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If You Want A Fancier Kitchen On A Not-So-Fancy Budget, These 35 Products Are Here To Help
Including an under-$100 cabinet painting kit one reviewer says saved them $12,000 🫢
1. Some matching oil and vinegar dispensers with metal pour spouts that’ll make feel like you’re dining at an Italian restaurant every night and not just pulling a frozen Trader Joe’s meal from your freezer.
Promising review: “I LOVE these dispensers!!! They look so cute and make me feel so organized. They dispense liquids really well and do not leak. They come with almost every label you would need.” —Tara Foster
Get them from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in two sizes, sets of one, two, or four, and in three styles).
2. A roll of faux-marble contact paper ready to breathe new life into tired tiles or scratched countertops for just 10 bucks.
It took most reviewers less than an hour to completely revamp their space, and it was two hours *tops* for others (depending on how much space you’re redoing!).
Promising review: “I bought this contact paper to redo my kitchen countertops. I live in an older house that needs a little upgrading, and this hit the spot. This contact paper is easy to work with and I promise you, you cannot tell that it is contact paper. My husband, who never notices anything, even commented on how good it looked. I ordered two more rolls so I can do my kitchen island as well. I used my blow dryer so I could get a few of the wrinkles out as I was placing the paper down, and that made it very easy to apply. What are you waiting on? Just buy it, and you will not be disappointed!” —Duana
Get a roll from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 11 styles).
3. A neutral set of silicone-coated kitchen utensils so you can throw away the mismatched ones you’ve been using since college.
The utensils can withstand temperatures of -40 degrees F up to 446 degrees F. Each set includes 24 tools and a holder.
Promising review: “I don’t normally write reviews, but I went out of my way to share this! I love these; they are super cute and really nice to cook with! I went through and threw away all of my plastic spoons and spatulas after using these. I’m definitely a fan!” —Patricia B.
Get them from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in eight color combos).
4. A nonskid washable runner you can throw down to hide dated tile and give you a little extra cushion while you cook.
Promising review: “I’ve grown tired of ‘washable rugs’ that are as thin as paper. They’re folded into small squares and placed in bags, and the creases never seem to disappear when you unfold them. This rug lies flat immediately and it features a rubber backing that keeps it in place. What surprised me even more is its remarkable thickness, nearly comparable to a professional anti-fatigue mat. Its thickness effectively protects my spine, making me feel less tired when I leave the kitchen. It’s very easy to clean, effortlessly vacuums, and spills can be wiped away with a towel. Cleaning tools easily collect pet hair, too.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five sizes).
5. Some cabinet paint if you’re looking for a BIG change despite your small budget. One reviewer says the kit saved them $12,000 and they were able to complete the project on their own!!!
The kit comes with two cans of cabinet paint, a roller arm, two roller covers, and an angled paint brush; it requires no stripping, priming, or top coat or sealer, and there’s no need to remove your cabinet doors.
Promising review: “Amazing! Amazing! Amazing. Did take more than one coat, though. My cabinets were bare wood, and I still needed a couple of coats. My kitchen is medium-sized, not too big, and it only took one can. This took my kitchen from looking like a cheap rental apartment kitchen to a high-quality kitchen with just this paint and new knobs. The paint is perfect for cabinets — it’s not too thick, so you still see the wood grains. It comes with EVERYTHING you need. I didn’t have to buy a thing. The project is super easy, the paint dries fast, and I did it at first by removing the cabinets, but it wasn’t necessary at all. I would recommend EVERYONE to purchase this and give your cabinets a chance before making a big investment in new cabinets. Wood is wood, and it can be refinished.” —Brandon Moronta
Get it from Amazon for $36.95+ (available in 11 colors and two styles).
6. A sleek acacia wood utensil holder that’ll warm up your countertop and make it look like you actually know what you’re doing in the kitchen. The crock has a 360-degree turntable, too, so it’s just as functional as it is beautiful.
7. A set of bistro curtains so you can dress up your windows but without sacrificing all of your natural light.
Anonymous from Massachusetts / Wayfair
8. A candle-warming lamp if you’re the type who avoids overhead lighting like the plague. Placed in your kitchen it’ll help dissipate food smells, too, which is a major win!
Promising review: “I’ve had the ugly plate-style candle warmers before and they don’t even come close to this one. This one gives off the nicest glow, and the different styles are so pretty. I love that it has a timer feature and I feel much safer having this instead of lit candles. This would make a great gift for anyone. I will definitely be buying more for other rooms.” —Catherine Vorce
Get it from Amazon for $29.97+ (available in 14 styles; check out a whimsical flower option here!)
