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45 Common Mistakes You Don't Realize Make Your Home Look Cheap

And the solutions are much easier than you’d think.

Written by BDG Commerce
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
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Creating a home you’re proud of can be a matter of making a few simple swaps. Start by amending these common mistakes you don’t realize make your home look cheap — and relish in the instant results.

From cleaning grimy tile grout to solving the pet-hair-everywhere dilemma, let this list of common household mistakes inspire you to make a few thoughtful decisions about how to organize and decorate your home.

1

Mistake: Not Giving Your Bathroom A Deep Clean

Solution: Buy This Best-Selling Power Scrubber

If you’ve neglected to give your bathroom a deep clean in a while and it’s showing, you need to buy this best-selling power scrubber stat. It makes quick work of heavy-duty cleaning, and, in addition to being super handy for tiles and grout, can be used for countless other purposes, like restoring your grill, tires, and almost any other appliance.

2

Mistake: Sleeping On Flimsy Pillows

Solution: Upgrade To These Hotel-Quality Ones

Ever wondered how to make your bed look cozier and more expensive, similar to how beds are in a hotel? Most importantly, you’re going to want to swap out any thin, flimsy pillow cases with fluffier ones. This two-pack fits the bill perfectly: They’re literally hotel-quality, and they’re filled with super-soft, yet supportive microfiber, which will make you feel like you’re sleeping on a cloud.

3

Mistake: Keeping Your Toilet Brush On Display

Solution: Hide It In This Discreet Holder

Yes, you need a toilet brush in your bathroom, but you don’t necessarily need to display it — and with its minimal footprint, this toilet brush holder is a discreet way to store it. The silicone brush, too, is more effective, stays clean, and dries fast, so you don’t even have to think about what might be hiding there. It comes with tweezers built into the handle, so you can easily remove anything that gets caught in the bristles.

  • Available colors: 9

4

Mistake: Letting Hair Clog Your Shower Or Bath

Solution: Put These Hair Catchers Over The Drain

Standing in a shower with water that’s 2 inches deep is not the most refreshing way to start your day. Calling the plumber is no fun, either. Prevent that all by suctioning these hair drain catchers over your drain — they’ll let water through, but trap everything else that can cause clogs. They work well to catch food scraps in a kitchen sink, too.

  • Available colors: 7

5

Mistake: Letting Pet Hair Build Up

Solution: Clean It Frequently With This Best-Selling Tool

You can own the nicest furniture possible, but if it’s covered in pet hair, it’s likely going to look cheap. That’s why every pet parent should own the ChomChom: a game-changing, reusable pet hair remover. A number-one best-seller on Amazon, it’s so popular that it’s garnered over 95,000 five-star ratings to date.

6

Mistake: Letting Water Splashes Mar Your Counters

Solution: Protect Them With This Sink Splash Guard

There’s no need to spend time wiping water and soap spills off the counter around your kitchen faucet. Instead, install this silicone faucet mat and let it direct the water back into the sink. It also gives you the perfect place to set a wet sponge or soap bottle, and, importantly, it’s so easy to remove and clean.

  • Available colors: 9

7

Mistake: Letting Debris Fall Between Your Stove & Counter

Solution: Eliminate The Gap With This Heat-Resistant Cover

When you have a gap between your counters and stove, it’s easy for crumbs, splatters, spills, and other debris to get stuck in there — and it’s super difficult to clean. Luckily, the solution is simple: These silicone gap covers eliminate the gap. They’re flexible to conform to your stove for a secure fit and they can be trimmed to fit. And they’re heat-resistant to not melt. Choose from three color options and three sizes in the listing.

8

Mistake: Living With Dingy Details

Solution: Use This Caulk Strip Tape To Finish Edges In The Kitchen & Bath

You might think you have to live with the dingy — and possibly leaking — grout between the bath and the tile or the sink and the counter until you’re ready to remodel. But you can use this caulk strip tape to quickly create a bright, sealing, finish right now — and it’s as simple as using masking tape. “It's super easy to put on and looks amazing,” raved one reviewer.

