The 60 Most Life-Changing Things I've Gotten For My Home Under $20

“Absorbent and adorable, this makes me smile every time I use it,” editor Jen Fiegel says of this quirky stuffed animal-shaped hand towel. It’s made of shaggy chenille fabric that adds a functional and fun touch to your bathroom. Not only does it look so cute on your counter, but the plush design gets into the crevices of your fingers to dry your hands so efficiently. It absorbs quickly and dries even faster.

“You get a lot for a little with these bags,” says editor Karen Belz. “They have reliable zippers, and the different colors make it a huge help when it comes to organization.” What makes them even more invaluable is that the set includes eight different sizes so you can really customize their use to your storage needs. With a translucent mesh design and flexible metal zippers, the bags are great for everything from food and snacks to toiletries, puzzle pieces, and art supplies.

Editor Lauren Beach loves these night-lights for so many reasons. “No more wondering what time it is when you're blow drying your hair,” she says. “The light gets really bright (but is dimmable) and the clock is easy to read from far away.” The brilliant design is controlled with a remote and clearly displays what time it is when you’re getting up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night — so you know if you have three minutes or three hours left to snooze.

Editor Amy Biggart loves this kitchen conversion chart because it’s not only helpful when trying to remember how many ounces are in a cup, but also because you can store it on your fridge to check out conversions at a glance if your hands are messy mid-baking. It has tables for dry weights, liquid conversions, and liquid volumes, as well as an oven temperature guide and an egg timer guide for perfect hard, medium, or soft boiled eggs.

“It's incredible what raised edges can do,” editor Karen Belz about this roasting scoop. Add in tapered sides and an extra-wide head, and this tool makes tossing an entire sheet pan’s worth of ingredients so much easier. The scoop is made of heat-resistant nylon, so you can remove food from the pan as soon as it comes out of the oven to prevent overcooking.

This door draft stopper is such an easy way to control the interior temperature of your home, which can help reduce your summer air-conditioning bill and your winter heating bill. “This was so easy to install, and I could cut it to size to fit my interior doors,” raves editor Martha Sorren. It also helps block noise pollution, bugs, odors, dust, and other things that can easily blow underneath your doors.

“I can't go back to matches now that I've owned a flameless lighter,” raves editor Amy Biggart. “This one is great and really slim. It also makes for a great gift!” The key is that it’s rechargeable so it has a ton of built-in safety precautions that ordinary matches don’t have, like automatic shutdown after 10 seconds and a hidden safety lock. It’s also windproof so you can use it to light candles outside, whether you’re on the beach, camping, or hosting a backyard hang.

“My clothes were starting to feel not that clean after laundry day — turns out I actually needed to clean my washing machine,” explains editor Anna Anderson. Add one of these tablets directly to your washing machine without clothes and run an empty cycle. They work to remove any odor-causing bacteria, soap scum, and stinky grime from all your washing machine’s parts — the drum, valve, pump, and filter — to keep your clothes clean and extend the life of the machine.

“Bath mats are a dime a dozen, but the Olanly ones are really great and super soft and absorbent,” says editor Amy Biggart, adding, “They're a steal for the price.” The key is that they’re both plush and absorbent. They’re made of a thick chenille fabric that feels amazing on your feet when you get into and out of the shower. And they also don’t skimp on how absorbent and quick drying they are, so you’re not left with a puddle on your bathroom floor.

“Nighttime showers are a great way to unwind and these shower curtain fairy lights only level up the relaxation factor,” says editor Anna Anderson. The waterproof, battery-operated lights cast a warm glow and come with hooks and zip ties for hanging. Choose between several modes like twinkle, slow wave, and steady on.

“I have definitely fallen victim to letting the interior parts of my windows get grimy,” admits editor Amy Biggart. “These crevice tools work so great, and truly I've found tons of uses for them.” It’s their slim and narrow design with long, firm bristles that make it so easy for this brush to scrub inside awkward nooks and crannies. They’re also great to use around bathroom faucets, between your computer keys, or on your sliding door rail.

“Nothing beats the satisfying click these spoons make when stacked together,” says editor Ali Drucker. “Plus, they’re much easier to separate than versions that come on a clunky ring.” They also are double-sided, with two different-shaped spoons: a traditional round end and an oval-shaped end that fits more easily into spice jars. They’re also dishwasher safe and they come with a leveler to ensure you’re getting the perfect amount every single time.

