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Maybe your budget is virtually non-existent. Perhaps time isn’t on your side, or the blueprint is never going to accommodate your vision. Sometimes, a large-scale kitchen renovation is simply out of the question. But this is not where your design dreams go to die. It’s where you get creative with easy, no-demo kitchen swaps to get the look, storage, and organization you want. No matter what your situation may be, we’ve amassed a solid arsenal of tips, tricks, and product recommendations to up-level your kitchen, below. That way, you can think more about what’s bubbling on the stove versus what’s happening around it.
A DIY Air Vent Upgrade
I was so thrilled to be getting central AC installed in our first house that I never thought to inquire on what the vents would look like. Reader, they are 10 inch-by-10-inch monstrosities that stick out like a sore thumb, especially in my small kitchen. I figured we were stuck with them until I came across Fittes the other day. The brand makes minimalist air vents (and exhaust mounts, among other nifty features) that blend in so much better than a standard grille, and, most importantly, there’s a DIY-friendly version. We’re talking a 15-minute install: Once you take off your old vent, you drop the Fittes one right into the pre-existing opening—there are six sizes to choose from—and secure it with a few screws. Did I mention the vents are paintable? Consider me Fittes’s next customer. —Lindsey Mather, digital director
A Two-Tier Pot and Pan Holder
Rev-A-Shelf’s products are the holy grail of no-reno kitchen organization. I’m convinced this pull-out system is the only way to stay sane when going to grab a pot or pan. The upper shelf is dedicated just to lids (it can house seven of them!), which I find are the root cause of chaos in my base cabinets. —Lydia Geisel, home editor
A No-Frills Knife Sharpener
Ever since I brought home Hammacher Schlemmer’s Power Grip Knife Sharpener a few months ago, something kind of magical started happening in our kitchen: all our knives are suddenly, consistently razor-sharp. No mystery here, though—it turns out my husband is obsessed with this tool and now looks forward to sharpening regularly. The sharpener itself is compact and securely suctions to any smooth surface, so it stays put while you work — no slipping, no fussing with both hands. And when you’re done, it can easily tuck away out of sight until next time. It’s the kind of tool that quietly upgrades your whole kitchen routine without making a big deal about it, which is its own kind of magic. —Andie Diemer, photo director
An Under-Cabinet Lighting Addition
These under-cabinet light bars have changed the entire vibe of our kitchen. Not only can we finally see our sink area after sunset, but they’re incredibly adjustable: every color on the spectrum, warmth, and brightness. You can set up routines and saved settings; I have a brighter and cooler light for when I’m cooking and a soft warm light for more of a nightlight effect. It all syncs to my phone, too, so I can switch it on if I come downstairs for a late night snack or turn things off if I forgot to (after getting said bite). —Brit Ashcraft, design director
A Stackable Water Bottle Organizer
I used to drink from the school water fountain and somehow survived. These days, my daughter rotates between several Thermoses (Disney princesses, Barbie, unicorns, outer space, and more); my toddler and husband have their own bottles; and I have my Hydro Flask and Owala. This organizer is the only thing standing between us and a cabinet avalanche. It’s stackable and adjustable, so you can customize the shelves to fit everything from 12-ounce kids’ Thermoses to 40-ounce insulated bottles. No more tipping, clanking, or fishing through a pile of lids—every bottle now has its place. Hydration culture: conquered. —Kristen Flanagan, contributing editor
A Gamechanging Food Scrap Saver
I’ve composted in a variety of ways over the years. When I was a kid, it was kind of accidental—we threw watermelon scraps and spent ears of corn into a little gaggle of trees in my Indiana backyard. I’ve employed a tumbler, which saw its share of eggs when I was recipe testing for a dessert and baking cookbook. And during the pandemic, when composting became standardized in New York City, I stashed bags of coffee grounds and old bread crusts in my freezer until toting it all to the farmer’s market on the weekend. Since January, I’ve used a Mill Food Recycler—not quite a composter but something that turns all the vegetables (and more) that we cook into supercharged grounds to feed gardens, farms, and chickens. It is literally odorless thanks to a powerful charcoal filter, and the nightly churning schedule runs while we’re sleeping. I love that the app is a resource for what the Mill can accept, how much waste we’ve diverted, and to alert me when it’s time to empty things. I don’t think I can live without it now. —Samantha Weiss Hills, managing editor
A Hydration Shortcut
I was over constantly refilling my plastic Brita pitcher, and even worse, forgetting to do so and coming home to no water after a long day. Not fun. So I finally upgraded and got this PUR water filter that attaches right to my sink, and honestly, it’s been a game changer. It’s super easy to use: it stays fixed to the faucet, and you just flip a small lever to switch it on or off. It doesn’t interfere with the normal sink stream if it’s not in use. There’s even a little light that tells you when it’s time to replace the filter. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now, and it’s still showing green. The water tastes amazing, and I haven’t had to think about refilling anything since. Definitely my favorite kitchen purchase of 2025 so far. —Belle Morizio, photographer
A Better Bag, No Plastic Required
I’ll admit it, I’m an over-user of plastic snack and freezer bags. I knew it was getting out of hand when my drawer housing them had more old—but still clean and re-usable ones!—tucked into it than new ones left in the boxes. Wanting to curb my reliance on plastic, I recently bought a couple gallon– and sandwich-size silicon bags from Stasher. They’re dishwasher safe, so its easy to clean and re-use over and over, and they’ve kept my food just as fresh. Plus, I feel a little less guilty every time I seal one. The only downside I’ve encountered: They do require some additional storage space, so if you’d like to have more than a few on hand like me, you might need to do some kitchen KonMari-ing first. —Lindsey DeSimone, senior marketing manager