9

Mistake: Only Using The Overhead Kitchen Light

Solution: Install These Stick-On Lights Under The Cabinets

These low-profile lights create a warm white glow under your kitchen cabinets (or anywhere else) that will look like built-in lighting. They have adhesive or included hardware to quickly create that custom lighting look. You can also set timers or dim this chic kitchen lighting with the included remote.

10

Mistake: Leaving Cords & Stray Chargers On The Floor

Solution: Tuck Everything In This Minimalist Cable Box

This cable management box has a minimalist design that will blend in with your furniture or home decor. It’s large enough to fit an entire power strip, but still slim enough to tuck behind your TV. It also has small ventilation holes on the lid to keep all of your chargers cool.

11

Mistake: Not Cleaning Dust, Odors, & Allergens From The Air

Solution: Use This Sleek HEPA Air Purifier

Stale air can put a damper on how fresh your space feels, but this purifier can trap up to 97% of dander, dust, and pollen and help neutralize odors. The compact design is made for spaces up to 178 square feet, and its super quiet operation makes it great for offices and nurseries, too. Even better, there’s an aromatherapy pad that will diffuse your favorite scent throughout the room.

12

Mistake: Ignoring The Dust On The Ceiling Fan

Solution: Use This Long-Handled Duster To Deal With Dirt Easily

It’s easy to ignore the dust that collects on ceiling fans — and once you look up and realize how dirty they are, you might think you need a ladder to deal with it. Not so. Just extend the handle of this microfiber duster, which can extend from 30 to 100 inches, and you can reach the blades from the floor. This trick works for dusting all sorts of hard-to-reach places in the house, even beyond your ceiling fans.

13

Mistake: Letting Loose Rugs Slip & Curl

Solution: Pin Them Down With Rug Adhesives

Not only do curling or slipping rugs look untidy, but they’re so annoying (not to mention a tripping hazard). These genius rug grippers keep them firmly in place, and the triangle shape is designed to adhere to the corners, so they’ll remain completely invisible. They’re also easy to remove with soap and water, if need be, and importantly, they won’t damage either your rugs or your floors.

14

Mistake: Keeping A Worn Shower Curtain Around

Solution: Style This Softly Textured & Easy-To-Clean Curtain

This minimalist shower curtain will make your bathroom look perfectly styled and extra-clean with its water-repellent design. The machine-washable fabric has a small waffle-knit design to add a soft and delicate texture accent to your shower. This chic curtain also comes with rust-free hardware to keep it looking polished.

15

Mistake: Never Cleaning Your Tile Grout

Solution: Paint Over It With This Clever Grout Pen

Cleaning up grout may not be the most exciting job in the world, but sparkling-clean tiles and grout make a huge difference in how put-together your home looks. Luckily, this grout pen makes that job a hundred times easier, since you don’t even need to scrub — you can just paint right over the grout and it’ll look brand-new. Thousands of Amazon reviewers recommend it “for any easy and quick touchup,” and another raved, “This took me under an hour and I’m amazed at how fresh & new it looks!!”

16

Mistake: Living With A Boring Fridge Interior

Solution: These Colorful Shelf Liners That Add A Pop Of Color

If you open your fridge and are met with drab, even messy shelves, that moment can be much more enjoyable. Simply lay these refrigerator mats down and create a colorful interior that’s also easier to clean and never jolts you with the sound of glass on glass. “[These] mats liven up the inside of my fridge so much!” wrote one reviewer. “I never really thought about how I wanted the inside of my refrigerator to look, but with these pretty colored mats inside, I’m so happy with the aesthetic.”

