaning didn’t do anything, and I saw this grout pen online. What a saver! Otherwise, I would have just hired someone to replace my shower. I used this grout pen, and my husband was so impressed :D The tip loses its shape fast, but just pull out the TIP AND FLIPPED IT OVER, and you’ll have a new tip." —jennifer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes).

Get it from Urban Outfitters for $6+ (originally $10+; available in two styles).

"If you're especially petty, you can copy my move of saving said switch plates with a piece of marked duct tape so you know where you put 'em when you leave. This was one of the first things I did in my current apartment, thus rendering the switch plates barely noticeable — which is how I like them!" —Elizabeth

Get a 10-pack of wall plates for $8.99+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Saw on TikTok (don’t judge) and automatically added to cart. So easy to use, takes probably a minute to fully bubble up and clean, and you’re left with a clean sink! I use with other drain cleaning products, but would 100% recommend for weekly maintenance." —Jessica Hamilton

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8.97.

This game-changer includes a toothpaste dispenser, four cups and holders, and a place to store your toothbrushes.

Promising review: "I love this item! I saw it originally on TikTok and thought it would be perfect for our bathroom! We have one bathroom upstairs and five people who use it. This cleared up so much counter space for us! There are ventilation holes where the cups go to help make sure they dry properly. The toothpaste dispenser has really been working to get every last drop out of the tube. Would definitely recommend for a family or kids bathroom. There is also a little storage compartment behind the toothpaste that is great for extra brushes, cotton swabs, or flossers." —Sariyah J

Get it from Amazon for $17.44+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Okay, so these cleaner pods are awesome! I didn't know how gross our Keurig was until today. The big mason jar on the left is when I actually ran the cleaner through plus one rinse cycle. The middle one is another rinse cycle and the last one, on the right, is the last one I did. So yes, I would suggest running two or three rinse cycles instead of the recommended one. But it's still an awesome product for the price! I have a Keurig 2.0 and I had no issues." —Mads0421

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $9.95.

It's super quick to install, and one cartridge can last up to three months!

Promising review: "I had a problem with pink mold in my toilet and was cleaning everyday. I put this in - which was super simple - and I haven't seen the pink mold since. Going to purchase one for my other toilet. Highly recommend. It has a bleach cartridge, but it really doesn't smell strong and def does the job." —Deborah

Get it from Amazon for $10.53+ (available in two styles).

Promising review: "So I kept seeing this item on TikTok and thought, 'heck, why not?' I love this item for deep cleaning, whether it's car mats, shoes, or the shower." —A. Givens

Get it from Amazon for $18.95 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "This product is amazing!!!! We have a Rottweiler pup and a bichon pup and our house was feeling the PAIN! I tried everything and used to tell my wife, 'with all the science and technology in the world we still can’t come up with something that gets rid of the dog mark smell!' This product does everything and more. Just ordered another round. We were about to throw away some furniture due to the smell and now after use we can keep it. Saved me hundreds. Well worth the money." —clayton s tonkin

Get it from Amazon for $19.97.

"That is my nightstand. I love this thing! Plus I've been known to hide a tissue box because, let's be honest, they're all ugly. I've been on the receiving end of some snotty payback as a result. No more! Also I know it's a very small thing but it makes me very happy." —Elizabeth

Promising review: "Since I am a broke 31-year-old this was the only house I can afford. Plus it helps hide the tissues I use to cry in every night." —Lizbanta

Get it from Amazon for $8+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I have a weird skinny window in my house where no normal window covering works. People walking on our community trail can see up into our upstairs bathroom when the light is on and it's dark outside. Not a good plan at all. So I used this window film and cut different sized circles and placed then on this window to interrupt the view into the house. Worked perfectly! Very easy to use." —Marsgard

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 11 sizes).

It's scary how well this works.

Promising review: "I have long hair and always lose a lot of hair in the shower. I moved into a new house and the drain cover they had clogged every single time I showered. It was annoying and gross. I use a thick conditioner and that mixed with hair left a nasty hair ball that was visible the entire time. Since I got the shroom I haven't clogged the shower yet. It catches my hair but I don't have to look at it until I clean it off. Also I think the design allows the conditioner to pass or at least dissolve so it's not assisting in clogging my drain. Overall very happy. Wish it came in pink, but that's my own problem. I got the gray color." —Cassidy rill

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in six colors).

