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May 30, 2023

Just 40 Little Upgrades For Your Home This Summer

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

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.

These little upgrades will make hangin' at home this summer even better. ☀️

BuzzFeed Staff

If you don't want to drill into the wall to install curtains, we recommend going with either a tension rod, Command hooks, or brackets that connect to existing blinds. In the winter, these'll also help keep your room warmer!

Promising review: "I bought these for keeping it cooler in the house in the summer as running the AC costs a lot of $$$ where I'm at...where even setting the thermostat to 72 we get a $700 electric bill. You can literally walk up to being within a foot of them and you can feel the heat, because it's retaining it and you can't feel it if you get more than a foot away. I ended buying these that are same style and color for my window in my living room. It keeps the room darker, which is nice for movie watching, and as of right now it's 90 degrees outside and I'm in the house in light sweatpants; it literally is keeping it that cool in here (along with opening windows early morning then closing before it warms up. I looked on my electric company website and my projected bill is only $217, which they show being $150 less from this time last year! Loved the price on these as well, much better than I expected!" —Karen

Get them in black from Amazon for $17.95+ (available in many sizes and colors).

You can also layer blackout curtains with sheers and keep them tied back when not in use! I use this method in my living room (it's handy to still have the blackout curtains for watching movies or playing games during the day) and it works great.

Promising review: "I bought a pair of these last summer for my bedroom as I was looking for a light, airy summery feel, which I got the moment they were up. Decided to order another pair at this summer for my guest room and again I love them. They are light, breezy, and really open up the room and let the light in. I recommend them highly." —MariLynn C. Fuhrer

Get it from Amazon for $13.57+ (available in 15 sizes and 18 colors).

Promising review: "Where have these been all my life?! I have always grown herbs and had a garden the traditional way (in pots or in a garden bed). I love these because my husband and I travel a lot, so we're able to hook these babies up to a water source and timer...and voila!!!! Plants are stayin' alive! I bought three panels, but am going to order more and do a whole wall of the house." —Yee Jensen

Get an eight-pot section from Amazon for $79.

Promising review: "Finally got around to putting this in. New neighbors have obnoxious kids and this helps block out their foul-mouthed yelling and other annoying sounds outside. It is two strips per roll, which is actually the width needed for my windows, door, and sliding glass door. I used a chopstick to push it into place since the spaces in my windows were exactly the width of each strip. I was amazed at how much sound this managed to block out, and it will likely do wonders for letting air escape during the hot summers here as well. I wish I’d put it in sooner and will be ordering more to finish sealing my sliding glass door." —Tabitha

Get it from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in four colors and two lengths).

Promising review: "I’m renting an apartment and my front door doesn’t brush up against the floor. There was about an inch gap which was annoying because it meant light, noise, and bugs could get in. Ever since I’ve installed this, I’ve had almost no bugs, no light, and so much less sound! It’s great. The sound-blocking is especially amazing because my bedroom is near the front door and I hated hearing my neighbors conversations clear as day in the stairwell. It’s not totally noise cancelling but it’s so much better." —airazedy

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

It has a range of up to 1,500 square feet!

Promising review: "Perfect for summer days. Absolutely in love with this product. We’ve been avoiding being outside in the evenings due to gnarly mosquito bites. But ever since we bought this product, it hasn’t been an issue! Highly recommend and try it out for yourself. You won’t regret it!" —Venus

Get it from Amazon for $26.90+ (available in three colors and another style).

Promising review: "GO BUY THIS NOWWWWW!!! My room has been hot for over FIVE months now with no AC. Especially now with summer, I almost feel like I want to pass out. I’m so glad I got this. It’s been two hours now since we got it in the mail and our room has completely turned around from hot to freezing cold. I can’t believe I’m saying this. I have purchased over three fans the past few months and this one tops it all." —Inca

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (also available in a smart Wi-Fi version).

This weatherproof fan has a fully sealed and permanently lubricated industrial motor to protect it against wetness.

Promising review: "Great fan at a good price! I bought this fan for my backyard to help circulate the air in hot days and to help deter mosquitoes at night around the fire pit. This fan worked perfectly. It has three speeds, the highest of which is super strong. The fan at high speed is a bit noisy, but nothing unexpected of a powerful fan. It is also 100% waterproof, which is a must. My only minor issues would be 1) it would be nice if the fan came with a cover for when it’s not used (I bought 20-inch tire storage covers to do the job), and 2) the fan is only adjustable up and down not side to side — if they could make it oscillate that would be great. Having said that, I would recommend this fan for sure and would not hesitate to buy it again" —Bigdad

Get it from Amazon for $99.95+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I have lacrosse players and dogs and this stuff is amazing. My yard looked like an abandoned lot before this and it literally 'grew anywhere' just like it said. The bag I planted last year actually came back strong this year so I put more down and it is working like a dream!" —chchmom

Get it from Amazon for $12.47+ (available in five sizes and in packs).