Editor Ali Drucker is obsessed with these cord organizers because of how great they are “for keeping your desk or nightstand tidy and free from cable tangles.” They use adhesive tape to mount to the side of your nightstand or the back of your desk, keeping the ends of your cables from falling behind your furniture when you’re not using them. Plus they’re clear, so they look virtually invisible when they’re installed. And if you want to remove them, they don’t leave any sticky adhesive behind.

“I used to store my sunglasses in a drawer, sadly,” says editor Cassandra Seale. “This is a thousand times nicer and protects the shades collection, too.” That’s because this sunglasses holder has eight separated compartments that each fit one set of shades, keeping them protected from scratches, scrapes, and other damage. The unique flip-top closure acts as a lid, but can also be used as a stand to prop up your display.

“These plastic drawer organizers are the simplest — and most budget-friendly — way to organize basically any drawer in your house,” says shopping writer Amanda Pellegrino. The key is that they come in four different sizes so you can mix and match them like a game of Tetris to fit into your drawers. Use them for toiletries in the bathroom, makeup in your vanity, spices in your pantry, utensils in the kitchen — you name it. And because they’re clear plastic, the drawer looks so much cleaner.

Editor Martha Sorren installed these cabinet door bumpers in her kitchen and they “solved the annoying slamming noises from all the kitchen cabinets and drawers.” They act as noise-proofing padding, so all those bangs, slams, and aggressive closes are more muted throughout the day. The rubber bumpers are completely clear so they are basically invisible against the interior of your cabinets and drawers.

“These bias lights look so good behind my TV, and I have them on a schedule and a rotating light scheme,” says editor Amy Biggart. They’re ultra easy to install and can be cut to the exact size you need. Via the compatible app, they can sync to your music and feature 64 preset scenes that bring vivid colors to your evening date night, holiday party, or everyday work-from-home vibe. Plus there are multiple separate segments in the strip that can be customized individually for a fun and funky lighting scene.

“I’ve slipped too many times on a shifting rug — these keep things neatly and discreetly in place,” says editor Cassandra Seale. The V-shaped rug grippers secure to the bottom corners of your area rugs to keep them flush against wood, tile, marble, or stone floors to prevent them from curling and turning into a tripping hazard. And since they adhere to the rug (not the floor), they don’t leave any marks or sticky residue behind.

“These caddies are so sturdy and look so high-end, you'd think they were built in,” says editor Ali Drucker. That’s because they mount to your shower wall with a nearly invisible adhesive strip that makes them look like they’re floating. Plus, they have a wired design that automatically drains lingering water directly into the shower drain. And each of the caddies can hold up to 20 pounds of your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

“I'll never sleep on silverware organization — it really changes how you use your drawers,” says editor Amy Biggart. This expandable organizer is a great option because it can be adjusted from five to seven compartments depending on your needs and the width of your kitchen drawers. It’s such an easy way to declutter, find your silverware quickly, and put things away more efficiently.

“My desk organization is so much better with this laptop stand,” raves editor Amy Biggart. “It's really sturdy and completes my WFH setup.” The best part about it is the way it tilts your laptop into a more comfortable viewing angle while you’re working — which is important if you’re sitting at your desk all day like many people. It works with laptops up to 8.8 pounds and 15.6 inches wide. Plus, it has an open design that allows for proper airflow to prevent overheating.

“This made the outlet behind my mattress actually usable,” says editor Martha Sorren. That’s because of this extension cord’s brilliant design — it has a totally flat outlet cover that sits flush against the wall plug so you can push all your furniture to the wall without worrying about bending or breaking your cords. The extension cord has an 8-foot wire and three plugs to power multiple devices at the same time.

Editor Amy Biggart is obsessed with these light bulbs. “I love that I can set them to turn on at specific times, and that the RGB color options are so extensive.” The best part is that they can be completely customized via an app on your phone. Whether you’re home or on the go, you can program them to turn on and off, set them to over 16 million color options, or automate them on a schedule — particularly helpful if you’re on vacation and want people thinking you’re home.

“Adding these to a bathroom cabinet gave it such a custom-like feel for the space, but they're great for chairs, tables, ottomans, and other things, too,” raves editor Jen Fiegel. These wooden furniture legs come with everything you need to swap builder-grade or cheap-looking legs for something way more elevated and polished. They’re such an easy way to make all your furniture match and feel more custom and expensive.