Promising review: "After using this product, I am happy to report that my $5 investment saved me over $500. I was ready to replace my dishwasher due to super cloudy glasses, residue, and dishes just not getting clean. Then, I became aware that the water softener was no longer doing its job so I had the rental company replace it. Dishwasher performance improved somewhat. I decided to do two more loads before deciding to purchase a new one. Then I saw a product test review for Affresh. I was ordering some stuff from Amazon anyway so I added that to my order. When it came, I tossed one of the tablets into the bottom of the full machine per the instructions and ran the regular cycle. I did not expect the results I got! The glassware that I thought was permanently etched and ruined came out like new. Same with cutlery. The difference is unbelievable. I will use this faithfully every month, as recommended. I can even put it on my subscribe and save order so I will get a new pack every six months. I am amazed!" —Sheila

Get them from Amazon for $8.99.

It holds enough water for 1–2 weeks depending on soil and plant type so you should be set for your long weekend getaway.

Promising review: "The intricate birds are simply art, and functioning art! Three days after filling the bird(s) and water is flowing out slowly as needed! Highly recommend and packaged very well, not one bird was broken!" —Andrew P.

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (also available in quantities of two, three, and six).

Promising review: "Yes, this little utensil tray is really that good! I went from using 12 inches of horizontal space in a lovely but huge wooden utensil tray to about using about four inches (whatever the width of this godsend is). It stores my butter knives, steak knives, spoons, forks, and a slew of little teaspoons. I'd guess that the max capacity for each slot is about 10 pieces. For example, I fit four butter knives and four steak knives into the first/knife slot easily, with good wiggle room. This is such a great design. Using this tray opened up about half of my 18-inch wide drawer, which allowed me to decompress the other drawers in my kitchen a bit. I highly recommend this item. It's worth every penny." —Kathleen Cooke

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

We all have that stack of leaning framed art we just haven't gotten around to hanging just yet. This tools helps you measure your wall art that needs hanging and then measure out the perfect place to install hardware.

Promising review: "This makes picture-hanging a breeze. I would have paid twice what I paid for it. Look at what I was able to hang. The tops, bottoms, and sides align." —Scott Sheppard

Get it from Amazon for $17.28.

Promising review: "I had my doubts but I thought, what the heck, for the price I'd give them a try. I am in real estate and known as a lighting snob. The first thing I look at in a kitchen if there is under cabinet lighting. These are so nice (it helps if you have a lip at the bottom of your cabinets) They are a true white, very bright, and I was lucky they were just the length I needed. I just ordered a set and had them shipped to my mom's as her halogen transformer which is buried in a wall, fried and I drives me nuts that the workspace on the counter is dark. I can't wait until I make the 250-mile drive to install them. I may buy more just to use at our listings!" —pauly

Get a 10-foot strand with 60 lights from Amazon for $19.80 (available in white or warm white).

Promising review: "This piece of decor is exactly what I was looking for in my new apartment. It is definitely good quality. I did not use the hanging materials that came with the product. Instead, I used command hooks so that they were apartment-friendly. So far, it has worked well and I have no complaints!" —Bri

Get it from Amazon for $13.98+ (available in three finishes and two sizes).

Promising review: "The macrame is such a great addition to my room. I love that subtle detail and sturdiness of the pieces. While I do live in an apartment, and holes in the wall are discouraged, I used Command straps to hold up the macrame decor. They're lightweight yet very sturdy and make a great addition on the wall. Happy purchaser!" —Shay E.

Get them from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes).

"That was me. I detest loop shower rings because they're such a hassle when you're swapping out a shower liner or taking down your shower curtain to wash it. Yep, these are my shower hooks and they're sturdy enough to stay balanced when you switch out the liner or shower curtain." —Elizabeth

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three finishes).

Promising review: "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 you get 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 same day which was miraculous as my DIY initiative tends to fade approximately 48 hours after I discover a project I want to do." —Spencer House

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).

Promising review: "Loved this set so much! Great quality and durable. They make my bathroom look fancier." —Saira M.

