13 Spring Home Upgrades You’ll Regret Skipping in 2026

While traditionally known as the season to roll up your sleeves and clean, spring’s changing weather patterns and rising utility costs also make it the perfect time to evaluate how efficiently your home is running and what you can do to bring down your bills.

In our experience, just a few high-impact DIY upgrades—like trading your manual sprinkler dial for a smart controller that watches the weather for you or swapping out your decades-old ceiling fans for more efficient modern models—make a major difference. Not only that, they give you the satisfaction of a job well done without requiring you to set aside your entire weekend (and might even help with all that sneezing). 

Upgrading to a smart sprinkler controller like the Rachio 3 is an easy way to avoid throwing money down the drain every time a storm rolls in. Not only does the app-based system automatically skip scheduled waterings during rain, high winds, or freezing temperatures, but it also creates custom schedules based on your soil type, each zone’s sun exposure (it handles up to 8), and the specific plant types it’s watering to minimize waste. With straightforward DIY installation that uses your existing wiring, you can quickly replace your old manual dial and keep your water bill in check.

Get the Rachio smart sprinkler controller at Amazon or The Home Depot, starting at $190.67.

Entryway rugs help contain incoming dirt, dust, and pollen so they don’t end up tracked through the rest of your living space. Perfectly designed for a front door with tight clearance, The Insider is an ultra-thin, ⅛-inch mat featuring an Italian-made jacquard-weave face and a highly absorbent middle layer. Another best seller, The Innerweave, is made in the Netherlands and has a soft, stain-resistant face that rises to a more substantial ⅜ inch. Both have slip-resistant backings and are easy to clean by rinsing or hosing down with cold water and hanging to dry. 

Get the Porte + Hall indoor doormat at Porte + Hall, starting at $67.00.

Even a temporary drought can quickly run up your water bill, but collecting your own rainwater provides a steady, free supply for landscaping. With a capacity of 50 gallons, the FCMP Outdoor Raincatcher 4000 rain barrel is constructed from durable, BPA-free, recycled polyethylene and has a flat back that sits completely flush against your siding. It has a wide, pet-safe aluminum mesh screen that catches heavy storm runoff even if your downspout isn’t perfectly centered and comes ready to expand via side spigots and an included linking kit if you need to connect multiple units.

What our tester says: “In testing, this was one of my personal favorites. All accessories arrived neatly stored inside the barrel, and the included hose attachment felt sturdy and well-made.”—Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the FCMP rain barrel at Amazon, starting at $129.99.

Gas-powered lawn mowers are loud, high-maintenance, and always seem to need refilling before you can get to work, but the Ego Power+ 21” Select Cut battery-powered mower offers gas-level performance without any of that mess. Its brushless motor runs for a full 60 minutes on a single charge of its 56-volt battery, and it features an interchangeable multi-blade system that lets you swap between mulching, high-lift bagging, and extended-runtime blades depending on the conditions. Plus, the pressure-sensitive handlebar control makes it easy to adjust the self-propelled speed as you walk, and there’s one simple lever for switching between its seven cutting heights.

What our tester says: “I’ve tested several generations of Ego Power+ lawn mowers, and this one is the best so far. Not only is it easy to operate, it also cuts incredibly well.” —Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Ego battery-powered mower at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or Northern Tool + Equipment, starting at $524.00.

If your garage has slowly gone from slightly cluttered to borderline unsafe, it’s time to clean things up with some simple storage. In our lineup of the best garage storage systems, Gladiator’s 4-tier freestanding shelving unit garnered worthy attention for its industrial-strength welded-steel construction, which gives it a massive capacity of 8,000 pounds (2,000 per shelf). But don’t assume heavy-duty holding power means heavy-duty assembly, as the Gladiator’s tool-free, snap-and-lock process is so easy you’ll filling its shelves in no time. 

Get the Gladiator shelving unit at The Home Depot for $379.99.

Heating and cooling your home accounts for a massive chunk of your utility bill, which is why switching to a smart thermostat is such an essential spring upgrade. After earning perfect 5/5 scores for installation and setup, ease of use, functionality, and value, the Google Nest Thermostat Gen 4 earned its place as our favorite smart thermostat. This energy-efficient choice can help reduce your energy costs by up to 31%, displays everything from the indoor temperature to animated weather forecasts, and learns your daily habits over time to optimize your heating and cooling schedules. Setup is also incredibly DIY-friendly, requiring no C-wire in most homes (See C-Wire Requirement here for more info).

Get the Google Nest smart thermostat at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart, starting at $229.99.

