BuzzFeed '36 subtle DIY upgrades' list shared

BuzzFeed published a new home-shopping roundup on May 17 built around small, low-lift home upgrades rather than full renovations. The post, written by BuzzFeed staff writer Courtney Lynch, was titled “36 Subtle And Simple DIY Upgrades That’ll Still Impact Your Home In A Big Way,” according to the article page. The list was filed in BuzzFeed’s Shopping/Home section and framed as a set of incremental changes that could alter a room’s look or function without major construction. The piece also carried BuzzFeed’s standard disclosure that the company and publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from links on the page. ### What exactly did BuzzFeed publish? BuzzFeed’s article was a 36-item product listicle that paired design suggestions with purchase links and short descriptions of how each item could change a space. The page said the piece was “Posted 1 hour ago” when it was indexed, and identified Lynch as the author. BuzzFeed’s page described the premise as proof that readers “don’t have to break your back for home improvements,” a line that set the scope of the roundup as cosmetic and practical upgrades rather than structural projects. (buzzfeed.com) Courtney Lynch’s byline note on the page said she had spent the last three years as a Shopping Writer at BuzzFeed covering home, organization, personal care and other consumer categories. That positioning placed the article within BuzzFeed’s commerce-driven editorial model, where staff-selected products are presented as recommendations and linked to retailers. (buzzfeed.com) ### Which products were featured first? The first items on the list were specific, relatively inexpensive decor and utility products. Item No. 1 was a 3D-printed switchplate cover sold through Etsy seller Shape by Shake, which BuzzFeed described as a Texas-based small business. Item No. 2 was removable prismatic window film, with the page listing a starting price of $8.99 and presenting it as a privacy and light-filtering upgrade. (buzzfeed.com) Item No. 3 was a velvet slipcover for an older couch, pitched as a way to change the look of a sofa without replacing it. The article also embedded retailer references and user reviews directly into the copy. BuzzFeed included quoted customer comments for the switchplate cover and the window film, and attached availability details such as color options, configurations and size ranges. Those details are typical of affiliate-commerce posts designed to help readers move from browsing to purchase on the same page. (buzzfeed.com) ### How was the piece monetized? BuzzFeed’s page said each product was independently chosen by editors, while also stating that BuzzFeed and publishing partners “may collect a share of sales or other compensation” from links on the page. That disclosure is standard language for affiliate-commerce content, where publishers earn fees tied to referred purchases. (buzzfeed.com) BuzzFeed’s broader business has leaned on commerce and shopping coverage as it works through financial pressure. The company said in a May 11 announcement about a proposed majority investment by Byron Allen’s family office that it planned significant changes including cost reductions, while continuing to operate brands including BuzzFeed and HuffPost. Market coverage and company materials in recent days have also pointed to shopping and affiliate revenue as an important part of the company’s model. (buzzfeed.com) ### Why does this fit BuzzFeed’s recent coverage mix? Late-May lifestyle coverage across publishers has included similar “small project” and “budget impact” home content. Search results this week showed Good Housekeeping surfacing DIY and decorating material through its home and ideas channels, while other shelter and home-improvement publishers were also promoting low-cost upgrade lists. Within that landscape, BuzzFeed’s 36-item roundup matched a familiar seasonal format: quick weekend-scale updates, product links and price-forward recommendations. (lasvegassun.com) The BuzzFeed piece also arrived as the company remained in a period of corporate change. BuzzFeed announced on May 11 that Allen Family Digital would acquire 40 million shares at $3.00 per share for a total purchase price of $120 million, with the transaction expected to close by the end of May 2026, subject to customary conditions. (goodhousekeeping.com) ### Where can readers find it now? The article was available on BuzzFeed’s site under the Shopping/Home label and under Lynch’s byline as of May 18. The page URL referenced “subtle-simple-diy-home-upgrades,” and the article displayed the full 36-item list on a single page when indexed. BuzzFeed’s disclosure and product-link format remained visible on the live version returned in search. (lasvegassun.com) By the end of May 2026, BuzzFeed is also expected to complete the Byron Allen investment transaction it announced on May 11, according to the company’s statement, while its shopping and home coverage remains live on the site. (lasvegassun.com) (buzzfeed.com)