17

Mistake: Using A Grocery Bag To Line Your Bathroom Trash Can

Solution: Use These Discreet Bin Liners Instead

Yes, even your trash can benefit from an upgrade. Rather than using whatever spare grocery bag you have on hand to line your bathroom bin, opt for these discreet bin liners, which are made specifically to fit smaller trash cans. More to love? They’re biodegradable, rip- and leak-resistant, tie up nicely, and cost less than $15 for a pack of 120.

18

Mistake: Using A Dirty Broom & Dustpan

Solution: Upgrade To This Self-Cleaning Version

This broom and dustpan set makes a crumby task a little more enjoyable. It features a thin lip that makes it easier to collect fine dirt and crumbs, a brush scraper to clean the broom of debris, and an extendable handle that creates the perfect length so you don’t have to bend. Plus, when you’re finished, the broom clips to the dustpan handle and sits upright for easy storage.

  • Available colors: 7

19

Mistake: Ignoring Slow Tub & Sink Drains

Solution: Use These Drain Clog Removers To Clear Things Up

When you have house guests, it’s nice for things to be in working order — but sometimes tubs and sinks drain slowly, which can downgrade that feeling. These drain clog removers, though, help clear up any debris (like hair or food) that may be in the way. Simply insert, twist, and remove.

20

Mistake: Neglecting Hard Water Stains In Your Toilet

Solution: Use This Pumice Stone To Remove Mineral Buildup

Hard water can leave behind rings on your toilet, which can be hard to remove. This pumice cleaner is the answer. It gently scrubs away mineral deposits from porcelain surfaces — no cleaning solutions required. Simply store it in the snap-on case between uses.

21

Mistake: Letting Food & Odors Build Up In Your Disposal

Solution: Scrub Your Disposal With This Brush

If your sink smells less than fresh, it’s worth adding this garbage disposal brush to your cart. The 11-inch brush is built with stiff, durable bristles that remove food debris — the most common cause of odor in this area. Simply rinse the brush clean or put it in the dishwasher after use.

22

Mistake: Allowing Gunk To Build Up In Your Oven

Solution: Place These Liners On The Floor To Catch Drips

There’s bound to be spillover from time to time when you cook, so place these nonstick liners on the floor of your oven to catch it. Made from Teflon, these heat-resistant liners can be cut to size and rinsed clean or put in the dishwasher. For peace of mind, they’re BPA free and PFOA free.

23

Mistake: Messily Stacking Food Container Lids In A Cabinet

Solution: Keep Your Lid Collection Tidy With This Customizable Tray

Everyone hides a messy pile of food container lids in a cabinet at some point, but this organizer is a quick way to take care of it. It has a simple design that’s easy to add to a kitchen cabinet or drawer next to your food containers. Simply adjust the customizable dividers to neatly tuck away each and every lid in your collection.

24

Mistake: Using Overhead Lighting During A Nice Dinner

Solution: Flameless Candles That Set The Mood Safely

Harsh overhead lighting won’t do your coq au vin justice, so opt for these flameless candles to create a soft, warm vibe. Set in tinted glass jars, the battery-operated candles come with a remote for total customization. Place them on mantels and bookshelves, too.

25

Mistake: Using Worn Kitchen Cloths & Sponges

Solution: Clean With These Design-Savvy Swedish Dishcloths

Old sponges, worn rags, and paper towels — those are a few of the things these Swedish dishcloths can replace. Made from biodegradable cotton and wood cellulose, they can mop up messes, scrub dishes, and clean countertops. Plus, they come in multipacks with chic designs, so they add a decor element to your kitchen, too.

  • Available styles: 26

26

Mistake: Displaying Mismatched Soap Bottles

Solution: Decant Soaps Into Classic Glass Apothecary Bottles

Rather than keep a hodgepodge of plastic bottles on display in your kitchen, decant your hand and dish soaps into these classic apothecary-style glass bottles. Go the extra mile and pour your body soap, shampoo, and conditioner into them, too — it’ll make your bathroom feel like an upscale hotel. Choose from three colors: amber, clear, and cobalt, all made of lightweight yet durable glass that’ll always look clean and considered.