The mister will cool the surrounding area by 20 degrees, and it comes with an interchangeable flower-shaped misting head for a fun, whimsy detail.

Promising review: "Works exactly how I want it to. Provides a fine, cool mist on the patio, allowing us to enjoy the backyard until sunset without breaking a sweat. Easy to set up. It was out of the box and cooling us off within minutes." —Debra L. Kusek

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Plus, the stand is easy to assemble, disassemble, and pack up in the included carrying case for storage or travel.

Promising review: "The cotton fabric is sturdy and breathable. I never feel stuck to it the way I do in a nylon hammock. The set up/take down is super easy and the frame is very sturdy — we have definitely put 300+ pounds in it. The ability to raise and lower the hammock with the multiple hook positions might be the best feature. I have bad knees and like to get into the hammock from a higher position... no problem. My kids like it lower so they can reach the ground to swing it... no problem. It works great as a traditional hammock to lay in. It works as a 'swing' to sit on. It has enough fabric that you can cover up if you're cold or want to block out light or bugs. We have accidentally left it out in the rain several times and it dries great, hasn't faded from the sun, hasn't had any mold, and hasn't developed any weird smell." —Mary

Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in 19 colors).

I picked this air purifier up a while back to help manage the ~smell~ that sometimes wafts from my cats' litter box when it starts to get full, and to help keep my NYC apartment air cleaner in general. I'm also (lol) extremely allergic to cats, and though I get allergy shots for this, it's also nice to help cut down on the pet dander for myself and any visitors with allergies. This thing makes a DIFFERENCE. It cuts down on any noticeable smell from the cats, my air feels cleaner, and my allergies are usually non-existent in the apartment.

I was *especially* grateful to have this recently when Canadian wildfires brought smoke all the way down to NYC, where the AQI (air quality index) was over 400 at some points (for those who don't know, that's BAD). It helped keep the air inside my apartment as clean as possible, which made me feel better for myself and my kitties. Since I have a one-bedroom, I'll likely pick up a second one just so I don't have to move it back and forth at night. Oh, and it's fairly quiet — it basically functions as white noise, which can be handy if you run this at night in the bedroom too.

Depending on your usage and environment, it's recommended to replace the filter every 3–6 months — replacements are available on Amazon. (You can see the difference between my old filter and a new replacement one above!)

Get it from Amazon for $89.97.

Promising review: "These had great reviews but I was still a bit skeptical. I'm a bit of a pillow snob. I usually require about three pillows for just myself, not including my husband. I like to sleep propped up a bit so my sinuses don't get stopped up at night. My old pillows would require three to nine adjustments a night for me to be comfortable again. These pillows — these amazing, heavenly pillows — are now my favorite part of going to bed. Soft but firm. How does that work? It gives support for me to sleep slightly propped up but I sink into this comfortable personal cloud. Soft, but firm. My head isn't sinking through the pillow to rest on my mattress, but I feel comfortably enveloped. Now mind you, I have one very cheap Walmart pillow behind it so I'm not against my headboard, but even still. Heaven. I bought two but think that would be too much fluff so now my husband and I each have one. Buy them. Add to cart. Buy now with one click. Stop the research. You've found the pillows you were looking for." —Marissa Urey

Get a set of two from Amazon for $59.34+ (available in queen and king sizes).

Promising review: "Finally found pillows that are worth every penny!!! I am buying more ASAP! I have a sweating problem and also have my bedroom on the third floor of my home so the heat rises, which doesn’t help my hot flashes at all! I have a hard time finding a pillowcase that isn’t sticky feeling, too hot to lay on, etc. I really appreciate that there is a zipper on one end of each pillowcase to zip up your pillow to help your pillow inside from slipping or falling out! These pillowcases are cool to the touch, super soft, and they are super comfortable to lay on, to the point I woke up with drool all over my face from my remarkable amount of great sleep I had! This pillowcase doesn’t get that overwhelming warm sticky feeling after laying on it for a while. It stays comfortable to lay on all through the night! I’m incredibly happy and grateful to finally find pillowcases that are exactly what anyone with sweating issues and hot flashes need and want in pillowcases." —CosmeticatedReviews

Get them from Amazon for $15.16+ (available in standard, queen, and king sizes and in 19 colors).

