We all have parts of our home that we don’t really care for. A lot of it has to do with ugly items like cords, routers, or pet supplies. They are things that we require, yet when it comes to decorating, they stand out as giant eyesores.
Luckily, there are all sorts of simple tricks you can use to spruce things up a little bit. We’ve gathered 60 of the best ones to share with you today.
Not only will you learn all sorts of creative ways to hide ugly items, but you’ll discover tons of other fun decorating and storage hacks too. If you’d like to free up some much-needed space in your home and give your rooms a new energy, this is a list that you don’t want to miss. Which one of these hacks is your favorite?
1. Put dog bowls inside furniture.
They hid the dog’s food bowls in the drawer of a dresser. It’s such a creative way of keeping the dishes tucked away when the pup isn’t eating. Although, if your dog likes to snack frequently throughout the day, you might be opening and closing it a lot.
2. Cover drapery rods with cornices.
Drapery rods really add nothing to a room style-wise. One good way of hiding them is by using a window cornice. If you would like to save some money, we recommend building your own cornices by following
this simple tutorial.
Cord covers can be bought at most hardware stores and work great for hiding random wires like those from a TV mounted to the wall. If you paint the cord covers the same color as your walls, they will blend right in.
Sometimes the best solution is the hide the cords in plain sight by incorporating them into a work of art. That’s what this creative individual did. The electric guitar cords in the photo were used as dreadlocks for singer Bob Marley.
Routers, modems, and all of the accompanying cords can be a total eyesore. Your room will look so much better if you find some stylish boxes to hide them in. You’ll just have to cut some holes in the back for the cords to be threaded through.
6. Install drawers under the stairs.
With a little careful planning, a stairwell can easily be transformed into extra storage space. The stairwell drawers are a much more hidden way of storing things than using chests or other pieces of furniture. The amount of additional space you get is pretty incredible too.
This classic storage trick has been used for generations to hide valuable items. The idea is that you hollow out a book to create a secret space that no one would ever think of looking in. Just place the book back on the bookshelf after, or if you would like, leave it on the counter and hide a router in it!
8. Use a metal grate or glass window.
One of the main problems with hiding certain types of electronics out of sight is that it blocks the signals they are broadcasting. You might run into this issue with your TV box or gaming consoles. However, if you use a metal grate or a glass window to cover the devices up, the signal will still be able to get through.
9. Utilize invisible bookshelves.
Who says you need a big bulky bookshelf to store your books? Just use an invisible bookshelf as this designer did. The shelf slides right into the cover on the bottom book and can support up to 15 pounds of reading material.
10. Hide pipes with blinds.
Pipes from washers and other appliances can be extremely ugly if they are left exposed instead of fitted inside the wall. One simple solution is to cover them up with a set of blinds. You won’t even be able to see them after!
11. Convert computer wires into power lines.
Not literally, but they do resemble mini versions of power lines. It’s a cool trick that allows you to leave your computer and headphone wires out in the open while still keeping them looking good. The towers were made from bent chrome wire pieces.
Behind this fun chalkboard is actually an AC unit. In order to
make it, they first built a big wooden frame. Then mounted it over top of the unit to cover it up. The chalkboard was added last.
13. Keep soaps on a cake stand.
Dishwashing liquids and soaps can create an unsightly mess next to your sink. However, when placed on a cake stand, they instantly look 100 times more elegant. Add a flower vase for a very nice additional touch.
14. Hang jewelry behind a painting.
She attached the wall painting to some hinges. It allows the painting to fold down so she can access her jewelry storage which is hidden in the back. When the painting is in position, you would never know there is anything behind it.
The same strategy can also be used to cover up an alarm panel or any other ugly electronic device on your wall. Just attach some hinges to the edge of the canvas, mount them to the wall, and you’ll be good to go.
16. Make vines out of your power cords.
It’s a really creative way of transforming your power cords from eyesores into beautiful art pieces. You can make your own little leaves and bird at home pretty easily, but if you’re feeling lazy, they do sell them pre-made on
Amazon as well.
17. Wallpaper your fridge.
Fridges aren’t something you would typically think of as “ugly”, but when it comes to their appearance, there is a lot of room for improvement. Try covering them up with stick-on wallpaper. You’ll likely have to remove the handles first, then reattach them after.
18. Magnetic picture frames stick to breaker boxes.
We never would have thought of this one, but it makes total sense. Breaker boxes are metal and magnetic picture frames can be stuck on any metal surface, so why not? The pictures cover up the breaker box perfectly.