Editor Amy Biggart loves these plastic cutting boards because of how durable and easy to clean they are. They’re also popular because they’re color coded to prevent cross contamination, as each cutting board is labeled with fish, veggies, fruit, and beef so you can keep them straight easily. They’re also bendable to more conveniently pour whatever you’ve chopped into a bowl, plate, or pan without worrying about spilling everywhere.

Editor Lauren Beach is obsessed with these bag hangers because they save space, protect your purses from scratches and scrapes, and get them off the floor of your closet so you can actually see your collection when you’re building your outfit. Each hanger has six hooks for six purses and the swivel design rotates 360 degrees, so you always have access to all of your collection. Plus they work with shoulder bags, handbags, crossbody bags, and more.

“It's not sexy at all, but these drain snakes are fantastic and made it really easy to remedy the slow drains on my bathroom sink and shower,” says editor Amy Biggart. This kit has everything you need to remove hair and gunk that’s accumulated in your drain. It has a 35.5-inch metal clog remover with a claw end for ultra-slow pipes, and multiple plastic snakes with thorn-like hooks that pull out hair. There are also cleaning brushes to scrub down the inner pipe wall daily to prevent buildup.

“For just a few bucks, I no longer have to search for the nutmeg or turmeric,” says editor Anna Anderson about this three-tier spice rack. With a non-skid surface and deep shelves, this spice rack is such an easy way to declutter your cabinets. Plus, it makes cooking and baking so much more approachable because you can find everything you need at a glance. For the price of a cup of coffee these days, this spice rack is totally worth it for your organizational peace of mind.

Attach this power switch clamp onto your vacuum cleaner’s on button so you can relax your hand while you’re cleaning your home. “The way this genius switch lock reduces strain on my hands when I'm vacuuming is absolutely life changing,” raves editor Ali Drucker. It works on all kinds of handheld vacuum cleaners and can also be bypassed for manual control. It’s a genius option to help reduce hand discomfort while cleaning.

“I wanted a place to put my paper towels that was off the counter but didn't want to deal with any permanent installation,” says editor Anna Anderson. This paper towel holder does just that — it mounts to your refrigerator with magnets that are secure but easy to remove to keep this kitchen essential off the counter but still close at hand. It can be installed vertically or horizontally and works with nearly all traditionally sized paper towel rolls.

Editor Anna Anderson loves this mini space heater in part because of the vibe it sets. “This is so cozy for those chilly mornings when you don’t quite want to turn on the full heat,” she raves. Thanks to the compact design, you can easily place it under your desk while you’re working from home or on the kitchen counter while you’re making your coffee. It’s incredibly efficient, too, since it starts working in seconds. And perhaps most importantly, it has a ton of safety features like tip-over protection and overheating protection.

Editor Cassandra Seale loves this dry-erase board, calling it, “simple yet profoundly impactful for actually doing the to-do list.” It magnetically mounts to your refrigerator, so you’re always reminded of your tasks or grocery needs every time you walk past it. And it comes with six different-colored markers so you can color code everything, to boot. The included magnets are great for storing notes, cards, and other reminders.

Editor Carolyn Menyes is obsessed with this duster because “it picks up so much, and the removable, washable head is so convenient.” Better yet, the fluffy microfiber head covers a large surface area and actually attracts and traps dust, rather than just spreading it around or blowing it into the air. The rubber handle is ergonomic and easy to hold, and the narrow design can slip between window blinds, around books on the bookshelf, or above ceiling fan blades.

“I actually hung this on the side of my clawfoot tub,” says editor Cassandra Seale. “It makes a perfect and pretty striking motion-sensor night-light.” It can hook onto your tub or your toilet, automatically powering on when you enter the bathroom so you can see what you’re doing in the middle of the night. It has 16 adjustable colors and five brightness levels to choose from.

“I have tons of battery-powered candles and I hated the waste of replacing the batteries constantly,” explains editor Lauren Beach. “This is such a great solution.” This rechargeable battery set comes with four AA and four AAA batteries that charge super quickly in the power bank, so you can stay powered up without you having to constantly restock your supply. They also have a ton of safety features like short-circuit protection and voltage protection.

“There's a reason these hangers have a near-perfect rating,” says editor Ali Drucker. “They save so much space in my closet and the velvet coating keeps straps from slipping.” Between the the slim design, the rounded corners to prevent stretching, and the spaghetti strap shoulder notches, these hangers have literally everything it takes to efficiently store your clothes in the closet. Plus having matching hangers is such an attractive way to totally elevate your space on a budget.

