55 Clever Home Upgrades That Are Perfect For Bougie But Cheap People Like Me

Give your vanity or bathroom mirror a Hollywood glam upgrade thanks to these LED lights that simply stick in place. I love that they’re so customizable — set them to three color temperatures and nine brightness levels for perfect getting-ready lighting. They’re powered via USB.

I don’t want to use a dirty toothbrush to get my mouth clean, which is why I bought this wall-mounted sanitizer. It utilizes UV technology for up to 99.9% disinfection in just minutes. The built-in battery lasts a long time; recharge it via USB.

When you get out of bed for a middle-of-the-night bathroom break or snack session, these motion-activated lights that install under your bed will guide you. And yet, they’re not overly harsh to disturb your sleeping partner. You even get to choose how long they’ll stay lit after being triggered.

I find it shocking that this turntable has a price tag of less than $20. It’s positively pretty and plenty practical. At 11 inches in diameter, it can stash condiments in the pantry, supplies in the office, perfume in the bathroom, and more.

I got tired of having an unsightly and bulky ironing board in my home. So I made the switch to this ironing mat. It's heat resistant by design, turning any surface — particularly the top of your washing machine, since the mat has built-in magnets — into a handy ironing spot. And it costs less than $15.

Shower mats with a suction cup bottom get moldy so fast. So I upgraded to this loofah mat that’s naturally nonslip (there are zero suction cups to hold it in place) to avoid this issue. It’s soft and squishy, making it far more comfortable to stand on as well. It comes in plenty of colors, patterns, and sizes in the listing.

There’s nothing bougier than a trash can that opens and closes completely on its own. And this particular one also has the perk of looking high-end with its ribbed design and golden accents. It’s waterproof and battery powered.

Bougie laundry rooms aren’t just for dream Pinterest boards: These sleek dispensers help you achieve this in your own home. Fill each one with detergent, softener, scent beads, or other products you use regularly on laundry day. Simply use the included labels to remember what’s what. I’m a fan of this pick, but particularly at this price point.

I will never purchase a regular laundry basket again. A collapsible one like this is beyond superior — it pops right open when you need it, but collapses down to nearly flat for storage after the fact. This way, you don’t have a bulky basket taking up precious space in your home.

Store your towels in style with this towel rack, which I’m going to grab for my guest bathroom. It mounts vertically on the wall, and the two-tier design can accommodate up to six extra-large bath towels, eight hand towels, or a whopping 56 face towels.

Keep this drinking carafe on your nightstand — or even a guest's side table — to avoid roaming through the house just to get a sip of water. It’s quite convenient, if you ask me. The carafe features a gorgeous cut crystal design with a lid that doubles as a drinking glass.

I’ve had my eye on these clear dividers as a simple way to maximize storage in a closet. Plus, they make everything look far tidier. Each one (six are included) slides in place on a shelf, creating divided spots to stack shirts, purses, pants, and more.

Bedsheets slip off as you toss and turn at night? This happens with my slippery bamboo set, so I’m grabbing these sheet straps as a low-cost fix. They feature metal clips that clamp onto the fabric to hold it in place without causing damage. And the elasticized design ensures they’ll work on beds of all sizes, from twin to king.

Made from diatomaceous stone, these six drink coasters absorb water spills and condensation instantly — this means they’re better at protecting the surface below. They dry fast and are nonslip, too. As if all of this wasn’t already great, I love the black and gold design, plus the included holder to keep them corralled.

You need napkins at your kitchen table, so might as well stash them in the bougiest way possible with this abstract leaf-shaped holder. It’s made entirely from metal with a rich brass finish. You could also use it outdoors for an al fresco moment.

Bustle shopping editor Martha Sorren recommends this drink organizer. Fill it with up to 25 cans or bottles — like soda, sparkling water, beer, etc. — and as you grab a drink from the front, the next one slides forward in its spot. It’s so convenient and, of course, a little on the bougie side.

“It's all about the details,” shares Amy Biggart, a Bustle shopping editor. And these decorative curtain rings are “so beautiful and subtly class up any bathroom,” she adds. Made from metal, the 12 retro-inspired rings smoothly glide across the rod.

“I think having motion sensor lights is one of the easiest ways to make your home look fancier,” shares Biggart, who adds that they make walking around safer, too. These particular bar lights stick in place, turn on automatically when movement is sensed within 10 feet, and glow a warm white hue. Three are included.

Biggart shares that adding a stainless steel utensil holder like this one to her kitchen “made everything look way more organized. I love mine.” This one has space for up to 20 utensils in its three compartments, and it rotates for easy access.