Not everyone has the DIY know-how (or the space necessary) to install an under-sink reverse osmosis system, which is part of what makes this countertop system from Waterdrop such a major upgrade. From its convenient perch on your kitchen counter, the 7-stage filtration system can reduce impurities like lead, fluoride, and arsenic, delivering bottled-water flavor into a 40-ounce glass pitcher you can store in the refrigerator. Its efficient 3:1 pure-to-drain ratio provides just enough wastewater for household cleaning or watering plants, and you can dispense water in five preset temperatures ranging from room temp up to 203 degrees Fahrenheit.

Get the Waterdrop countertop RO system at Amazon or Waterdrop for $359.00.

Getting a new faucet is one of the quickest ways to elevate the look and functionality of your kitchen. As the top pick in our guide of the best touchless kitchen faucets, the Moen Arbor Motionsense doesn’t just let you turn the water on and off with a simple wave of your hand, it’s also incredibly easy to install and comes at a very competitive price. If anyone in your house prefers a handle, it has one of those as well, alongside a 68-inch pull-down sprayer equipped with a handy pause button. The battery-powered setup requires no under-sink electrical outlets, and its spot-resistant finish repels water marks and smudges so it stays looking pristine.

Read our full review: Moen Arbor Motionsense Wave One-Handle Kitchen Faucet

Get the Moen touchless faucet at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Wayfair, starting at $362.00.

Spending all afternoon under the blazing sun can cut a backyard gathering short, but adding a flexible canopy instantly creates a cooler retreat. Woven from thick, 185 GSM high-density polyethylene fabric, this shade sail from Artpunch blocks up to 95 percent of harmful UV rays to keep the area beneath noticeably cooler. Its breathable weave allows fresh breezes to pass through, and its double-stitched seams and heavy-duty stainless steel D-rings ensure the fabric stays taut under tension. Note this model’s hardware kit for hanging is sold separately, but even with that second purchase, the overall value is excellent.

Get the Artpuch shade sail at Amazon for $27.99.

You may not realize it, but poor indoor air quality could be aggravating your seasonal allergies and making your house feel musty. As our favorite air purifier for large rooms, this whole-home model from Sans can clear the air in spaces up to 1,854 square feet in only an hour using a medical-grade HEPA 13 filter, an activated carbon layer, and an optional UV-C sanitizing light. It features a touchscreen display that shows real-time pollution levels, and the fan automatically ramps up when it detects pet dander or kitchen smoke. The portable 11-pound design also includes a unique, fold-flat handle that makes it incredibly easy to carry between rooms, providing targeted filtration wherever you need it.

Read our full review: Sans Whole Home Air Purifier

What our tester says: “After testing more than 20 air purifiers, the Sans is still one of my favorites. I love the combo of a medical-grade HEPA filter and germ-killing UV-C light, and its light weight and handle make it easy to move wherever I need it.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer 

Get the Sans air purifier at Amazon or Sans, starting at $369.99.

If the sun bakes your home every afternoon, adding insulating coverings like these attractive Windowsandgarden cordless cellular shades is an easy way to block out a bit of that heat. Their honeycomb design acts as a thermal barrier, sealing in air conditioning or cool overnight temps while softening harsh daylight, and their top-down, bottom-up design means you can let in a little natural light up top while keeping the lower portion in place for privacy. Because the entire adjustment system is hidden inside the polyester fabric, their completely cordless profile is safe for use in homes with kids or pets.

Get the Windowsandgarden cellular shades at Amazon, starting at $57.77.

At this point, your decades-old ceiling fans aren’t just outdated and noisy, they’re probably also not doing much to keep your home comfortable as summer sets in. More modern options, like the Sofucor smart ceiling fan, use highly efficient DC motors that are as quiet as they are cooling. Delivering an impressive 5,000 CFM of airflow across six speeds, you can control it via the included remote, a companion app, or voice commands (Alexa or Google Assistant). Its curved blades also feature a moisture-resistant finish, making it just as compatible with indoor living areas and covered outdoor patios. 

Get the Sofucor smart ceiling fan at Amazon, starting at $135.59.

Your car unlocks as soon as you touch your door handle, and your garage has a keypad your family uses to come and go, so why are you still relying on a manual key to get in and out of your front door? Upgrading to the Eufy C33, our pick for the best keyless door lock, brings that convenience to your main entryway with a user-friendly design that installs in less than 15 minutes. In our tests, the feature that put it over the top was the fingerprint reader, which sits right on the handle where your thumb naturally rests instead of some awkward location you have to fumble to find. You can also grant entry using the keypad or the companion app, which lets you set up multiple user profiles and receive notifications anywhere.

What our tester says: “This was easily the best keyless lock I tested. Installation was incredibly straightforward, and I’ve never had a single issue after using it for over 2 weeks. Definitely a keeper.”—Paul Rankin, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Eufy C33 keyless door lock at Amazon, Best Buy, or Eufy, starting at $129.99.

 

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