18 Small Products That Will Make Your Home Work Better for You

Technology isn’t just for your laptop or smartphone. Many parts of your home’s daily functioning could benefit from a “smart” update. Check out some of these everyday items that have been upgraded to make your life easier—as well as some more basic items that can do some of the work for you as well. Whether you own or rent, adding the right products can make a difference in your home.

Amazon

View On Amazon

Professional organizer Christina Giaquinto has a couple of tips for your garage or shed. If you have ever had to battle through a bunch of handles to find the tool you need, this one is for you.

“Hooks are a huge help for organizing garages! They allow you to organize most garage tools and items such as a broom, shovel, etc. Also, peg boards are great for organizing smaller items such as your hammer, pliers, and tools."

Ring Video Doorbell Wired with Ring Chime

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Home Depot View On Lowe's

This doorbell not only has a snazzy ringtone, but it also gives you a look at who is ringing it—you don’t even have to be home. You can talk to your visitor from your laptop or smartphone, or see whether you want to get off the couch at all.

Honeywell Home 5-2 Day Programmable Thermostat

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Home Depot View On Walmart

You don’t need to stay on top of the temperature where you live. A programmable thermostat can help you maintain the best setting the entire year round.

“Smart thermostats can help you save energy and money by automatically adjusting the temperature when you’re away or asleep," says Martin Orefice, the CEO of Rent To Own Labs.

View On Amazon

Have you ever been making a meal and had to wash your hands, and then had to clean the faucet because your dirty hands made a whole other mess? We have all been there. This gorgeous kitchen faucet solves that problem. Hands-free technology makes getting clean a whole lot easier.

View On Amazon

Washing machines and dishwashers bear a large load on the daily list of household to-dos. “A quick way to upgrade the functionality and look of your home is to replace outdated and malfunctioning appliances," says Robert Johnson, senior director of merchandising at Coast Appliances. "Old appliances can spike utility bills and look unsightly because of damaged handles, rust, and corrosion."

View On Amazon

Adding a few plants can freshen up your home in a jiffy. Be sure to take each room's amount of natural light into consideration or go with a faux plant (it can be your little secret).

View On Amazon

We all have a ton of cords for our phones, laptops, and more. A simple organizer keeps everything lined up and easy to manage. “There are plenty of magnetic cable holders on the market today that allow you to minimize your cable clutter. It can work as a clever solution to control your wires and prevent them from making your home messy,” says real estate professional Theresa Raymond.

Roborock

View On Amazon

A robotic vacuum cleaner can sweep up the dust and dirt on your floors while you are away. This model even empties itself.

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Wayfair View On Home Depot

Sweeping your floors is great, but having a robot actually mop? Genius! Try this one out and give yourself a little break. This model allows you to set it up for dry mopping as well as wet mopping.

Otdair Dusk to Dawn 3 Head Solar Security Lights Outdoor

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Home Depot View On Walmart

Adding a motion-sensitive exterior light gives you the brightness when you need it and saves you money when you don’t need the illumination. This one converts the sun's energy into electricity.

View On Amazon

Plug into some energy savings with these digital timer outlets. This timer works with CFL, LED, incandescent, and halogen lights—it's also perfect for powering your small appliances when you need them. You can even set it to a random vacation mode to deter burglars.

View On Amazon

Treat yourself or the man in your life with a super slick shaver that not only charges itself, but also cleans itself.

Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini by TP-Link (2-Pack)

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Best Buy

Have Amazon Alexa, IFTTT, or Google Assistant? These adapters work with all of them to add voice control to any outlet—it's perfect for when you have your hands full.

Courtesy of Home Depot

View On Home Depot

This might be a no-brainer, but installing a garage door opener can be a huge help. No more having to get out of the car in the dark or in bad weather—just push the button and drive right in.

View On The Container Store

File holders or magazine holders help you keep your favorite periodicals in order, but they can do so much more. They are an inexpensive way to organize things in the kitchen as well.

“Some of my favorite uses for a magazine holder are cutting boards, plates, serving dishes, baking tins, and platters," Giaquinto says. "A magazine or file holder automatically and effortlessly allows you to see everything when looking for your item and it keeps all your items from hitting each other, which ensures they will not break or crack."

View On Amazon

When it comes to household chores, cleaning the toilet ranks pretty high on the list of unpleasant tasks. Try using this automatic toilet cleaning system to take that one off your chore list.

View On Amazon

This quiet-functioning water fountain keeps your pets hydrated for days. That means less work for you plus a happier furry friend.

Husqvarna Automower 115H Robotic Lawn Mower

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Lowe's

One of the joys of single-family-home life is a yard to call your own. Plenty of space to get some fresh air, entertain, and toss a ball around. Along with the fun, however, comes the responsibilities of yard care. That is where an automatic lawn mower comes in. It gives you back your weekend and it looks pretty cool, too.