My Rental Needed an Update—Here Are the 15 Amazon Products That Made It Happen

In March, I decided to give my apartment a much-needed update, focusing on small decor changes in my living room and bathroom and a more significant update in my bedroom. My goal was to keep the project on an affordable budget, so I was determined to source everything I needed from Amazon.

I couldn't be happier with the process and how the place turned out. Everything I ordered came quickly and, thanks to Amazon's incredible stock of items, I was able to update the space to perfectly fit my needs, and stay within my budget.

Here are 15 products that were indispensable in my apartment update.

FASTPRO 232-Piece 20V Pink Cordless Lithium-ion Drill Driver and Home Tool Set

Admittedly, I bought this for the aesthetic of having a pink power tool kit, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well it held up. I used it to build almost every new piece of furniture and to remove/hang several shelves throughout my apartment. Not to mention, the drill has an amazing battery life—I started using it in about mid-March and four months later I still haven't charged it.

AROEVE Air Purifiers for Home

Before starting this project, I knew the paint fumes and dust would get the best of me even if I kept the windows open. While there are plenty of air purifiers to pick from, I went with this one because of its compact size and multiple filter settings. I kept it running on high for the week of my apartment update and it made working so much easier.

VASAGLE Ladder Shelf, 4-Tier Bookshelf

We're big fans of utilizing vertical space here at The Spruce, so my top priority was adding tiered shelving in my living room. This wood shade paired perfectly with the stain of my living room's existing console table and dining table, making it a no-brainer. It's surprisingly sturdy for the price and became the perfect place to house my printer and a few plants near my window.

Convenience Concepts Oxford Coffee Table with Shelf, Espresso

My apartment has taken many different forms in the last few years, but we haven't had a coffee table in our living room for quite some time. I loved the sleek design of this one—it's perfectly functional but doesn't distract from any of the more detailed decor in my living room. It was super easy to build by myself and took less than an hour to completely put together.

VASAGLE ALINRU 5-Tier Bookshelf, Industrial Bookcase and Storage Rack

I loved the first shelf so much, I bought a second one as soon as I built it, but this time, I went for five tiers so it could be just the right height to house my trailing plants on the top shelf. This shelf was perfect for my plants, some family photos, and to keep a couple of cookbooks on display. While I was able to build the first shelf by myself, this one required two people due to the height of the piece.

Convenience Concepts Oxford 1 Drawer Console Table with Shelves, White

I'm a big fan of all-white furniture in my bedroom for a chic, bright look. This console table was just what I needed to house my TV. I put this table to the test by loading it will all my electronics: a TV, a gaming laptop, and two gaming consoles. Not to mention, the shallow shelf is perfect for those as-needed electronic accessories like controllers, chargers, and remotes.

JKsmart Corner Bar Cabinet with Glass Holder

Notice a rustic, industrial theme here? I wanted to turn my apartment into a perfect entertaining space and this bar was a great addition. The assembly of this bar wasn't easy, and it was perhaps the hardest thing to build even with the help of an additional person, but it's stunning once it's finished and tucks away into any corner with ease—it's the perfect bar for a small space.

Tap Light, Push Lights, STAR-SPANGLED Stick on Lights Battery Powered Operated

This was a last-minute addition but one of my most loved purchase. These battery-operated stick-on lights went straight into my closet (closets should definitely have better lighting), giving me the extra lighting I need for picking my outfits for the day. These lights are very versatile and will stick pretty much anywhere.

WOPITUES Floating Shelves with Gold Metal Guardrail

It took me a while to decide on which floating shelves I wanted to add to my room, and the gold guardrail on these sold me. The installation instructions were simple and these were easy to set up without assistance, with a level to keep everything straight. The manufacturer says that these shelves can hold up to 20 pounds each but I use them for lightweight items like photo frames and plant propagation jars.

CRAKTH Key and Mail Holder for Wall Decorative, Wooden Boho Key Hanger with Shelf

Our key hangers were about 20 years old, so we were in need of a major upgrade. I typically stick to Amazon products that have thousands of reviews, but I took a chance with this one and was not disappointed. My living room color palette is brown and green, so having this piece as a key hanger in my entryway was a nice touch that extended the theme to a space that was otherwise underutilized and not well-decorated.

DHP Dakota Upholstered Platform Bed with Underbed Storage Drawers and Diamond Button Tufted Headboard and Footboard

I put this bed together by myself in a little under 3 hours, and the finished product is surprisingly sturdy. I never purchased such a large, high-use item from Amazon before, and I wasn't quite sure how the finished product would look.

The bed wasn't difficult to build but it did come with a lot of parts and the assembly had a lot of steps to it. It's a very chic piece of furniture, though, and isn't bulky in the slightest. It comes with four plastic storage drawers below that are great for storing clothes or extra linens.

SESENO. 12 Pack Shoe Storage Boxes, Clear Plastic Stackable Shoe Organizer Bins

My biggest challenge with apartment living is having adequate storage, especially in my closet, which only has a rod for hanging clothes and a shelf above. These shoe storage boxes were a perfect way to keep my shoes organized on my closet floor and well protected from any dust that might accumulate while not in use. The 12-pack set is easy to assemble and stacks perfectly together to whatever shape you prefer.

ihomecooker 6 Pc Clear Acrylic Display Risers

Risers are such a great way to keep spaces organized. I bought these to put on top of my bedroom dresser to keep my perfumes looking neat and tidy, but they could easily work well in any space thanks to their clear acrylic design.

3 in 1 Charging Station for Apple Products

To go with the sleek white design of my room, I bought this charging station to put the finishing touch on my nightstand. I hate the look of excessive wires and this station bumped me down to needing just one wire for my daily devices instead of three so it was a win-win.

Sengled Alexa Light Bulb

I love setting the mood in my apartment, and this was perhaps the most affordable way to do it. All I had to do was screw in the bulb and connect it to my Echo Dot. Now, at any moment, if I want to dim the lights for a family movie or karaoke night, I don't even have to reach for the lamps—I can just tell Alexa to set my light to whatever percentage brightness I'd like, and the mood is instantly set.