Let’s face it: in a lot of ways, your car is basically your second home. If you’re a commuter or an avid road tripper, your car is one of the top 3 places you spend most of your time. So why not treat it with more importance? A car is a reflection of you and your personality, so what better way to make it shine than to deck it out to your own liking? Here are 20 easy and fun ways to deck out your car.
1. Rim Enhancements
There’s nothing more bland than factory rims. If you really want to give your car a facelift, then you should seriously consider getting some custom rims (or rim covers). Find a style that compliments your car’s aesthetic and the look you’re going for and you’ll be one step closer to having the ride of your dreams.
2. LED Light Strips
Inexpensive and easy to install, LED lights are all the rage for people looking to give their space a futuristic glow. With a plethora of options to adjust colour and brightness, LED lights are the perfect addition to effortlessly set the right mood and ambiance for your car.
3. Funky Seat Covers
Don’t just stick to the basic seat designs that came with the car — especially when there’s so many options out there. Swap out those generic seat covers for something a little more exciting that truly expresses your desired look and feel.
4. Steering Wheel Cover
Steering wheel covers are not only a great way to hide boring or worn-in steering wheels, they also allow you to get a little more creative with the interior of your car. Leather, suede, or ever fluffy — it doesn’t matter what you go with, as long as it reflects your personality.
5. Dashboard Bobbleheads
Whether it's your desk or dashboard, bobbleheads are a great way to show the world what you’re into. From sports to fictional characters, there’s a bobblehead out there from pretty much anything you can think of just waiting to be your dashboard buddy.
6. Themed Air Fresheners
Customization or not, an air freshener is always a welcome sight — particularly in a car that you spend a lot of time in. But that doesn’t mean you have to stick to the standard pine tree air freshener. Have fun with it and look for a scent and shape that truly matches your personality.
Rowanswiki on Wikimedia Commons
7. Custom Horn Sounds
No one likes the sound of honking — not even the person honking. So why not spruce it up a bit with a funny or memorable sound effect/tune? With so many options to choose from, this is the perfect way to customize a car to your liking. Just try to be a little more creative than “La Cucaracha”.
8. Personalized License Plate
Yes, they’re obnoxious — but who cares? This is about decking out your car to your specifications, it's not about what other people think. So have fun with it and make a personalized statement with your license plate.
9. Vehicle Wraps
In addition to protecting the original finish of your car, vehicle wraps are a great way to let your personality shine with a colour or pattern of your choice. It’s more durable than paint and it is a lot easier to change if you want to try something new. A big change with a not-so-big commitment — what's not to like?
10. Roof Rack & Accessories
Roof racks are the perfect way to not only accentuate the storage and utility of your vehicle, but they’re also great at showcasing your interests and personality to the world. By adding a bike mount or kayak holder, you're taking the ultimate step to turning your car into a fully-fledged adventure rig fit for a true outdoorsman.
11. Sound System Upgrade
Customizing your car doesn’t have to be limited to what you can see. A great way to elevate the feel of your ride is to invest in a proper sound system. Ditch the factory speakers and give your car some new flare with a top-notch sound system to bump your tunes.
12. Custom Decals and Stickers
Decals and stickers are a great way to jazz up your ride with little to no effort. Although an eye sore if not done correctly, decals and bumper sticks are easy to remove and can be done right with proper consideration. They serve as a great way to showcase your hobbies and interests to the world with little to no commitment.
13. Undercar Lighting
If it worked for the cast of the first few Fast and Furious movies, then it'll work for you! With under-car LED lighting, you can add some dramatic flair to your car in the most early 2000's way possible. Sure, it might be a little too ostentatious for some tastes, but that's kind of the point — it'll have your car looking like no other and truly stand out amonst the rest.
Photo by Patrik Storm (Alstra Pictures)
14. Custom Floor Mats
The easiest and most cost-effective way to spruce up your car’s tired interior is to add some custom floor mats. With a variety of materials, logos, patterns, and even monograms to choose from, the sky's the limit when it comes to how you want to bolster your floor mat game.
EVACARMAT on Wikimedia Commons
15. Performance Boosters
Two birds with one stone: increased performance and aesthetic. By enhancing your car’s performance with upgrades to the air intake, exhaust system, or even chip tuning, you’ll not only give yourself a car that feels faster and more responsive, but that looks a lot cooler too!
16. Window Tinting
What better way to give your car a much-needed boost in style while also providing you with greater privacy? Choose the perfect shade to accentuate your aesthetic and fit your needs — just be mindful of local laws in your area regarding tint levels.
17. Rearview Mirror Charms
Add some flare to your ride with a simple rearview mirror charm. Whether it’s beads, charms, small plush toys, or a photo of something meaningful to you, a mirror charm is the perfect way to add some personalized pizzazz to your interior.
18. Dashboard Wraps
Just because default dashboards are plain and boring doesn’t mean you have to settle. The best way to bring out the most in your dashboard is with a paint job or simple vinyl wraps. Whether it’s a matte finish or an elegant carbon fiber design, a dashboard touch-up may be just what you need to get your car looking the way you’ve always wanted it to.
19. Custom Shift Knob
You know the trope, you’ve seen it in all the movies: the character with the signature shift knob. From the classic eight-ball to a skull, or even a joystick, there’s really no limit to how you can customize the shift knob to perfectly fit your needs and specifications.
20. Sunroof Decals
Sunroof decals are a fun little way to accentuate both the interior and exterior of your car with relatively low effort. They’re a great way to add a little visual flare to your commute and come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and patterns.