“My favorite thing about this clever gadget is how easy it makes it to strain pasta with just one hand,” raves editor Ali Drucker. Made of silicone that’s heat resistant up to 440 degrees Fahrenheit, the colander can be secured directly onto your pots or pans to strain lukewarm or boiling water from veggies, pasta, and more. It expands to fit all kinds of pots and bowls and the half-moon design makes it so much easier to store than traditional strainers.

“From my sweaters to my sofa, this shaver keeps all my fabrics free of unsightly pilling,” says editor Ali Drucker. What’s especially great about this fabric shaver is that it comes with a blade cover so it can handle a wide range of materials. With the cover off, it removes pills, fuzz, and lint from cotton and synthetics; and with the cover on, it works on more delicate fabrics like wool. Either way, it’s such a budget-friendly way to keep your clothes and furniture looking as good as the day you bought them.

“This is such a genius fix for cutting down on the amount of cleaning you have to do if you want to run a humidifier,” raves editor Anna Anderson of this humidifier cleaner shaped like a fish. Simply add it to the water reservoir and it acts as a filter to prevent gunk, odor, and slime from accumulating, keeping your humidifier fresher longer. It cleans for up to 30 days before it needs to be replaced and it also works on vaporizers and steamers.

Editor Ali Drucker loves these silicone oven mitts because “they blow standard fabric mitts out of the water when it comes to insulation and grip.” This is for so many reasons — they have an extra-long design that protects your wrists and forearms, they’re heat resistant to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and they’re waterproof and steam resistant for even more protection. And the inside features a layer of soft, quilted cotton that feels soft and plush against your skin.

One life-changing way to completely change the look of your home on a budget is to replace old or dated cabinet hardware with these modern, chic pulls. “These pulls made a huge difference in my kitchen,” raves editor Ali Drucker. “The high-contrast look it created with my white cabinets is so much more elevated than the builder-grade variety they came with.” They’re so easy to install and have a modern design with a matte black finish that makes your kitchen feel like you got a renovation without paying for one.

“I keep these fun, faux terrazzo coasters by my bedside and voilà — no more waterlogged nightstand,” raves editor Ali Drucker. Underneath the vibrant design is a layer of dolomite stone that absorbs water and dries in under 10 seconds, protecting your furniture from water lines and heat stains. They work with hot and cold beverages and have a cork base that keeps the coasters sturdy while preventing them from scratching your surfaces.

“The salad veggies in my fridge and the random snacks in my pantry now have a designated home instead of getting lost in the back, thanks to these bins,” raves editor Carolyn Menyes. “I have them all over my kitchen, and I recommend them to everyone.” Their ultimate versatility isn’t their only selling point — they’re clear so you can always see what’s inside at a glance and they come with convenient handles on either end that make it easy to maneuver them around and grab what you need.

“These place mats are as easy to clean as they are chic looking,” says editor Ali Drucker. The woven design is effortlessly upscale to instantly elevate your tablescape, but they’re also totally functional and long-lasting. That’s because they’re heat resistant, nonslip, waterproof, and easy to wipe down, whether you spill food or liquid. They even feature heat-trimmed edges to prevent fraying.

“These sponges are so much cheaper than other brands and work just as well with just a touch of water to get stains and marks off of my walls, counters, tub, and more,” says editor Carolyn Menyes. “And a 50-pack lasts a long time.” They’re made with melamine foam that only needs water to remove really tough stains — think: grease, soap scum, grime, etc. They’re thicker and longer-lasting than some comparable brands and they don’t scratch your stainless steel, glass, or tile.

“I genuinely don't know what I did with all of my shoes before this shoe rack,” says editor Carolyn Menyes. “My entryway (which is a generous title for the front of my apartment) is 100% tidier now.” That’s because the three-tier rack can hold between 16 to 20 pairs of shoes, instantly decluttering your closet, entryway, or mudroom. Plus you can get two or more and stack them to completely transform the way you store and display your heels, sneakers, and flats.

This coffee pod organizer “gave me an entire drawer back in my kitchen,” says editor Carolyn Menyes. “It’s sturdy and very neutral,” which helps it blend in perfectly on your counter underneath your coffee machine. That way, you can organize your pods and have easy access to them when it’s time for your morning — or afternoon — brew. Between the three drawers, the organizer can hold up to 36 K-Cup pods.