This magnetic knife holder mounts on the wall or your backsplash, freeing up big-time counter space. And Biggart remarks that it also “makes you look like a serious home cook.” It’s 16 inches long to hold a lot, and it installs with no-damage adhesive.

Biggart believes that “plopping down a doormat at the front of your house signals to everyone that you care about the cleanliness of your home.” And she thinks this half-circle one — which is designed to trap dirt and debris — is also particularly cute. It has a rubber backing to not budge.

Caulking seems simple like a simple job — yet it’s difficult to perfect. These caulk strips are the budget-friendly solution. “These strips make it super easy to clean up rough edges around your home,” says Biggart. “I love how professional they look.” Each roll in the pair measures 0.5 inches across and 10 feet long.

Cassandra Seale, a shopping editor at Bustle, points to this compartmentalized organizer for sunglasses, readers, and glasses — up to 18 pairs, in fact. Each slot is fabric-lined to prevent scratches, dings, or other damage, and the organizer as a whole is made from luxe faux leather with a snap cover.

“Gorgeous and looks like it should actually cost way more,” says Seale about this floating picture frame. Made from brass, the circular frame holds a photo or artwork between two panes of glass for that floating look. Mount it on the wall, or use the base to place it on a shelf or another similar surface.

Simple yet oh-so clever, Seale recommends this sink organizer that suctions in place on your kitchen sink — so water drips right back into it — and has enough room for a sponge, drain stopper, or other small items. There’s even a rail to hang a small dish rag.

“A home for clutter makes any room 10x more polished,” claims Seale. And this marble tray is the perfect pick for corraling items on your vanity, counters, nightstand, and other areas. The solid marble construction ensures long-lasting durability. It measures nearly 12 inches long and nearly 8 inches wide.

Tissue boxes are notoriously ugly. But Seale points to this plastic cover as a low-cost solution to conceal it. It has a cute house-like shape, and the tissues dispense through the “chimney,” mimicking a puff of smoke. The cover is compatible with square tissue boxes.

Seale suggests this food and water bowl combo for your furry best friend. “Because pets can be bougie too,” she remarks. The food bowl’s liner is made from stainless steel that’s easy to clean, while the water side has a 17-ounce water bottle attached to it for automatic refills throughout the day. Choose from lots of colors in the listing.

Bustle shopping editor Ali Drucker refers to these rectangular placemats as bougie because of their woven, linen-like look. However, they’re also practical since the material is an easy-to-clean vinyl — it’s naturally nonslip and heat resistant, too. With four placemats included in the set, the $10 price point is unbeatable.

When it comes to baking tools, it doesn’t get much fancier-looking than these measuring cups that boast a golden finish — they come recommended for this list by Bustle shopping editor Kate Miller. The four measuring cups have sturdy handles for scooping out dry ingredients, though they work with wet ones, too.

“Finally, an easy way to store boots that's both streamlined and easy to access,” says Miller, referring to this free-standing rack. It has room for up to four pairs of boots of any size or shape (including knee-highs and rain boots), and the inverted design keeps the shafts straight to avoid creasing.

Whether you use it as a nightstand or side table, this two-tier pick offers ample space for items you want in reach, like the remote control, your tumbler, a favorite book, and your phone. “I love the vintage spindle leg design that's channeling a class furniture brand,” adds Miller. Pick from various colors in the listing.

“Nightstands are expensive, but this does the trick for way less — and it's so sleek,” says Lauren Beach, a shopping at Bustle, about this floating model. It features solid wood with metal brackets to support up to 30 pounds on its two shelves. A few different finishes can be found in the listing.

You don’t need to do any drilling to install these golden handles on cabinets or furniture. “No one would guess they're adhesive,” remarks Beach. They’re made from heavy-duty aluminum alloy with a weighty rectangular shape for a big visual impact.

Beach calls these magnetic tiebacks “the fastest and cheapest way to update your curtains.” Each tieback features a stretchy design to wrap around curtains of various thicknesses, and they’re held in place with the magnets on the end, which are adorned with crystals for that bougie touch.

Beach refers to this alarm clock as “the coolest pick at a must-buy price,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s packed to the brim with features, including a projection clock, an 11-color digital display, adjustable volume levels, a built-in snooze setting, and many more. A USB-C charging cable is included.

Handmade from walnut wood, these triangular bookends are certainly a “chic way to store novels, cookbooks, photo albums, and more,” shares Beach. Each one features a metal base for an extra level of sturdiness, and they stand about 6 inches tall.

