There are many ways to make plain cupcakes look fancy without much effort. One simple method is to dress them up with colorful liners or baking cups that complement your theme or event. This adds an instant pop of color and visual appeal to the cupcakes before they're even frosted. Furthermore, consider creating visually interesting patterns using different flavors of frosting on each cupcake; swirls or ombre designs are easily achievable by using multiple shades of the same color or contrasting colors in a cohesive palette. Additionally, you can instantly elevate the appearance of plain cupcakes by adding texture through various toppings like chopped nuts, shredded coconut, cookie crumbs, grated chocolate curls - these not only provide visual interest but also add different flavor and texture dimensions to your cupcakes. Finally, using a piping bag with a decorative tip allows you to create easy yet elegant designs such as rosettes, ruffles, or simple swirls.