27

Mistake: Creating Clutter With Gadgets & Chargers

Solution: This Wall Outlet Extender With A Shelf

If your speaker, Echo Dot, or even your phone or tablet are cluttering up your bedside table, the bathroom vanity, or the kitchen counters, plug this wall outlet extender in, secure it with one screw, and get all of that plugged in and off your surfaces. It has four standard plugs and three USB plugs, so it’s ready to charge anything. It’s also equipped with a nightlight that turns on when the room gets dark.

28

Mistake: Letting Hair Go Down The Bathroom Sink

Solution: Insert This Drain Protector That Catches It

If you do your hair in your bathroom, it’s likely quite a few strands end up going down the drain, which can cause clogs. To keep things running smoothly, insert this drain protector. It catches hair and wraps it around the cylinder, while still allowing water to flow thanks to the multiple perforations.

29

Mistake: Keeping Your Under-Bed Storage Visible

Solution: Hide It Underneath A Classic Bed Skirt

Under-bed storage is a brilliant organizational solution, but it’s not necessarily ideal to keep it on display. Instead, keep those boxes and bins under wraps with the help of this classic bed skirt. With its clean, simple lines and array of neutral colors, it’ll complement most interiors, and make your bedroom look as crisp as a hotel room.

  • Available colors: 12

30

Mistake: Neglecting To Clean Your Dishwasher

Solution: Run A Cycle With One Of These Tablets

A dirty dishwasher can’t clean effectively, so if you’ve noticed subpar results lately, it might be time to reach for this appliance cleaner. These tablets remove grease, lime scale, and food residue, all while whisking away odors for a fresher machine. It’s compatible with all models — just add a tablet and run an empty cycle.

31

Mistake: Not Corraling The Cords Of Your Kitchen Appliances

Solution: Utilize These Silicone Wrappers To Neatly Store The Cord

Chaotic cords just look messy; put an end to it with these silicone cord wrappers. Using 3M adhesive, the four wrappers can attach to various kitchen appliances (like a stand mixer, coffee machine, air fryer, and more) and provide a designated storage spot to wrap up the cord when not in use. It’s a simple, yet effective solution.

32

Mistake: Cooking With Mismatched Utensils

Solution: Opt For This Matching Set For A Cohesive Look

A swanky kitchen may just be a matter of matching cooking tools — and this set includes 33 pieces at a wallet-friendly price. The set includes everything from tongs to measuring cups to a whisk, spatula, and pasta server, all in your choice of sleek black or khaki. You’ll even get a canister and hanging hooks for storage.

  • Available colors: black, khaki

33

Mistake: Using A Purely Utilitarian Doormat

Solution: Place Down This One That Also Scores Style Points

Doormats are utilitarian, but that doesn’t mean they need to sacrifice style. This doormat comes in muted colors with bold geometric designs, adding a modern touch to your front or back entry. They’re sturdy and backed with nonslip material for a secure hold.

  • Available styles: 6

34

Mistake: Hanging Pictures Crookedly

Solution: Use This Laser Level For Precise Installation

Hanging photos and artwork is much easier with this laser level that ensures even installation. This versatile tool features three bubble levels (vertical, horizontal, and 45-degree angle), as well as a laser that creates a beam on the wall, so you know exactly where to place the hardware. It’s even equipped with an 8-foot measuring tape.

35

Mistake: Allowing Your Wood Furniture To Collect Stains & Scuffs

Solution: Buy These Incredible Wood Touch-Up Markers

If your wood furniture has become ruined by scuffs and scratches, have no fear: All you need is this handy wood repair kit. Included in each order are 13 markers and wax sticks in assorted wood finishes that are designed fill in scratches and other types of damage. Skeptical? Over 6,500 Amazon reviewers swear by them (as do our very own editors).