Promising review: "I am a very hot sleeper therefore, I am very picky about my sheets. These sheets are very comfortable and do not make me hot. They are soft and very comfortable. Also, the company is great to work with! Excellent customer service! When my sheets arrived, there was a small problem with the fitted sheet so I emailed them (the sheets came with a flier with their contact info) and they sent me another fitted sheet right away. They said they are a family owned business and really want the customer to have a great experience. I was impressed with that level of service especially in this day and age! Bottom line: great sheets, excellent customer service and great price! Do not hesitate to buy!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in twin–split king sizes and 45 colors).

Since the AC is Wi-Fi-enabled, you can control it from anywhere using the MideaAir app (available on both iOS and Android). You can also use voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant.

Promising review: "I don’t usually write product reviews, but I am now because this is one of the best household products I have ever bought. This Midea U-shaped AC is an ingenious design that is basically a split AC system mounted in a window, with the window closing almost all the way through the middle of the unit. The result is a much quieter and more efficient unit, with the noisy part that generates heat on the outside of the closed window. It also looks sleek and modern and the remote control and app are great. I have thought many times 'I wish someone would make a split AC system that can fit in a window without having to install separate units on the roof or wall,' and now they have!" —Ben

Get it from Amazon for $379+ (available with three BTU levels).

Promising review: "Easy to use. Minimum maintenance. Works great. Have already power washed my new deck to prep for sanding and staining. Pressure washed my shed and driveway to improve our curb appeal. Worked great pressure washing the kids summer toys and the plastic lawn furniture. Has not had any major issues yet." —pjrilstu

Get it from Amazon for $129.

Promising review: "I first used this product about two years ago on the awning on my RV. That awning was so bad, that I thought I was going to have to replace it. After using this Scott's product as directed, the mold and mildew completely disappeared. This product definitely works and it works GREAT! What more can I say — it saved me nearly $500." —R. Latreille

Get it from Amazon for $10.98 (also available in larger sizes).

So long (for now), winter clothes, thick bedding, and blankets!

Promising review: "I don't know why I didn't think of getting one of these years ago. I had piles of winter clothes, quilts, and bedspreads all over. Now, they are packaged neatly in my closet. I feel so much better. My bedroom (and spare room) are neat and I don't have to feel guilty about not having put them away." —Super Librarian

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in sizes small–jumbo and also in a 10-pack).

Promising review: "Love these acrylic shelf dividers! They make my closet look so neat and organized. I used them to divide shelves that hold my folded workout tops. I used a folding helper tool like the ones retail stores use, which gives my folded clothes a uniform width/look, and by using two dividers on each shelf, I can fit three stacks perfectly on my 30-inch wide shelves. I am ordering more to add to my shelves with sweaters!" —Aimee Lonergan

Get them from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two sizes and in packs of two, four, or six).

Check it out in this TikTok.

Promising reviews: "I fill these during summer break so my daughter can serve herself when she wakes up. They hold a lot of cereal and are fun to use." —Amazon Customer

"We have three kids and a very small kitchen with very little cabinet/counter space!!! We used to keep our cereal boxes on top of our refrigerator, but I've been trying to declutter and also come up with a solution for our kids to be able to get their own cereal in the mornings. THIS IS IT!!!! It looks great on our counter, and we have very little space, so it fits just right! This has been the perfect solution to giving our kids the independence they need to get their own breakfast! It has been a lifesaver!!! Love it!!!" —tenle

Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

Heads up, friends: The brand and reviewers strongly urge you to measure your door first. I know you think you have a standard door size but what if it's...not? Double-check.

Promising review: "I initially bought one for my back patio and loved it. It was great for allowing air to circulate and for keeping flies out during the summer. So I ended up buying another for the front door. It's great for pets too to act like a doggy door. The product really works and does exactly what it states. I highly recommend this product!" —Frank Zapata

Get it from Amazon for $14.97+ (available in three styles; comes with the screen door, a roll of hook and loop, and a pack of push pins).

Pop Up Pet Door is a Carlsbad, California-based Etsy shop specializing in easy to install pet doors.

Promising review: "SO great! The pet door is everything they said it would be: lightweight, easy install and transportable! My cat loves being able to go on the balcony without having someone open the door for her. I love it already." —Kita

Get it from Pop Up Pet Door on Etsy for $74.99+ (available in three sizes).

The air fryer can cook raw and frozen foods and it's good for preparing french fries, sweet potato nuggets, chicken wings, and more.