19. Build a little fence.
If you build a small fence and attach it to the molding at the base of the wall, it makes for an excellent place to run cords. The fence will hold the cords in place so you don’t accidentally trip on them while also covering them up in the process.
20. Coat your fridge with chalkboard paint.
Here we have another neat way to make your fridge more fun. Give it a coat of chalkboard paint to completely transform it into a writeable surface. You can draw whatever you want on it afterward. The chalk will wipe right off.
21. Make the actual stairs into drawers.
We saw previously how someone converted the side of their stairwell into drawers. However, this person took it a step further. Each of their actual stairs pulls out as a drawer. The amount of extra storage it creates is incredible.
22. Store laundry hampers in a deep drawer.
Nothing is worse than a pile of dirty clothes sitting in a hamper in the corner of a room. Not only does it look bad, but the scent can end up being pretty noticeable too. However, by storing your baskets in a deep drawer, both of these problems are solved.
23. Cover a thermostat with a picture.
The trick is to remove the glass from the picture frame. If you don’t, it could potentially mess up the thermostat temperature readings. However, once the glass is out, you’re good to use the picture as a pretty cover.
24. Use black tape to decorate a dryer and washer.
Here we have a really fun way of sprucing up your laundry room. Decorate the appliances with little pieces of tape. This artist chose to make one striped and the other polka-dotted. They used black tape, but really, you can use whatever color you want.
25. Transfer beauty products into new bottles.
Some types of beauty products are just plain ugly, especially when you have tons of them. However, if you transfer all of your products to uniform clear bottles, your collection will look much better on the bathroom counter.
26. Put stickers around light switches.
You don’t want to place just any stickers though. Our favorites are these ones by HU2. They remind kids and everyone else in the family to save energy by turning off the lights when leaving the room.
27. Doormats can cover wall vents.
Lots of people have random vents on their walls that don’t look very nice. All you need to do to cover them up is to hang a doormat over top of them. It will reduce the airflow though, so keep that in mind.
When randomly strewn across a countertop, all of these items might cause an area to look a bit cluttered. However, the tray helps them to appear neater and more organized. The ugly little Alexa device blends right in with the other items too.
29. Drape a curtain behind a desk.
It is an excellent way of hiding all the wires from electronics like computers and radios. They remain hidden out of sight behind the curtain. It’s pretty much like they don’t even exist.
By default, TVs typically end up becoming the centerpiece of a room. However, this cool decorating hack proves that it doesn’t have to be that way. Just cover up the TV with a cheap printed canvas when it’s not in use.
31. Hide water pipes with fake rock domes.
Many homes have unsightly pipes sticking out of the ground in the yard outside. While you can’t get rid of them, you can cover them up using fake rock domes. Fake rocks are the perfect addition to any garden.
32. Hide cords in trim work.
Notice how there are no cords around this TV setup? That’s because they are hidden behind the trim. The designer installed small channels in the trim work that allows the cords to pass right through.
33. Make a charging drawer.
Instead of leaving all your electronics charging in whatever random place you can find an outlet, why not make a dedicated charging drawer? It’s the perfect solution to this common problem.
34. Hide away your printer in a dresser.
You probably aren’t going to use your printer all that often anyway. Hiding it away in a dresser makes complete sense. Whenever you need to access it, just open the drawer. Make your own folding drawer by following
these instructions.
35. Organize cleaning supplies with a pegboard.
The best place to install the pegboard is probably in your garage or laundry room. Then you can attach little wire shelves to it as this woman did. It’s a great way of keeping all your random cleaning supplies organized and looking acceptable.
36. Keep cords in paper towel tubes.
Cords have a bad habit up of getting all tangled up with one another. Especially if you just throw them on the counter or in a drawer. However, by using paper towel tubes and a shoebox, you can make a simple cord organizer.
37. Disguise wire shelves.
It’s pretty common that a pantry would have a set of wire shelves inside. Unfortunately, they don’t look too good. This artist found a pretty nice way to cover them up though. They used molding!
38. Decorate a boring bathtub.
Bathtubs on their own are pretty plain looking. One interesting way to make them look cooler is to cover the side with faux rocks. It will give the tub the appearance of natural stone without having to deal with grout or wet saws.
39. Improve an ugly door.
This door was pretty basic to start with. The artist
applied a combination of paint and masking tape to it to divide it up and give it some more shape. It’s certainly an upgrade from how it looked before.
