The Easiest Home Upgrades Are Hiding on Etsy 

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It’s tempting to only focus on the dramatic changes when planning a room update: the fresh coat of paint, the statement furniture, even the occasional structural shift like a wall removal. These elements feel like they carry the whole project on their backs. But over the years, I’ve learned that it’s the details that quietly transform a room into something personal and memorable. Turned wood legs elevate the furniture you’ve owned for a decade. A custom spice shelf can solve kitchen flow issues. Forged hooks holding tools for your favorite hobby can inspire you to reach for them more often. I’ve even installed vintage switch plates to match the spirit of my 98-year-old Colonial home—and somehow, these tiny touches bring as much joy as a major renovation. Customizations of any size don’t just finish a room; they help it better reflect you, and they’re often the easy upgrades you can make.

That’s why Etsy is one of my first stops whenever I’m looking for special touches. Etsy’s blend of one-of-a-kind handmade creations and curated vintage treasures makes it possible to source exactly what your home is missing. Whether you’re knee-deep in a renovation or refreshing a room before the holidays, you’ll find a finishing touch—if not a tailor-made solution—for your space in Etsy. 

Start your treasure hunt with some of our favorites for the kitchens, living rooms, closets, and beyond.

Kitchen Upgrades

Called the heart of a home for a reason, the kitchen tends to be all function first—but that doesn’t remove all room for personality. The stuff you use every day can be good-looking, too! We love upgrading the glasses that you may already have in a glass-front cabinet to feature meaningful scenes like hometown skylines. And Etsy’s talented network of sewers make the sink skirt trend accessible—even custom-fit to your cottage-inspired space. And make a note: Don’t sleep on Etsy for trending styles of handmade tile, like Zellige.

Living Space Upgrades

My husband and I spend the most time in our living room—by ourselves, or when entertaining friends and family—so the details here have the most impact. A linen slipcover for the sofa that always has pets on it simplifies cleaning routines, and light switch covers double as art. Plus: Removable wallpaper can be as large or as small as you make it, filling a full wall or simply lining the back of a hutch.

Storage Upgrades

If you thought storage options stop at the best bins and baskets, you’d be mistaken; Etsy shops have introduced a wide variety of solutions for calming chaos. Wall-mounted storage ranging from forged iron hooks with delicate leaves to power tool holders designed with your favorite brand in mind make great use of vertical space. And a wood topper with front lip, cut and stained to spec, will level-up any linen closet with wire shelves.

Exterior Upgrades

It would be a disservice to overlook the curb appeal quotient on Etsy. Make a great first impression with a whimsical brass door knocker or a plant-adorned mailbox. And though it won’t add a pop of personality to the front door, an honorable mention to the functionality of this spare key storage, which looks so inconspicuous that it practically blends in with your outdoor utilities.

…and the Truly Unexpected Finishing Touches

Let this section serve as a reminder that you really can find a little bit of everything when you bring together 8 million creatives from around the world into a single marketplace, from hand-painted sink basins to antique pocket doors. Maybe when I’m finished with my home’s slow renovation, I’ll commission a miniature replica for my backyard birds.

 

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