36 No-Brainer Ways to Hide Ugly Stuff in Your House

No matter how much you may want your home to look like a magazine spread, real life isn't always picture perfect. From cords and cables to appliances and trash cans, there are plenty of household essentials that are less than aesthetic. If you're looking for ways to reduce the visual clutter in your home and hide some of these unsightly items, look no further. We've rounded up the best ways to disguise ugly stuff in your home — and most of these ideas are easier than you think.

We know the living room might be your favorite spot to binge House Hunters, but you may not want your TV to be on full display — especially if you prefer the traditional look of a formal living room. The easiest way to hide this large-scale device in your space is to invest in a Frame TV. In this trad design, the Frame TV, which displays bunny art when not in use, was hung within the built-ins, so the fireplace remains the focal point. If you want to mask your Frame TV even more, you can DIY or buy a decorative frame to add to the illusion of artwork.

Keep TV cords and speakers out of sight with a do-it-yourself pallet accent wall and a beautiful storage bench underneath. Get the step-by-step instructions here.

Blend that chunky cable box in with your living room decor by covering it with a sheet of decorative aluminum and stacking it between your favorite books. This is also a great way to hide unsightly TV cords! Get the step-by-step instructions here.

Magazines piling up? Keep them decoratively organized by rolling them up, then storing in a vintage, weathered soda crate.

Get creative with an unused fireplace by dressing it up with this DIY birch wood cover. Another great project? Make this framed art television cover to conceal the TV in a fashionable way when it's not in use.

Escape the cord clutter that comes with charging multiple electronics at once. Free up counter space with a charging station inside an unused drawer like this one from Design Chic. Learn how to make your own.

Unecessary outlets cramping your style? Insert child-proof safety plugs, then hang a piece of art.

Not every book is worthy of display on your smartly styled bookshelf. Wrap those not-so-cute (or guilty pleasure) hardcovers in vibrant papers for a bit of colorful eye candy.

Tuck away trash cans in a secret place, such as the kitchen island. DIY blogger Corey turned an old cabinet into this amazing, one-of-a-kind island. See the incredible transformation here.

Free up floor space with built-in dog bowls on one end of the kitchen island. Bonus? Kibble crumbs and water dribbles are kept to a minimum.

Peel-and-stick wallpaper instantly updates an old refrigerator. Plus, it can be easily removed if you're renting. Don't fret about grime and spills — wipe it clean with ease.

Blogger Julie Blanner turned her basic black dishwasher into a stunning stainless steel look-alike with a smart, money-saving stainless steel decal. See more of this kitchen makeover on Julie's blog.

Give old shelves an update with colorful fabric. This is a great solution for renters! Get more stylish rental kitchen update ideas.

Give dollar store bins a more expensive metal look with metallic spray paint for plastic. Once the bins are dry, add labels for a perfectly organized pantry.

Is your open pantry an eyesore? Tidy it up by emptying packaged foods into chic, clear storage containers like the pros at The Neat Method did here.

Designer Marian Parsons gave her plain wooden stairs a facelift by covering them in inexpensive, store-bought table runners.

Designer Marian Parsons added stylish extra storage in her half bath by building a thin shelf around an unsightly radiator. See more of this gorgeous small bathroom.

A large woven storage basket provides a stylish spot to discard wet towels and dirty laundry in the bathroom. Keep similar baskets around your home for a quick place to stash toys and other unsightly items before company arrives.

Forget scraping! Easily cover up those ugly popcorn ceilings with a DIY planked wood ceiling.

The age-old adage, "Where do I put my throw pillows at night?" is now solved. Pretty woven baskets placed at the end of the bed add style and a quick place to stash pillows, blankets and more.

Cords cluttering your bedside table? Transform an old book into a chic DIY phone charging station.

Turn a cluttered closet into a focal point by removing the doors and hanging flowy, floor-to-ceiling curtains over the opening.

Try this smart storage solution for a small kid's room by stowing away toys and clutter underneath the bed.

Clean up your closet — and keep your fancy footwear pristine — with this shoe storage hack. Plain shoeboxes can be found at your local craft store for a few dollars each. Label the front of each box with a snapshot of the enclosed pair, storing special-occasion shoes on the top shelf.

Sorting bins for lights, darks and towels don't have to be front and center. When Erin Rollins of the blog Sunny Side Up was redoing her laundry room, she created clever drawers that disguise plastic baskets.

Add style to basic bifold doors by covering them in batting, then upholstering with stylish fabric. Give the doors a streamlined look with a classic, bronze nail-head trim.

Use a large decorative piece to hide the utility box or any wall dings that you don't want to show.

Thermostat cramping your style? Cover it up with a trendy woven wall hanging.

Cover up the air vent by placing a chair in front and adding a pair of stylish shoes and a house plant for a decorative touch. Allow air to flow freely without completely blocking the vent.

Build a fauxdenza for the home office to hide the hefty printer, miscellaneous chargers and immense amount of paperwork. Get the step-by-step instructions here.

To create a home office in her tiny home, Killy Scheer of Frisson Design hung a curtain from the main room's ceiling. When the curtain is open, the office is spacious enough for both work-at-home spouses. When it's closed, Scheer and her husband can forget work and enjoy their living room.

Place that bulky router behind old books in a vintage crate. Use an antique suitcase to add height. Get the step-by-step instructions here.

No money to replace your aging fence? Give it a facelift by painting a pretty mural on it.

When storing garbage and recycling bins inside the garage isn’t an option, make lemonade out of lemons and transform their hiding place into a chic raised flower bed.

Welcome guests to a neat and organized entryway with a place to store dirty shoes and on-the-go items in industrial metal baskets. It doubles as a bench, too.