40. Keep laundry detergent in a drink dispenser.
Laundry detergent bottles look pretty blah. Especially when you buy the big industrial-sized ones. Keeping your detergent in a drink dispenser is an easy way to make your laundry room look a little nicer.
41. Hide the cat’s litter box.
The area around a cat’s litter box can quickly become a total disaster if you don’t clean it daily. Keeping it inside a cabinet is a good way to keep the mess contained. You’ll just need to make a side compartment in the cabinet for the cat to go in and out.
42. Cover a window AC unit.
The trick is to hang up cafe-style curtains on a tension rod. The curtains are light enough that the air can still pass through and the tension rod provides a little give. If you need to access the unit, just part the curtains.
43. Give your appliances a makeover.
See the dishwasher in this photo? It appears as though it is stainless steel. However, it’s actually not. It is just your standard black-colored appliance. The artist
used faux stainless steel contact paper to transform it.
44. Hide a paper towel roll with molding.
Not only does the molding completely cover up the paper towel roll, but it can also be used as a shelf! It’s a really cool hack. Make your own or purchase one already finished and ready to go on
Amazon.
45. Use plants as camouflage.
Plants are a pretty versatile home decoration item. You can place them pretty much anywhere and they’ll look amazing. We recommend putting them in front of unsightly electronics like routers to camouflage them.
46. Lattice covers can hide florescent lights.
Florescent lighting fixtures are really common in offices, but many homes have them as well. Make them look prettier and get rid of that unhealthy glow they create by using lattice covers.
47. Place styrofoam coolers in a wicker chest.
It’s an excellent technique for sprucing up your barbecue or tailgate decorations and making things a little classier. Styrofoam coolers on their own look kind of cheap, but placing them in a wicker chest is a game-changer.
48. Beautify box springs with fabric.
Mattress box springs are not known for being stylish. Most people simply cover them up with sheets and comforters. However, another solid strategy is to upholster them with fabric and a staple gun.
49. Transform a laundry room with pegboard.
Pegboard is perfect for covering up ugly pipes. In addition, this artist
used stencils on top of it to make it look even nicer. Her laundry room is now so much more fun than it was before.
50. Hang wires under your desk with hooks.
All of the cords from their electronics are attached to the underside of the desk using hooks. It keeps them from hanging down haphazardly and getting tangled up. Stepping away from the desk, you can’t even see them.
51. Pictures work to distract the eye.
This designer used pictures to draw attention away from a random light switch in the middle of the wall. However, this technique can be used for camouflaging other unsightly objects like thermostats too.
52. Shelf brackets work great for transitions.
The shelf bracket serves as a barrier between the tiled backsplash on the left and the smooth wall on the right. It’s a superb way of transitioning between different types of surfaces.
53. Store shoes in baskets.
Instead of leaving your shoes in a pile by the front door, try storing them in baskets. It’s a very logical storage strategy. This individual even took it a step further and hid the baskets under a bench.
54. Spray paint folding chairs.
Plain old gray or black folding chairs are just so boring. Make them more stylish by spray painting them. You can paint them all one color, or if you are feeling really crazy, make every one a different hue.
55. Paint your garage door.
Transform your garage door from ugly to beautiful by painting it a lovely pastel color. A blue garage door attracts so much more attention than the typical white one that most people have.
56. Hang shirts from a rope rack.
Most of the clothes racks that you can buy at stores look pretty cheap and tacky. It’s much cooler to make your own using rope and a wooden curtain rod. Hang it up out of the way in the corner of your bedroom or closet.
57. Install a sliding trash bin in your counter.
Keep your recycling and trash bins out of sight and tucked away in a secret compartment under the counter. Whenever you need to access them, just grab the handle and slide them on out.
58. Wrap support beams in molding.
You know those metal poles and support beams in your basement? Unfortunately, they are crucial to the foundation of the home. While you can’t remove them, you can make them look nicer by wrapping them in molding.
59. Grow plants in cinder blocks.
If you have exposed cement cinder blocks outside your house, one way to disguise them is by growing plants inside of them. The plants will peek outward from the middle of the cement blocks in search of sunlight.
60. Change the color of tiles.
If you don’t like the way your ugly tiles look, you can always paint them a different color. It’s much cheaper than tearing them up from the floor and replacing them. Once you paint them though, there is really no going back.
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