Step up your food storage with these glass jars. The set comes with five of them — including two small ones, two medium-sized, and a large one — for various items like pasta, oatmeal, snacks, coffee, and more. Use the bamboo lids to keep it all contained. “These make your pantry feel elevated and they're such a low price point per container,” adds Beach.

“Professional chefs rely on cork to keep their blades in good shape — and if you're bougie, you should too,” explains Beach. And the dividers of this in-drawer organizer are crafted from this exact material to securely hold your cutlery. The exterior is bamboo for durability’s sake.

With their caged design and black finish, these are the most charming night-lights I’ve seen. Just like others, they plug into an outlet for power, and a dusk-to-dawn sensor flips them on and off accordingly. They come recommended for this list by Beach.

A suggestion from Beach, this foaming soap dispenser mounts on the wall to clear your counters. It dispenses the perfect amount of product (use the gear to tweak this) whenever you wave your hand underneath it. The rechargeable battery lasts 60-plus days.

These glass containers “step up your coffee station's aesthetics and functionality,” notes Beach. The set comes with two canisters made from borosilicate glass (that’s thick and break-resistant) to hold ground coffee or whole beans, plus bamboo lids with a lock catch mechanism to stay shut. Use the wooden spoon to scoop out the perfect amount for your pick-me-up.

Mount this hook rack on the wall to hang up coats, hats, towels, keys, robes, or whatever else you want — it has four flip-down hooks accordingly. “The solid walnut makes it feel so much more expensive than it is,” adds Beach. And it has a waxed finish for durability.

Created from lightweight lace with ruffled edges, these charming curtains filter out the perfect amount of light. “I'm obsessed with the expensive feel of these curtains. Use them alone or layered with opaque ones for a fuller feel,” notes Beach. This pick has a rod-pocket top that adds to the high-end factor.

“Keep your [sunglasses] collection in great shape by turning them into a display,” says Beach. And this pair of wall-mounted organizers is the simplest way to go about this. They’re made from a combination of wood and metal for a luxe look, and each one holds several pairs at a time.

This kitchen dispenser has a smart three-in-one design; it boasts a pump dispenser for hand or dish soap, a storage compartment for brushes, and a rack in the front for a sponge. All of this, plus a stainless steel body that’s sleek and resistant to rust. This pick comes recommended by Beach, who loves its space-saving design.

“Don't spend big bucks hiring an electrician,” cautions Beach. Instead, you could utilize this hanging lamp that plugs in for power. “This lets you add a fixture anywhere and tweak the settings for perfect ambiance,” she adds, referring to the included smart light bulb that can be set to a whopping 16 million color options.

Utilize these two clear organizers on the door of a medicine cabinet or vanity. “This is such an easy (and nice-looking) way to upgrade a cabinet and boost storage,” shares Beach. They install with adhesive to avoid damage, and the open-top design allows you to grab what you need and be on your merry way.

Create a stained glass-like effect for way, way less thanks to this window film that boasts a colorful geometric design. “It goes up easily and comes off without any residue or damage,” explains Beach. Added perks? It offers protection against the sun’s UV rays and a layer of privacy for your home.

Turn your sleeping space into a serene oasis with this bed canopy that’s adorned with string lights. Suggested by Beach, this pick works with a variety of bed models and sizes (even king), and it takes seconds to install with all hardware included. Set the lights to steady on or flash modes depending on the ambiance you’re seeking.

Mount this macramé hanging hamper on the back of your bathroom, closet, or bedroom door to save big-time floor space. It holds a surprising amount of dirty clothes, and the zippered bottom allows you to easily get them into the wash when the time comes. This pick is Beach’s recommendation.

Right off the bat, this soap dish that Beach calls out looks nicer than most since it’s made from a solid piece of teak wood. But it’s also super functional: It has a slanted design to drain out excess water, and the ridges keep your soap bar elevated to dry faster.

“Don't settle for boring shelves — these are like art for your walls,” says Beach about these floating shelves with an iridescent finish and rainbow-shaped lip design. “Such a great price for four shelves,” she adds. Install them with screws or adhesive, both of which are included.

This pillow cover isn’t as it seems — it’s actually designed for storage. “Use it to store seasonal (or extra) blankets and pillows,” says Beach, or really any soft items that need a home. The neutral tan color works in pretty much any space, and the full-length metal zipper makes it simple to access the stuff inside when needed.

“Sleek, space-saving, and clever,” is precisely how Beach describes this hat hanging rack that boasts 30 damage-free clips spread across three tiers. Use the hook on top — which rotates 360 degrees — for hanging it from a standard closet rod.