5 Amazon Home Finds That Build Better Style — All Under $50
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love.
If you’ve read my No-Fail 10-Step Home Design Guide, you know I always recommend slowing down—clearing space, taking inventory, observing how you actually live—before buying anything. Real design isn’t about impulse; it’s about clarity and intention. That hasn’t changed.
But I also believe in momentum.
So today, my friends, is different. Today is for those under-$50 updates you get to enjoy right away. There’s a method to my madness 🤓—because sometimes a new pillow cover, a fresh tray, or a beautiful object you use daily is exactly the spark you need to think, “I can do this.”
Why the change of heart? Because I’ve learned, in both my own home and in countless client projects, there’s always a moment when planning has to meet action. One of the best ways to bridge that gap is through what I call a Smile Moment (Step 9 in my Guide): that visual YES that reminds you progress is possible and worth it. When clients are in long remodels or waiting on permits, I often build in smaller, intentional wins along the way in places we can make progress —updating art, restyling a console, or adding a rug. It helps them see progress, trust the process, and feel joy in their space.
The same applies to you. This is about learning to trust yourself.
We lived in our home for seventeen years before remodeling. No custom cabinetry, no fancy finishes—just small, intentional choices that made our space feel more like us long before the big changes came. What I’m sharing here isn’t decor for decor’s sake…these are thoughtful, reasonable adjustments with real emotional impact.
Let’s get into the five styling updates that build momentum, whether you’re renovating soon, years from now, or not at all.
Art & Photography That Reflect You
Art and photography are often treated as the final layer, but I use them early to define a room’s identity—especially when there isn’t a big furniture budget. Most people choose pieces that are too small or scatter frames without intention. Go larger. Print family photos at 12x12 or even 11x17, and treat them with the same respect you’d give purchased art. Scale creates impact.
Framing does the rest: simple, clean frames with wide mattes elevate everything from children’s drawings to Etsy or Canva downloads. You don’t need a full gallery wall (though there are plenty of pre-designed sets that make life easy), but three frames in a row, a stacked pair in a hallway, or a quiet grid behind a sofa can shift the entire mood.
I also like leaning frames on consoles or shelves and mixing materials while keeping the overall look intentional. I’ll share a deeper guide on sourcing and hanging soon, but here are a few reliable starters.
(Different sizes and colors available)
(Different sizes and prints available)
2 - Pillows, Curtains & Textures That Soften the Room
Textures are one of the most affordable ways to change a room. I love my Amazon go-to pillow inserts and rotate covers as color, season, or mood shifts. The trick is sizing up: buy an insert that’s one size larger than the cover for a full designer look. Then mix textures—heavy linen, washed velvet, nubby weaves. Add throws the same way, draped at the end of a sofa or folded at the foot of a bed to carry tone and warmth without a big commitment.
Try gauzy sheer curtains in front of room-darkening ones on a double curtain rod for a layered look that keeps both function and softness. This isn’t about collecting more; it’s about choosing better so the room feels edited and alive.
Sheer Linen Textured Curtains
Different sizes, colors and textures available.
3 - Rugs & Grounding Layers
A rug doesn’t just fill space—it anchors it. It defines where living begins and ends, softens sound, and adds warmth. If your floors aren’t what you want yet, a rug can bridge the gap until renovation. Rugs can get pricey, so I use affordable options strategically in high-traffic areas, and washable styles are a blessing and must-have for homes with kids or pets.
Cleaning an inexpensive rug can cost more than replacing it, so be practical about material and placement if you do not choose a washable option. Coordinate rugs with pillows and curtains to carry tone across the room. Let texture do the heavy lifting so the space stays calm, not busy, and so it feels warm and inviting. You don’t need the forever rug on day one—you need a grounding one that supports how you live right now.
4 - Lighting That Changes Everything
Lighting is a whole realm of interior design on its own, but it’s not hard to start with some basics. It’s also one of the most effective ways to set a mood, and I have some very practical solutions. Most people spend a large part of the daylight hours outside their homes, yet rarely take the time to think about their artificial light sources.
I like to change the lighting at a certain hour—overheads are for function when the day is moving, then lamps and accent lighting as evening settles in.Credit to Chris Loves Julia for the term lamp-o-clock. I believe in this ritual.
Portable options make lighting easy nowadays: plug-in sconces bring architecture without construction, battery picture lights add focus over art that looks intentional, and floor lamps with built-in tables or chargers work hard in family spaces. If you don’t have floor outlets or can’t wire a ceiling in an apartment, rechargeable bulbs are a lifesaver and keep the plan flexible. Check them out and thank me later!!
Lighting doesn’t just help you see—it changes how you speak, move, and settle. Use it intentionally.
5 - The Entry Console: Where Style Meets System
I often bring everything together at the entry console. It isn’t always the first place I design, but it’s one of the most satisfying because it’s both vignette and workhorse—right brain and left brain in the same spot.
A console with drawers or baskets below handle real life: keys, mail, shopping bags, pet gear, small sports equipment. Up top, a lamp on one side, a framed photo or art leaning on the other, and something alive (branches, a plant, flowers) create a simple, welcoming composition.
Treat it like a true drop zone with a system you actually use, and review it once a month so it keeps working. In the morning, it helps you launch. In the evening, it helps you reset for tomorrow. It welcomes you home with beauty, function, and intention—all my favorite things.
You don’t need a renovation to feel progress. You need one area—a single decision that reminds you this home is being shaped on purpose. Start with one upgrade. Curate one Smile Moment. Let it be the proof that you’re moving forward.