Get them from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "This is the perfect addition to my new kitchen to get my many teas off the counter and out of sight, yet easily accessible. It’s sturdy plastic and fit exactly between the two trims on the inside of my cabinet. The back is flat so I purchased the 3M doubled sided tape and, voila! The description says it holds 90 tea packets but it’s more suitable to 72. My cabinet doors are 'self closing' so there is no worry if the bins aren't staying in place." —2Bounders

Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in three colors and five other styles).

Promising review: "We love this mirror decal! My wife placed it at the top of our bathroom mirror so it doesn't get splashed when using the sink. It's easy to apply and a compliment to all who see it! My wife wants more for gifts." —Chris D.

Get it from YangYang Design on Amazon Handmade for $9.99.

"You know what I'm talking about. I own this and have NO dishwasher, so I do a whole bunch of hand-washing at my sink. This does a fab job of catching all the food bits (including the ones I thought I'd already raked into the trash) so they won't go down the drain. And the silicone construction makes it easy to pop out and violently beat the metal part of the drainer against the side of my trash can to get out the food bits. Of course, I'm wearing dishwashing gloves when I'm doing this. But I still don't want to touch the old gross food! Even through the gloves. TL;DR, your sink could really use this." —Elizabeth

Get it from Amazon for $9.95.

Psst, as you can see above, this set also comes with a crumb catcher where your stovetop meets your countertop!

Promising review: "I've been using the foil ones and while they do the job, they're not so nice to look at. I like that this is black so it matches the original color of the appliances, but more importantly I like that this has a larger surface area to catch the drips that the foil ones never could before. They're also trim to fit, so they get right up into each burner without leaving gaps where drips can burn where it's hardest to clean. Overall recommended." —Michael

Get an 8-pack from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in three sizes and in nine color combinations).

Cleaning Studio is a Fairfield, Connecticut-based Etsy shop filled with natural cleaning products and tools.

Promising review: "This Oven Scrub Cleaner is truly wonderful!!! The glass doors on my oven were embedded with baked splattered tomatoes. Nothing could get the glass and oven clean until I tried this great product! Love it and this product more than met my expectations!!! If you've ever wanted to find something that actually works as advertised, Buy this!!!" —Julie W.

Get it from Cleaning Studio on Etsy for $19.99+ (available in three scents).

Promising review: "I got this because my mother has dementia and she kept putting away dirty dishes 🤦🏽‍♀️. And believe it or not she has actually been using it and it definitely has been working! So I highly suggest buying this for parents or someone you know who has a similar problem!" —Raquel

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Great light strip. The motion sensor has a good range and then controls for time on and brightness are wonderful. The 3M tape on the back could be stronger, but for the price and motion sensor it is a great buy. Also we have this plugged into a smart outlet so that it only turns on during certain hours of the day. That plus the feature that is there is enough ambient light, the motion sensor doesn't trigger makes this on par with systems that are far more expensive. Works great with Google home as well because of the linked smart plug. Very happy with the purchase. Would be 4.5 stars just because of the tape not being sticky enough, but they do provide a second roll in the box, which helps." —AC

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

Storage Theory is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based shop with tons of problem-solving products.

Promising review: "Easy to install and it cleared up a ton of space in my fridge." —Tara Ann

Get it from Storage Theory on Etsy for $12.99 (also available in quantities of two and three).

Promising review: "I love these! I bought them because I wanted a unique way to display some photos but it also served a dual purpose in giving us some beautiful extra lighting. I’m so happy with the way they look. They’re really well made. A lot of other string lights are very flimsy but the chords on this one are nice and sturdy and able to hold all of our photos with no problem. It’s also nice that you get so many clips in one pack! I totally recommend buying this product. I just loved it!" —Jessie

Get them from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three lengths and in warm white or yellow).

Promising review: "I love these! I really didn’t know how well they would work until this morning. My grandson tipped over a large takeout drink and didn’t tell me. It absorbed so much and saved me so much cleanup. I would have had puddles on all my shelves and under the bottom bin. Thanks to these liners there was very little I had to do to clean up. I didn’t wash them because I had some liner leftover from purchase. If it were just an everyday mess I will have washed them. I am ordering more..what a blessing!!!" —Amazon Customer

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $7.79 (available in two sizes and three patterns).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.