36

Mistake: Using Traditional Glass Cleaner That Leaves Streaks On Your Windows

Solution: Clean Windows With This Glass Cleaning Cloth That Only Uses Water

Streaky windows can look dirty and put a damper on your curb appeal. Swap out your traditional window cleaner for this glass cleaning cloth that uses water to remove smudges, dust, and dirt without leaving any streaks behind. The chemical-free microfiber cloth can be used over 1,000 times before replacing and it delivers sparkling clean mirrors, windows, stainless steel, and electronic screens.

37

Mistake: Cluttering Your Cabinet With Pots & Pans

Solution: Store Them On This Adjustable Organizer

Cooking is much easier with this adjustable organizer that accommodates hefty pots and small frying pans alike. It declutters your cabinet, makes it easy to grab the biggest cookware on the bottom, and also prevents damage. And while you can use it inside your cabinet, it creates a professional look even if you choose to leave it out.

38

Mistake: Cleaning Stainless Steel With The Wrong Tools

Solution: Use This Dedicated Spray & Polishing Cloth

Stainless steel appliances can make any kitchen look sleek — unless they’re marred with smudges and stains. This stainless steel cleaner can do what other cleaning fluids can’t — remove dirt and leave behind a high-shine finish (no haze visible). The spray comes with a microfiber polishing cloth to upgrade the results.

39

Mistake: Overstuffing Your Closets

Solution: Utilize Under-Bed Space For Storage

Closets can easily become overwhelmed with clothes, shoes, and accessories — making it difficult to achieve that magazine-ready look. But you can regain some space with these under-bed storage bags that’ll keep off-season styles under your bed. Each one has a clear top so you know exactly what’s in it, and handles make the bags easy to pull out when you need them.

40

Mistake: Cluttering Your Entryway With Shoes

Solution: Store Them On This Expandable Rack

Whether your shoes are in the closet or the entryway, you can keep them looking neat on this two-tier organizer. It expands from 22.8 inches to 32 inces, so you can adjust it to meet your space and your storage needs. It’s also available in one-tier and three-tier options.

  • Available sizes: 3

41

Mistake: Storing Things In A Haphazard Way

Solution: Stash Items In These Sophisticated Bins

If your closet is overflowing with clothes, linens, and other miscellaneous items, add a set of these storage bins to your cart. They add a streamlined, cohesive look to your space and feature handles and a spot for labels. They’re a fan favorite with a 4.7-star overall rating on Amazon.

  • Available colors: 9

42

Mistake: Relying On A Worn-Out Address Sign

Solution: Replace It With These Solar House Numbers

These house numbers are solar powered, so they illuminate at night, making it easy for delivery drivers and guests to find your place. The numbers boast clean, modern lines for a current look. Install them next to your door or use the stake to install it near your front walk.

43

Mistake: Ignoring Sagging Furniture

Solution: Use This Support To Prop Up The Cushions

If you have sagging furniture cushions, you can add this furniture support underneath to prop them up, restoring your piece to like-new condition (or close). It’s made from sturdy wood with rounded corners, and covered in durable cloth. It comes in a range of sizes for everything from armchairs to oversized couches.

  • Available sizes: 10

44

Mistake: Letting Power Cords Jut Out Of The Wall

Solution: Plug In This Concealer Plate With An Attached Cable

Cords jutting out of a socket can create a chaotic vibe, which is why this outlet concealer plate is such a clever invention. It plugs into and covers the outlet for a streamlined look on your wall. But you won’t lose plug-in power, since the attached extension cord features three sockets at the end.

  • Available sizes: 4

45

Mistake: Stuffing Bras Into Your Drawers

Solution: Store Them On This Hanger

Stuffing your undergarments into a drawer doesn’t just add up to disorganization, it adds up to crumpled bras, too. Keep things in great shape with this bra hanger. It has eight tiers perfect for holding straps securely. You can even detach the bottom half and hang the two pieces separately.

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