9. An affordable pack of peel-and-stick subway tiles to cover up nasty old grout or backsplashes that’ve seen much better days. No tools or expertise are necessary, but a tool belt could be a fun touch. 🛠
Promising review: “I have been blown away with how great they look and every person who has seen them after I put them up doesn’t know they are not real tile. They are shiny like tile and have the texture of tile as well. They are easy to clean and relatively easy to install. It took me two afternoons and only because I hadn’t ordered enough and needed one more package.” —Kyle & Noelle
Get 10 sheets from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in five styles).
10. Some matte-steel or brushed brass pulls that sure beat the dinged up knobs that came on your builder-grade kitchen cabinets.
Promising review: “Can’t beat the quality for the price! Solid weight, and none arrived scratched, bent, or broken. Definitely get the template! It makes installation a breeze! With the template, I had 24 handles installed in less than 45 minutes! Immediately upgraded my cabinets. Very happy with this purchase!” —alexa
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in quantities 1–60 and in seven colors).
11. A set of wire baskets where you can store your bounty of fresh produce and — in the back — the processed snacks that you absolutely love but aren’t as eager to show off.
Promising review: “An amazing product that’s compact and sturdy. Clutter free and organized cabinets in my kitchen. Previously, small bottles of spices and other condiments were difficult to manage in my cabinet and sometimes while taking one out, another would topple down. When you are in a hurry to get things done, this was a nightmare! Now, what a relief. I just take the whole basket down, use the spices, and then it goes back. Sometimes I just open the cabinet just to admire the way it looks. 😁😁” –RST
Get a set of two from Amazon for $48.99.
12. A set of six dimmable under-cabinet light strips that’ll instantly add ambiance to any space you see fit be it your kitchen, closet, desk, or wardrobe. They’re also remote controlled, so you can turn on the wow factor even if you’re comfortable on the couch.
Each kit comes with six pre-cut LED light strips (9.8 feet in total) and adhesive strips for mounting. The 17-key remote can control basic functions like turning the lights on/off, setting a timer, dimming the lights, etc. Plus, it works at distances up to 60 feet.
Promising review: “Awesome product!! I love the ease of installation and the extra included pieces for a good fit. Perfect for adding some much-needed light to my dark kitchen. Dimmable and comes with a remote! There’s no downside!” —Breezy Lady
Get a set of six from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in two sizes and three styles).
13. And a handy light conversion kit if you’re over your recessed lighting but you don’t want to pay an electrician to change out your fixtures. These allow you to transform your current setup so you can swap in pendant lights instead.
It has about a six-step installation process and includes all the parts you’ll need. The brace adjusts to any size between four and six inches and fits the standard base sockets. It can be used on sloped ceilings up to 45 degrees, works in damp locations, has a 50-pound maximum load rating, and is paintable with no visible screws or hardware.
Promising review: “I love this product. I moved into this house two years ago. I have a very high ceiling with recessed lighting and trying to figure out what to do if the lights burn out. So when I found this product, I immediately purchased them and had an electrician convert them with pendant lights. OMG! They improved the look of the room from a rather tired look to a designer look. Absolutely amazing product and it took only a little over an hour to install two new pendant lights.” —Amazon Customer
Get a four-pack from Amazon for $72.94.
14. A slim storage cart to utilize the dead space between your fridge and wall (or any appliance, really).
Promising reviews: “This is EXACTLY what I needed to fill the space between the cabinet and fridge. We removed an old, unwanted dishwasher and replaced the cabinets, and there was this space that we didn’t have any plans for, so I ordered this cart to complete the collection. It looks awesome, holds a lot of needed items for the kitchen, freeing up the spice cabinet so it looks and feels more organized. It pulls out without any wobbling and seems very stable overall. I would order it again, maybe for the laundry room.” —Mary P
Get it from Amazon for $38.99.
15. A coffee syrup dispenser set that’ll make you feel like you’re drinking a $7 cold brew from that trendy coffee shop in town when in reality, you didn’t spend a dime and made it yourself. So basically… it’s a step toward being even more financially responsible.
New England Stories is a small business that specializes in home and kitchen products.
