I'll be the first to admit, I am all about aesthetics. Perhaps not over practicality but pretty close to. I am Head of Interiors at H&G, it comes with the territory. I am the kind of person who can't have the TV remote on show, if I can put a liquid into a prettier bottle I will, I don't have a shoe rack, I have a shoe basket, with a lid, that all shoes must go into even if you are about to put them on again in five minutes. I had to draw the line at dispensing all my spices into matching canisters, but you get the idea – I like things to look nice.
And my go-to store for buying things to make the less aesthetic pleasing things in my home look nicer? Amazon. From easy to install light switch covers, to peel and stick wallpaper that even a DIY novice can install, these are the 12 Amazon buys that will help disguise the ugly or outdated things around your home. And bonus, some are on sale for Amazon's Big Deals Days.
12 Amazon buys that make ugly things look pretty
Amazon is filled with peel-and-stick wallpaper options and you'll be surprised how stylish some of them are. They rival my go-to wallpaper brands and are just a fraction of the price. Peel and stick wallpaper is ideal for covering up questionable paint colors, badly plastered walls or just elevating a room without commiting. It's perfect if you are decorating a rental (or just like to switch up your wallpaper a lot) because you can peel it off without a trace. This vintage floral design is my favorite on Amazon right now.
I will get onto the small buys next, but I couldn't not include a rug in this roundup. When I moved into my first apartment, the floors left a lot to be desired. So the first thing I threw down was a rug and not only did it hide the majority of the yellowing plastic floorboards, but it distracted from them too. Amazon is a great place to shop rugs and they stock some quality brands. I love all the rugs the in Joanna Gaines x Loloi collection, but this one is currently on sale and at a great price for such a large rug.
I used to spend a lot on dish soap purely for the packaging. Sure it was effective dish soap, but I could get the same quality stuff just in less pretty packaging for a lot less money, and then decant it into a nicer dispenser. This dispenser can sit on you kitchen countertop full time, without interrupting the decor. There's a clear option too, but the thing about amber is you can't see the color of the dish soap inside – yes even that would bother me.
Toilet roll is definitely an eyesore, but like many household eyesores, it's also a must have. This stand is subtle, and as chic as a loo roll holder comes. I like how it's not going to be super noticeable but does add a slightly rustic vibe to a bathroom.
The TV remote I said I had looking at? Well, these 'books' would be the perfect home. They look like vintage books but in fact they are boxes that are ideal for storing more practical things like glasses, tech, your phone even, on a coffee table or bedside table.
My current olive oil dispenser is actually a beautiful bottle of Greek olive oil I brought back from vacation. The oil ran out months ago but you bet I have kept the ceramic dispenser that I just refill. This is a super chic offering from Amazon, that not only looks great but has an automatic pourer which I always find far more easy for drizzling oil over salads or pastas.
Tile stickers have come on in leaps and bounds, and they are a great temporary solution for covering an ugly backplash. If you look at the photos posted in the reviews section, these tiles look great and there's lots of praise for how easy they are to install.
Cables are ugly, but they are everywhere! Cable management boxes like tis mean you can organize your cables and hide them. Add an extension cord into the box and all your wire with come neatly out of one side. I have one of these under my desk to make all my various chargers less of an eyesore.
A lot of coffee pod storage involves it being on show, and while that works for some people, I prefer mine to be hidden but accessible. I like how this organizer creates a coffee station, with a spot to place your coffee maker and then compartments to store all the accessories.
The kitchen sink just invites eyesores that annoying always need to be on show. Like a sponge. I have tried hiding said sponge in a box but it's gets gross and never has time to dry out, so I have ditched that and trying this subtle but stylish holder instead.
This is a snap on and off light switch cover, meaning you can elevate your light switches yourself. The brand offers some easy to follow videos to help you, and the reviews are filled with customers saying how easy these are to install. There's 26 colors to choose from too.
The most glamorous of tissue box covers, this highly-rated holder looks like luxe leather for under $10. It's faux, but the stitching and the texture is spot on. There are plenty of expensive-looking colors to choose from too to elevate one of the most boring essentials in your home to a piece of decor.
Amazon is the place to go to make your ugly things look pretty. There's so many inventive ideas that you probably haven't even thought of to help hide the eyesores around your home, but it's likely that if you want to disguise something, Amazon has the product to do it.
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