These 34 Rather Easy Ideas Will Turn Your House Into Something Really Fantastic
There are so many options to choose from.
A 28-year-old woman refused to accept her house the way it was, mostly because every room felt like it was fighting back. The windowless space looked darker than it should, the kitchen counter was always crowded, and the hallway storage situation was basically a joke. Even the outlets felt like they were placed to ruin good design, not help it.
Then her partner started pointing out all the tiny, fixable annoyances, like how unloading groceries was a whole production because the garage and kitchen felt disconnected. Their kids and pets also kept turning “temporary” setups into permanent ones, from baby gates to clutter that kept migrating onto tabletops. By the time they got to the stairs, the landing was still just an empty spot begging for a window seat.
So they decided to turn every awkward corner into a “why didn’t we do this sooner?” moment, starting with mirrored tiles and ending with a sun tunnel that makes the whole house feel different.
1. Add mirrored tiles to windowless rooms.
2. Install your outlets underneath your cabinets so you don’t ruin your backsplash.
3. Use recessed outlets so you can place your furniture against the wall.
4. Hide appliances behind sliding doors.
5. Open a small tunnel to connect two rooms.
6. Add a simple window seat to the landing of your staircase.
7. Use a slide-away step in your bathroom instead of a step stool.
8. If your garage is adjacent to your kitchen, add a small door to make unloading groceries easier.
9. Use stainless steel contact paper to make your appliances look more expensive.
10. Install Dutch doors so you can watch your kids/pets without baby gates.
11. Turn your counter into storage space.
12. Save space with collapsible drying racks.
13. Decorate the foundation of your home to make it both pretty and functional.
14. Replace your old house numbers with modern fonts.
It’s hard not to think of the roommate who had expensive hobbies, and the debate over whether those uneven contributions should change shared bills, in this roommate bills fairness question.
15. Add a small cabinet in the kitchen for cleaning supply storage.
16. Add a shelf to a long hallway for extra storage space.
17. Make the space your fake drawers occupy functional.
18. Add a half-table to your bathroom for extra storage space.
19. Replace your current shower head with this unique one.
20. Simple outdoor showers are perfect for beach houses and families who love the outdoors.
21. Buy a toilet seat where everyone can have their own tab.
22. Build drawers in the wasted space between studs in the wall.
23. Add outlets to drawers to keep clutter off the tabletop.
24. Use slide-out drawers in the home for spices and pantry items.
25. Instead of bunk beds, install classy Murphy beds for your kids.
26. Install a simple dog bath in a mudroom or entryway.
27. Use kitchen drawers as cutting boards that you can hide.
28. Fake drawers are also a great spot for extra outlets.
29. Make your porch lights fancy with a chandelier.
30. Put a sign on your bathroom so guests know where it is.
31. Add a sun tunnel to rooms you wish had more natural sunlight.
32. Stools on hinges save space in the kitchen.
33. Build a free library for your neighbors.
34. Put heat-sensitive tile in your shower… just because.
Once the recessed outlets and drawer outlets kicked in, the kitchen counter stopped being a dumping ground, and the slide-out spice drawers made the pantry look like it had its life together.
While some of these ideas may be more difficult to implement than others, people have their own skills. Some can install a shower head, switch out the outlets, or update the mailbox with their current address.
You can try a few of them, as you might be surprised by the impact they have. And don't forget to share this list with others by passing it along to them.
By the time they finish the sun tunnel and the fake drawers that aren’t fake anymore, nobody’s complaining about the house layout ever again.
After the roommate argument over splitting bills by room size, you’ll want to read whether roommate bills should be based on room sizes.