Promising review: "This unit takes up less counter space than any of my other kitchen appliances and cleans up faster. It holds just enough for two people to share a meal with no leftovers, not to mention conveniently and quickly heating up leftover food that might go to waste because there's not enough to bother turning on the oven. This air fryer has become my new microwave, and improves the taste and crisps the texture of foods much better than a microwave can do. Compared to other air fryers I've looked at, this unit is easier to use and clean, at the best price. And it doesn't heat up the kitchen, which matters a lot during our hot Austin summers." —Austin Shopper

Get it from Amazon for $99.99.

Promising review: "I saw one of these in action at a friend's house like five years ago and thought it was just a made up memory, because making ice cream out of solely frozen fruit seems wild. But when I saw a TikTok about it I immediately went to Amazon and bought it. Literally this was the BEST decision of my life. I cannot believe still how amazing this thing is! It makes the creamiest, best-tasting fruit ice cream ever. It’s easy to take apart and clean, and super easy to use." —DMCKAY

Get it from Amazon for $39.50+ (available in six colors).

Reviewers note that you should remove the bulbs before stringing up the strands and then install the bulbs.

Promising review: "I am loving my new lights! Just got them up in time for hanging out on the back deck for springtime. They give a great outdoor cafe feel to my back deck. I advise purchasing extra light bulbs when purchasing these lights. It comes with one extra, but they are extremely fragile/delicate. We ended up breaking four total during the hanging process." —charlee harris

Get a strand from Amazon for $13.28+ (available in four styles and four lengths).

It comes with the two chairs and small matching glass table.

Promising review: "Exactly what I was looking for. Construction seems sturdy. Dimensions and style were perfect for the small patio space I was looking to get use out of, and the egg shape of the chairs is very comfortable. I paired them with a seagrass outdoor rug, faux fur chair pads, a beanbag style poof footstool, and some boho throw pillows, and love how the space was instantly transformed. I highly recommend this set." —Baby blues

Get it from Amazon for $169.99 (available in five colors).

It's super easy to clean — just wash it off with the garden hose if it gets dirty, and it'll dry in no time!

Promising review: "We have purchased this rug three times! Fits perfectly on our outdoor deck. Holds up for the summer, rain, wind, dust, heat. It will start to fade by end of summer. We put it out on deck in April and stays up until October. (about 7 months). It is exposed to all weather, tree sap, pine needles and sun so it does fade by October. Price is great! Our dog loves it, too. It can withstand dogs running, jumping, scratching and rolling on it. You can vacuum it with outdoor vac. We recycle it each year and in spring put out a new one!" —Margaret J. Batcheler

Get an 8x10 rug from Amazon for $109 (available in 11 sizes and in two styles).

You get five drawers and one egg holder! These are great for stashing drinks, produce, and other commonly used items.

Promising review: "I love these things so much. I just got my first apartment with my boyfriend and it looked so messy in our little fridge and now it looks really appealing and everything is easy to get to. The quality of them is so good, I’m honestly impressed they’re very sturdy and the egg holder is so cute and holds 14 eggs!" —Faith Sperry

Get a set of six from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors and also in a set of 12).

It comes in a roll, which you can then cut to size as needed!

Promising reviews: "I wanted something that was easy to cut and waterproof to put under the sinks in my house to hopefully stop any cabinet water damage that could happen. I love the happy daisy print. This seems to be working great so far!" —TheStirnemanns

"My mom recommended these after I complained about having to take the fridge shelves out to scrub them. Very easy to use. One roll did all three shelves of my medium-size fridge. I cut them to fit; they clung down easily. Very easy to wipe down, and the little daisies are so cute! Brightens up the shelves." —Lauren Skiba

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in two floral designs and nine sizes).

It's made of thick durable steel and covered with rust-resistant, high-temperate pain. And the effect of the light shining through the moon and stars at night? Stunning.

Promising review: "Got this as part of our backyard renovation project. Shipping was super fast, received it earlier than expected. Large fire pit, super easy to assemble. It’s a sturdy piece! I read the reviews and decided to take some precautions — we drilled 3 drain holes at the base, fast and easy to do. We also bought a cover just in case. Used it the same day during a chilly NC night to watch an outdoor movie with friends and blankets in the backyard. Worked amazingly and kept us toasty. Love the cutouts! Friends asked where we got it all night. Would recommend to anyone!" —Isabel

Get it from Amazon for $239.

If you've never sat in an Adirondack chair before, I can testify to their comfort. My parents have a set of these that sit outside by their fire pit in Missouri year-round, and we've sat in them for hours during countless bonfires. The angle of the seat feels great on your back as it's helping relieve pressure on your spine, and the wide arm rests give you a place to lay your arms and relax your shoulders as well.

