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Minor Moves, Major Fixes: Simple Ways to Make Your Home More Appealing

Heather ChaEditor

Updated Tue, November 4, 2014 at 4:07 PM UTC

Frame the Vent — An exposed bathroom fan is as drab as any home eyesore can be. Use a frame and some patterned metal mesh to create a cool coverup.

Photo: Home + Away with Lisa

Garage Door Opener — The bland buttons of a garage door opener can be fixed up with a frame fake out.

Photo: My Uncommon Slide of Suburbia

Microwave Be Gone — For those trying to give their kitchen a rustic feel, an obtrusive microwave all but destroys the aesthetic. Make a few adjustments to a paneled cabinet for a quick concealer.

Photo: Lumber Jocks

Incognito Printer — Designate a larger drawer to house your printer. Drill a hole in the back for a place to string the cords through and you've got an out of the way solution for your printer.

Photo: PB & J Stories

Water Heater Fencing — A bamboo swivel fence can mask the unsightly water heater and maintain the overall look of your garden.

Photo: Green Jam

Kitchen Appliance Disappearing Act — Kitchen appliances can cause your countertop to look cluttered and busy. Have a sliding cover to make your appliances "disappear."

Photo: Traditional Home

Strength in Numbers — Make a chameleon out of your thermostat. Strategically arrange frames around your thermostat and make it a part of your wall decor.

Photo: Jones Design Company

Air Conditioner — An air conditioner is a behemoth of an applicance that sticks out like a sore thumb. A basic lattice fence solves the issue. Take the project one step further: growing vines on the fence will make it look that much more beautiful.

Photo: Canadian Gardening

DIY Charging Station — The tangled mess of several items charging is any organized person's nightmare. Trim and decorate a box to fit the power strip and cut holes in the side for easy labeling to never hassle with plugging in your devices again.

Photo: Homedit

Cord Vines — Break out your arts and crafts supplies for this one! Cords running along your wall no longer have to make your house resemble a warehouse. Covering your cords with a vine like casing transforms your living room into a jungle landscape.

Photo: Tania da Cruz via Design Milk

Camoflage Electrical Socket — Can you spot the socket? Blend in the typically stand out wall fixture with an overall trompe l'oeil painting effect.

Photo: Apartment Therapy

Paper Towel Dispenser — A metal paper towel dispenser is often too industrial to fit in with home decor. A shelf cover not only solves the issue, but also gives you a platform to put candles, flowers, or anything else on to spruce up your sink area.

Photo: Amazon

Remote Control Case — Stop losing your remote control! Build a bookcase box for your remote to have a designated spot for it, and add a decorative accent to your television space in the process.

Photo: Sewing Barefoot

Trash Bin Shields — The ultimate in at home eyesores: trash bins. All it takes is some paneled fencing to provide a barrier between the necessary evil and your gorgeous garden.

Photo: Plow & Hearth

Cord City Skyline — Turn your electrical cord into a piece of art! By fashioning the cord into a city skyline, you solve an interior design problem and decorate your wall at the same time.

Photo: Homedit

Hamper Drawers — Even when laundry isn't sprawled all over the floor, it still looks unappealing, all lumped together in a hamper. Place the laundry baskets in large drawers as a fix to keep the soiled clothing out of sight.

Photo: Meg & the Martin Men

Most people have a list of home improvement aspirations that often seem anything but doable. We get it. Not everyone has the time for a major overhaul. But sometimes, a tiny change makes a world of difference. There are a number of eyesores around the house (hello electrical cord chaos) that can actually be fixed in a pinch (and a few that require some extra steps but are still way worth it). Have any homemade solutions to cover up the ugly bits at home? Share it with us on our Facebook or Twitter.

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