Apartment Upgrades: Decorating Bargains That Look Expensive

More functional than a glass carafe, and more stylish than other filtered pitchers, Soma’s version puts you in a perpetually glass-half-full situation. Available at drinksoma.com, $39.

Brighten up those light fixtures that came with the apartment with an ecofriendly shade constructed of recycled pallet wood. Plus, with high-end designer Tom Dixon’s stamp of approval, you can’t go wrong. Available at fab.com, $34.50

Make a minor home improvement (i.e., no tools required), and swap your basic light cord out for a jazzy, cloth-covered version. Available at colorcord.com, $30.

Forget about the broom closet, this stunner deserves to be on view. Available at anthropologie.com, $38.

This Japanese press, crafted from olive word and heatproof glass, brews both coffee and tea, making it twice as nice. Available at kaufmann-mercantile.com, $45.

Kick up your heels and celebrate the fact that these hand-knit ottomans are available in thirteen colors and cost only sixty bucks. Available at amazon.com, $59.99.

While we can't comment on how much you may have splurged on its contents, we can commend you on the economical purchase of the box itself. Available at urbanoutfitters.com, $14.

If you’re nautical by nature, make sure your surroundings reflect your seaworthy charm. Strung from a rope, the bronze-framed mirror made us to do a double take. Available at kirklands.com, $30.

If you forgot to ditch that Chinese lantern when you graduated college, it’s time for an upgrade to this copper and navy blue stunner. Available at landofnod.com, $160.

This piece by Crosley fits a turntable on top, and files albums neatly below. Plus, it’ll gives your digs that midcentury vibe you’ve been coveting for a fraction of the price. Available at amazon.com, $47.

No more crying over spilled wine and broken glasses. Topping out at six bucks a piece, you can replace your whole set and still have enough cash leftover for a celebratory bottle or two. Available at spartan-shop.com,$6.

You might be mixing cocktails with well spirits but anything perched atop these magnificent geodes looks top notch. Available at museumstore.hmns.org, $24.