Promising review: "It took me about 25 minutes to assemble, I will admit I was a little overwhelmed at first, but luckily the instructions were very clear and easy to follow. The finished product was well worth it. The wood look finish is even prettier in person. It has somewhat of a gloss to it but not too much; it looks gorgeous when the sun is beaming on it. Totally surpassed my expectations! The color is also just what I was expecting from the pictures, so it matches the rest of my decor perfectly. The chair is quite heavy; it is totally designed to last! I am sure I will get many years of use out of this. A gorgeous new addition to my backyard." —Barby4321

Get them from Amazon for $118.99+ each (available in 11 colors).

Promising review: "I live in an apartment community and I wanted to find a solution to cover up my windows without using my blinds/curtains. Let me just say...wow! This beyond exceeded my expectations. Not only does it give me the privacy I need, but the way the lights reflect in the daytime AND nighttime is just breathtaking! In the morning when the sun shines through, tiny little rainbows get casted all over the bedroom! At night it looks so cozy, warm, and has a beautiful, realistic stained glass look to it." —Katie Coyle

Get a 17.5"x78.7" roll from Amazon for $7.98+ (available in 11 sizes).

Promising review: "Super chic way of organizing our many books and keeping them off windowsills and other non-book surfaces. This was a great solution and we didn’t have to buy ANOTHER furniture piece — win!" —EmGeeBond

Get them from Amazon for $14.94+ (available individually or in a set of three, in two sizes, and in silver or white).

Promising review: "Completely transformed my shower! Our boring white shower floor was a terrible texture that always looked dirty — I was able to fix that with one box of these tiles! It now feels like a spa. I treated the wood with Teak oil as it will be getting wet every day, and I don’t want it to fade too quickly (I can tell that it will if you do not treat). I also had to buy an anti-slip mat to go between this and the hard plastic shower floor as the black grid on the bottom is also hard plastic and would slide everywhere. This was a much easier, cheaper fix than hiring someone or retiling myself." —Heather Rodd

Get 10 sq. ft from Amazon for $73.79.

This comes in smaller sizes if space is really limited!

Promising review: "Love this product for so many reasons. The raised design keeps our dogs and nature friends out of the garden. It's great for elderly and people with back or knee problems. You can still garden. Easy to put together. We got a 4-foot garden. Possibly overloaded it, but we have four tomato plants, three eggplants, three green peppers, three red peppers, and three strawberries. Highly recommend." —Cybil

Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in three sizes and three finishes).

Promising review: "I ordered the raised flower bed because I just couldn't prep my hard ground for a garden. It arrived a week sooner than it said it would be here, and it took me about 20 minutes to put it together. It saved me hours of unnecessary work, and my garden looks great." —Christine Hanaki

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in three sizes and five colors).

MindFlowers is a woman-owned small biz creating '60s and '70s-inspired clothing, accessories, and home decor. Her psychedelic designs are meant to empower any and everybody with a focus on eco-friendly production. Check out some of the gorgeous designs + how easily they're installed in this TikTok.

Promising review: "Beautifully packaged and the plate was better than I imagined. Sleek colors, just like image online, and super easy to put on. Absolutely love it. Thank you very much." —Hayley W.

Get a two-pack from MindFlowers for $40+ (available in 10 switch types and many styles, with customization available). And check out their full collection for lots of other groovy designs!

I am a Lazy Plant Mom who used to let my new plants sit around in the plain pots they came in for wayyy too long, but since I finally got around to transferring them into cute pots and hanging some of them, it's made *such* a huge difference in my home. I've now bought this set of macrame hangers twice, and they were super easy to install all on my own; it took me (as someone who is *not* good with a drill) maybe five minutes tops per hanger. Each hanger has a slightly different design for a varied look, and they are super sturdy! I have a HEAVY ceramic pot holding a big golden pothos in one of my hangers, and it's holding up just fine. Trailing plants look particularly striking when hung, but I have some of my smaller plants in these hangers too and they look great! And as a cat mom, these let me hang my non–pet safe plants so they're out of reach of my curious kitties as well.

Get the set of four from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).

The Bluetooth distance between phone and speaker is up to 33 feet, while the dual pairing distance between the two speakers is up to 66 feet! The handles at the top make them easy to hang, but you can also just set them on the ground or a table!

Promising review: "The surround sound that we get at night while sitting around the fire pit is wonderful! We invested in shepherd's hooks so that we can relocate wherever we want! Nice." —Denise Peoples

Get the two-pack from Amazon for $169.98 (available with white lights or rainbow lights).

Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.