For those of us who want our decor to look like a million bucks but don’t have the cash, Alsa’s FXSheeting may be the answer to our prayers. Made from sheets of metal bonded to Lexan plastic (the same stuff used in iPods and Nalgene bottles), FXSheeting can quickly give the look of brushed metal, carbon fiber, and even solid wood to just about any surface. The results are so smooth that I had to do a double take on the dining table above–yes, those are copper sheeted placemats you see.

Installation is incredibly painless: just peel and stick. Generally available in 24″ to 36″ rolls, the sheeting requires little more than a smooth surface to deliver beautiful results. The before-and-afters above really drive home the incredible difference this ultra-specialized contact paper can make. Above: I love the plain-jane countertop converted into a stainless steel surface (without the heft) and the carbon-fiber/stainless steel jewelry box.

My top pick goes to the beautifully-finished brushed brass nesting tables – in fact, I think the larger one was previously a $20 Ikea coffee table. If you’d like to get a taste of what FXSheeting has to offer, consider ordering their sample pack. At $79, you get 13 varieties of their most popular surfaces in 6″ x 12″ sheets – good enough for a few test runs!
$12-$15/sq.ft., alsacorp.com