Promising review: “These are worth the money! There are labels for almost every basic syrup as well as blanks so you can label them yourself. If you get a regular size Torani syrup bottle it will hold the whole bottle, so you don’t need to worry about story a quarter of the bottle of syrup. SO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, TOO.” —Naomi
Get a set of four from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three colors and in two- and six-packs).
16. A sleek magnetic storage bar so you say bye to your cracked knife block or — even worse — reaching your hand into a drawer filled with free-floating utensils.
This magnetic bar comes with mounting hardware and instructions to hang it up, and it is also compatible with Velcro or any kind of mounting tape.
Promising review: “I want to order another one!!! I wish I had thought to purchase one of these sooner. The magnet is strong and holds plenty of my everyday knives. I decided to put it on the side of my fridge and it holds perfectly when you remove the back and stick directly on. I didn’t need anything extra to hold it in place either. Now I have more counter space.” —RayJoni07
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in six sizes).
17. A sleek under-cabinet paper towel holder that requires no installation as it comes with peel-and-stick tape adhesive.
Promising review: “I’ve had this up for awhile now and even with my kids pulling on it, daily pulling of paper towels, etc., it has not moved. There are many ways to hang it but we chose the tape it came with, and it has not disappointed! It finally got our paper towels off the counter and gives us that little bit of extra space. Definitely love this!” —Jari Prieto
Get it from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in five finishes).
18. A set of floating shelves if you have open wall space and could use extra storage or just a place to show off your trendy Graza olive oil and salt cellar with flaky Maldon salt.
19. A wooden cutting board where you can craft a killer charcuterie board with the five cheeses and three meat assortments you impulse-bought at Trader Joe’s. Leave a cheese cloth out on your counter and guests may even think you made the mozzarella by hand…
Home Beets is a small business. Check out all of their products here.
Promising review: “This is a gorgeous cutting board. Almost too pretty to use, but I am using it for all kinds of cutting purposes. Easy to clean and looks beautiful with just a light coating of olive oil. I’ll be buying again for a gift.” —Tina Macfarlane
Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in two shapes).
20. A tube of peel-and-stick contact paper that — when applied with a lil’ finesse — can totally pass as stainless steel. White refrigerator? We don’t know her.
21. A macramé fruit hammock so your bananas, apples, and oranges can enjoy their last days on Earth in comfort. Little do they know they’re about to be devoured. 😈
KnappsKnots is a San Diego–based small business from Anastasia Knapp.
Promising reviews: “Absolutely loved it! Perfect if you have little counter space.” —Jessi
“Love it. Might get another for bread and buns. The clearance between our counter and upper cabinets is weirdly short — can’t fit most countertop items — so this was the perfect solution” —pogtotes
Get it from KnappsKnots on Etsy for $28.90+ (available in two sizes and 11 colors).
22. A domed cake stand that will have you acting like a undercover operative as you stealthily sneak goodies in the middle of the night. Unless, of course, you live alone in which case make as much noise as you like!
23. A decorative fruit bowl or catchall dish if your style could best be described as “looks like Joanna Gaines picked it out.”
Promising review: “I bought this as a gift for a friend. The packaging was very cute and well secured to prevent the product from breaking. I love artsy, minimalist, yet cute house items. So this bowl was the perfect choice for an entryway keys, wallet, etc holder. Will definitely buy one again for myself!” —evelinxt
Get it from Amazon for $43.84 (available in two colors).
24. A wooden pedestal to elevate your soap, candle, coffee supplies, or whatever else is all over your kitchen counter.
Promising review: “Sturdy design and a great value. If it’s very near to water maybe just spray a quick coat of sealer or poly on it to seal it from water damage. Came quickly and looks great with any decor!” —Lara Kessler
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two finishes).
25. A nonslip clear food prep and cutting board that won’t clash with any of the decorative elements in your kitchen. We can’t have that, now can we!
Promising review: “This piece is beautiful. I love how it’s clear and shows what is underneath. I can have it on my counter all the time, and it looks like it is part of the kitchen. I’ve chopped many things on it, and I have no scratches. Very easy to clean.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $52.99.
26. A magnetic vinyl dishwasher cover if you aren’t quite in the tax bracket where you can afford appliances that completely blend in with your cabinets… so might as well make your dishwasher a design element!
27. A stove-top spice organizer on which you can stack your go-to spices, oils, and kitschy salt and pepper shakers. It’s also a convenient place to dry out a turkey wishbone if your family is into that tradition.
