There’s always something special about a new car. The shiny exterior, the fresh scent—but what if you could create the same feeling without buying a new car? With just a little time, creativity, and effort, you can turn your ride into something that feels as good as new!
If you want to add some interior upgrades to your car, you don’t need a dealership or some kind of professional help; some genius DIY tricks can make your ride feel as new without spending too much money.
We gathered these 10 DIY car interior upgrades that will improve both the look and the feel of your car. Whether you’re looking for practical upgrades, better organization, or even something to personalize your ride, you’ll find some great options in our list. Let’s dive in!
1. Install a Custom Steering Wheel Cover
The steering wheel is one of the most used parts of your car, so why not make it feel a little more luxurious? A custom steering wheel cover can improve both the aesthetics and comfort of your ride.
This is one of the interior upgrades that is really easy to make because you can choose from a variety of materials, like leather, suede, or even fabric, in a wide range of colors and patterns. If you want to go further, you can look for a cover that has stitching that matches your car’s interior or go for a sporty, racing-inspired design.
Installing a steering wheel cover is a simple task because many of them are designed to slide over your wheel and fit perfectly. The most challenging part is making sure it is centered and aligned properly.
2. Install LED Interior Lighting
LED lighting can completely change the ambiance in your car. Whether you want a relaxing vibe for nighttime drives or a more vibrant, colorful look, LED strips are cheap and easy to install. You can glue them under the dashboard, along your doors, or even in the cupholders.
Many LED light kits come with adhesive, making them easy to install. Simply clean the place where you want to install them, and then stick the lights in place. You can change the color and intensity with a remote or an app, depending on the kit.
This is not only one of the best-looking interior upgrades, but also one that is really functional because the LED lights will provide extra visibility during late-night drives.
3. Upgrade the Seat Covers
One of the quickest interior upgrades you can make to give your car a fresh look is to replace your seat covers. Even if you’re dealing with old, worn-out fabric or just want to add a personal touch, there are plenty of affordable options. The seat covers come in a wide variety of materials, like leather, faux leather, neoprene, or different fabrics, and allow you to choose what you like best and what fits your budget.
Installing seat covers is not complicated due to the fact that most options are designed to easily fit your car’s seats with minimal effort. Just make sure that you choose a design that fits with the rest of your car.
If you want to add more comfort to your seats, buy some seat cushions. Memory foam or gel seat cushions can help make your seat more ergonomic and pleasant.
4. Personalize the Seat Belt Covers
Another entry on our list of interior upgrades is to add some personality to your car by upgrading the seat belt covers. These small accessories come in a variety of colors, patterns, designs, and materials and can make your car feel more personalized and stylish. You can look for seat belt covers that have a different stitching that could make your ride look more like a racing car.
.
Seat belt covers are easy to install, as most of them simply slide over the existing seat belts. You can even make your own covers using soft fabric or faux leather.
5. Add Custom Floor Mats
Floor mats do more than just protect your car’s interior; they are also a fun and customizable design element. You can choose from a wide variety of custom floor mats that match your car’s interior, from classic carpet mats to all-weather rubber mats. If you don’t want to spend too much money, buy plain mats and personalize them yourself.
If you’re feeling inspired, use fabric paint or some markers to create custom designs, logos, or monograms imprinted on your floor mats.
6. Install a Smartphone Mount or Wireless Charger
Nowadays, our smartphones are basically extensions of ourselves, so instead of fumbling around for your phone while driving, you should install a smartphone mount. It will keep your device within reach and will allow you to easily follow GPS directions or take calls hands-free.
If you’re always on the go, you might also want to add a wireless charger so your phone will always be charged. Many new cars come with built-in wireless chargers, but it’s an easy DIY upgrade for older cars.
Smartphone mounts come in different styles, including dashboard mounts, air vent mounts, and even ones that attach to your windshield. You should go for one that suits your driving style and space preferences.
7. Replace Worn-out Door Panels
Over time, the door panels inside your car will start to look worn-out or damaged. One of the interior upgrades that you can make to resolve this issue is to use materials like faux leather or fabric to give your door panels a new and fresh look.
Use a strong adhesive to glue the fabric that you chose to the door panels. This upgrade can improve the look of your car’s interior without needing an expensive replacement.
8. Upgrade the Interior Trim
Another entry on our interior upgrades refers to the small trim pieces inside your car. The door handles, gear shift, and air vents can often look dated and worn. An easy upgrade is to replace or refresh these elements with sleek and modern designs.
Vinyl wraps or spray paints that are especially designed for automotive trim are affordable and come in a range of finishes like chrome, carbon fiber, or matte. When you do this, be sure to clean the areas where you want to apply the paint or wrap beforehand.
9. Create a Custom Console Organizer
Your center console can easily become a dumping ground for everything from coins to pens to phone chargers. You can use that space and make it more functional if you choose to make a simple DIY organizer to keep all of your things in one place.
Use cheap materials like foam board or felt to create dividers that fit inside your console. You can even add small compartments for items like pens, gum, or sunglasses. Not only will this make your console more organized, but it will also save you time when searching for different things.
10. Soundproof your car
The last idea on our interior upgrades list is to soundproof your car. If you’ve ever driven on a busy road or highway, you know how distracting loud sounds can be. Soundproofing your car is actually a fairly easy DIY project that has big results.
You can buy soundproofing mats or foam insulation that you can apply to some parts of your car’s interior, like the doors, floorboards, or roof. These materials will reduce road noise and make your drive more relaxing.
If you’re looking to buy a new car, maybe you should check out: The Safest Cars of All Time