“This has stopped so much hair from going down and clogging the drain,” says editor Jen Fiegel of this silicone drain protector, adding that it’s a “huge timesaver in the long run.” It traps and collects stray hair so it doesn’t clog up your pipes and prevent water from properly draining. It fits over both flat and pop-up drains and the edges sit flush against the bottom of the tub to make sure nothing slips underneath the cracks.

“One run with this wash saved a bunch of stinky athletic clothes I thought were done for,” raves editor Jen Fiegel. This laundry detergent was built for the smelliest athletic wear you have — think: your running leggings, soccer jersey, sports bras, and hot yoga tops. The ultra-deodorizing formula removes lingering odors and stains while preventing new ones from becoming stubborn.

Editor Jen Fiegel loves this stainless steel tea infuser because “the wide handles mean this fits in almost any cup or tumbler.” The handles aren’t the only genius part of this tea infuser. The large-capacity basket has a fine mesh design that’s great at preventing tea leaves from getting into your hot water. It also comes with a lid to keep the heat inside, as well as a drip tray to prevent it from seeping onto your surfaces.

There are a lot of reasons editor Jen Fiegel loves these double-sided adhesive stickers — they’re so darn versatile. “An unexpected MVP in my house, these are so handy to have around for wobbly lampshades, decorations, and securing cable clips,” she explains. They can be used for almost anything: securing objects to your shelves, fixing ornaments, setting up party banners, or hanging wall decor up to 1 pound.

“For all my food storage container lids, this keeps things neat, tidy, and accessible,” raves editor Kate Miller about this cabinet organizer. It’s an absolutely brilliant way to keep them both easy to find and secure — no more lids tumbling out every time you open the cabinet. It comes with 10 dividers that can be removed or adjusted depending on your collection size.

“If you take your coffee or water from home to car and back again, this cupholder extender is an absolute must-buy,” says editor Kate Miller. It expands to fit virtually any cupholder in the center console, giving you a larger, slightly elevated space to hold your oversized coffee or water cups. The most unique part is that it has a phone shelf built into the side, so your device is as easy to grab as your coffee on your morning commute.

“I stash these pill containers filled with the essentials — various pain relievers and allergy meds — all around my house,” says editor Ali Drucker. “That way, I’m never far from relief, and it’s so easy to toss one in my purse when I’m heading out,” she adds. Plus, the vibrant colors and charming design make them such a fun take on a mundane item.

Editor Mallory Moreno can “actually sleep in on the weekends now” because of these blackout curtains. That’s because they have a triple-weave design that works to prevent up to 99% of light and UV rays from getting into your space. What’s also great is that they insulate against summer heat and winter chill, and can protect your furniture and art from fading in direct sunlight.

“These end tables are a surprisingly great value for under $20,” says editor Mallory Moreno. “We've moved them around everywhere, from our living room to the office, based on our current needs.” Not only does it have a super chic design that combines industrial metal legs with a rustic wood-grain surface, but it’s sturdy, too. Each shelf can hold up to 44 pounds, and each of the four feet are adjustable, so you can fix the height to match uneven floors.

“This riser uses up vertical space and literally make anything you put on it look better,” raves editor Karen Belz. It has a translucent design that basically blends into the background so everything on it stands out. This three-tier riser is great for everything from displaying perfume and makeup in the bathroom to spices in the kitchen, office necessities, or fun figurines at your desk. Plus it’s so easy to assemble, you’re going to wish you got some of these risers ages ago.

Editor Mallory Moreno is obsessed with this laundry basket because the four wheels “make laundry a little less of a workout.” It has a 40-pound capacity to take care of all your dirty clothes, no matter how long you try to stretch visits to the laundry room. And it not only has a convenient front handle that allows you to wheel it anywhere around your house or apartment complex, but it also boasts side handles to pick it up and carry it if needed.

Editor Karen Belz recommends everyone have this fire-extinguishing spray in their home because “the peace of mind it brings is worth so much.” It’s much smaller than a traditional fire extinguisher, so it fits neatly underneath your kitchen sink or in a cabinet near the stove. And it’s so easy to use, so you can pull it out in emergencies without thinking twice. It’s even designed to work on common stovetop grease fires which are notoriously tricky to put out.

“This dry-erase calendar is the only way we keep our lives together,” raves shopping writer Amanda Pellegrino. “The best part is that it magnetically mounts to the refrigerator so I can see our dinner plans, appointments, and to-dos at a glance.” It comes with eight different-colored markers so you can color code the calendar for even more organization. And it has four magnets at the corners that keep it from sliding around while you’re writing on it or erasing.