Promising review: “Purchased a new stove recently, unfortunately I didn’t realize the back didn’t have a indention for my plug box that sticks out from wall. The new stoves are flat in the back and this makes my new stove push out and my spices were falling behind stove. I could have paid an electrician to move the plug box but I purchased this spice rack which fits perfect!!!! Problem solved. I love the metal and wood combo, plus you can decorate with the seasons. Looks expensive but priced right. Great quality!! Hope this helps anyone with the same dilemma.” —Barb
Get it from Wayfair for $49.99.
28. An automatic spice grinder so you can top off every dish with a bit of spice and in the most ✨extra✨ fashion imaginable.
BTW — this grinder is battery-operated, so make sure to get a few AA batteries, too!
Promising reviews: “Nothing like freshly ground spices to add a little snap to your cooking. The pods snap on and off with ease and the grind size is very easy to adjust from barely ground to pulverized… The ability to group commonly used spices together in threes and carry them across the kitchen or outside to the grill just adds to the usability.” —Todd Tittle
Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in six colors; comes with grinder and two interchangeable pods).
29. A magnetic acrylic weekly planner you can stick right to your fridge so you can easily keep track of the week’s menu. That way, all of your fresh produce doesn’t go to waste because you have a reminder right in front of your face. No forgetting you put it in the fridge anymore!!
Check out a TikTok of the magnetic acrylic planner in action.
Each planner also comes with six colorful markers, a magnetic eraser, a magnetic pen container, and a cleaning towel.
Promising review: “I love the bright colors of the markers that it comes with it and it’s super helpful to remember what we’re having for dinner for the week! Comes with markers, an eraser, a little cloth, and some little sticky pads to put on the back of the magnets so that it doesn’t scratch your fridge up, love that!” —Krista Paige
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in three sizes and a variety of other styles).
30. An attractive storage rail with the ability to gussy up even your cleaning supplies!
Keyaiira is a Santa Rosa, California-based shop that sells leather and fiber home goods.
And grab some S-hooks to open up your options for what you can hang on the rail.
Promising review: “Love how simple but unique this is. Great quality and easy to install. Will buy from again!” —Amanda Shaw
Get it from Keyaiira on Etsy for $24.74+ (originally $32.99+; available in seven leather loop colors, two rail materials, and three rail lengths).
31. A floral recipe box where you can stow the top-secret water-stained scraps of paper that have been passed down from generation to generation in your family. Don’t tell anyone — but I’m pretty sure Grandma actually stole “her” chocolate chip cookie recipe from the neighbor.
Promising review: “Cute and attractive recipe card holder. It holds several hundred 4×6-inch recipe cards. It helps keep my recipes organized while adding nicely to the kitchen decor.” —Sonja in Idaho
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in 10 designs).
32. A mounted stemware holder you can install under kitchen cabinets, customized floating shelves, or your wooden bar cart.
BTW, one rack can hold up to nine standard size glasses.
Promising review: “Overall, very pleased with this product. Found some floating shelves to match a cabinet and then added these to make my custom wine stem rack. The quality was better than expected, and I love the darker finish. These also were the right size for the width and depth of the shelf. So far, I’ve gotten several compliments.” —Ms Lila
Get it from Amazon for $19.93+ (available in four colors; three, four, or five rows; and multipacks).
33. A set of gold measuring cups and spoons that won’t melt when oops! you accidentally leave them too close to the stove. They’ll also develop a slight patina overtime that’ll just add to their cottage-y aesthetic.
Promising review: “These are so beautiful and just as pictured. The quality is great. Very sturdy. I absolutely love them.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in measuring spoon and cup options).
34. A trio of airtight canisters where you can store coffee, sugar, salt — you name it! Turns out reaching for these is a lot simpler than searching your cabinet for an unmarked Ziploc bag of “hmm, is that flour or cornstarch??”
Promising review: “I was hesitant to buy these online but could not find anything locally I liked. I am so happy with these containers! They are HEAVY and very well made. Much higher quality than I anticipated receiving.” —Courtney N.
Get it the set from Amazon for $39.99 (pieces can also be bought individually).
35. And an acacia wood and marble salt cellar so you can add a little pizzazz — a la salt bae — to your next dish and your countertop.
Promising review: “I was a little worried that this container would let in moisture, allowing the salt to clump over time. But I’ve been using this for quite a while now, and it does the job perfectly. It’s also attractive on the countertop and has gotten compliments. I consider this a very worthwhile kitchen purchase.” —Editing_Gal
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in six styles).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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