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33 Things That Are Both Practical *And* Fun Because You Deserve The Best Of Both Worlds
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. Yes, that includes a Godzilla microwave cleaner and Totoro lotion bar. If you love practical and fun products that make life a little more delightful, you’re in for a good scroll. Ahead, you’ll find useful everyday gadgets and whimsical home essentials — from quirky tea infusers to cute desk accessories, and peel-off face masks to smart storage solutions. These picks prove functional items don’t have to be boring, and reviewers say they can make your daily routine feel a lot more fun. ✨ Promising review: "I am OBSESSED with this cutting board. It is made so well and looks so expensive. Every time I have guests, I will use it as serving tray or display for charcuterie and I always get compliments on it." —Lorrin Farrell Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes). Promising review: "These are hilarious and will make the perfect stocking stuffer! I didn't realize they were textured with little pickle bumps until I got them. Excellent!" —Christina Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in packs of 24, 50, and 300 and 19 designs). Promising review: "These were too cute to pass up! They hold my place perfectly in my book. They are more rubbery than plastic, so they grip the pages well to stay in place." —Stephanie L. PS: They come from small biz Bruun Beauty! Promising review: "I love these masks so much! They’re just like what you’d pay a lot more for in a salon. My skin feels amazing after using them. The consistency is great and peels off really easily. Anyone who has issues with the consistency may be using too much water or too thin a layer. I slather it on Mrs. Doubtfire style!" —Courtney Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $28.95+ (available in 18 styles). Promising review: "Perfect size, perfect colors, and good quality! Looks so pretty in my bathroom!! ❤️" —bluesjazz Jiro Soap is a Canadian company that aims to "turn your daily routine into a celebration." To use, warm the bar in your hands and swipe it over dry spots. Keep it somewhere cool to avoid melting. Promising review: "The [Totoro] smells aMAAAzing! I was greeted immediately with the freshest, citrusy lime scent upon opening the container. Packaging was super cute, and I'm looking forward to getting a new one when this one finishes. 🤗😍" —Dayna Get it from Jiro Soap on Etsy for $10.72 (available in two shapes and five scents). Promising review: "These are 100% charming. I'm in love with them, and they are everything and more than I hoped for. The quality and craftsmanship are outstanding. The gold thread is interwoven so that they glimmer from the outdoor view. A breezy, relaxing atmosphere enhancement. BUY THEM! DO IT! Light, sheer, easy to hang, perfect weight. Fit perfectly with my desired atmosphere." —DClark Get it from Amazon for $42+ (available in four sizes and five colors). PS: These come from small biz Earth & Home. Promising review: "I purchased this for my adult daughter’s birthday. As you probably know, they are hard to shop for. The look in her eyes when she opened the package said it all. She also said it was so beautiful that she might use it as bathroom decor. This is elegance in the soap world." —Jus Sheryl Get them from Amazon for $20.95+ (available in four scent combinations). Reviewers are split on the size — the opening measures 3.2 inches wide, and it can hold drinks up to 6.5 ounces. Promising review: "I bought this completely on a whim, and it was totally worth it. Adorable cup, a lot bigger than I expected it to be! I haven't put anything in it yet, so I can't say whether or not it stains, but it's still very cute regardless." —AEL Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in five colors). Promising review: "I absolutely adore these!!! They are so cute and definitely do the job! They keep the surface free from water rings and make me giggle!" —johnny williams Get a set of six from Amazon for $5.99. Promising reviews: "In the world of faux fire appliances, this one is fun and unique. It’s my own personal-sized mini fireplace! I’ve had it nearly a month and used the heat function just once, to warm my bathroom. Being an electricity miser, I used it on low, and it did an OK job. But I didn’t buy this little guy for heat. Since getting it, I’ve used it every day because I enjoy the look of the flames and the crackling sound. I even turn it on at bedtime because it puts off a comforting glow, and as someone who wakes often, it works as a perfect source of cozy light that eliminates toe-stubbing but won’t wake you up." —cooee "I use this heater in my studio, and it heats up the space fairly quickly. It’s pretty quiet unless you would like the crackling fire sound to be on, which is fun. You can also independently turn the flames on or off. The handle is nice to have also, to carry it from room to room, as I need it. I would buy it again." —Daisy Promising review: "Followed instructions for use and had great results cleaning a nightmare of a mess from baked-on chili in the microwave." —Rj Promising review: "I love the uniqueness of these watering tools! They sparkle subtly in the sunshine and provide me with the peace that I can go a few days without watering! Well designed, and I would buy from this seller again!" —Laura Get a set of two from Amazon for $11.99. Dryer balls are eco-friendly *and* budget-friendly because you can use them over and over. Friendsheep is a small business that sells dryer balls handmade by women in Kathmandu, Nepal. Promising review: "Soot sprites that help with laundry! They’re incredible and bring joy to an otherwise dull chore. They work really well, last a long time, and I swear they make my clothes softer somehow. Less static, too! I used to always have static with dryer sheets, but not with these. I have sensitive skin, and these don’t leave any weird films or scents on my clothes." —Kristin Murison | Mermaid Kristin Sparkle Get a pack of three from Amazon for $21 (also available in five other styles). Promising review: "The color of these books is actually more vivid and beautiful in person. I’m thrilled with how it looks on the shelf — plus, it’s a very good hiding spot. I would 100% recommend these for anyone looking to add color to your home." —elishiva Get a set of four from Amazon for $29.99. Promising review: "Love this little guy, and he gets a giggle out of my coworkers. Works perfectly and cleans super easily. Can hold larger amounts of tea too, and if you have tea that can be steeped several times, just put him in a container in the fridge and re-steep for the next cup." —Codi Promising review: "This teapot is so cute and amazing. It feels very well made, is sturdy, and keeps your tea hot. The Moomin motif is amazing. I really love this teapot." —Jonathan Get it from Amazon for $37.31+ (available in two styles). Promising review: "I thought this product was so cute and unique, I had to purchase it for my mom. I don't think they are really made for serious cleaning — just occasional cup or spoon cleaning — but they are SO adorable and fun." —AllieClaire Get a set of four from Amazon for $13.44 (also available in three other designs). Promising review: "You NEED this. This product is AMAZING. When I run errands, I hate bringing both a water bottle and a coffee tumbler. This product solves that issue. I ran it through my dishwasher to clean it, and the plastic didn’t morph at all. 10/10 recommend!" —Megan Huffman Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two colors). Peter Pauper Press is a family-owned small business founded in 1928. Promising review: "I am absolutely in love. I have always struggled with being overwhelmed by to-do lists (both having them in my mind and making them). This cute, fun design makes that task less daunting and easier thanks to its organization. It lets me divide tasks into immediate needs and tasks to do eventually, and it gives me a space for appointments and reminders to call people. I also thoroughly enjoy the mood marker and the 'how was your day' section, as they help me track my mood. I absolutely adore this, and it will be a positive permanent addition to my life." —River Promising review: "The chopsticks are very durable, and the glow is bright. They're a bit bigger than I expected — but very pleased nonetheless with the product because it serves the purpose and is entertaining for kids, right up to adult Star Wars nerds. It also made the perfect gift for my fellow Star Wars nerds. I've been too busy playing with them rather than using them to eat food — but hopefully that will eventually happen before the batteries need changing." —Anthony Get a set of two from Amazon for $16.97. Promising review: "I’ve used a lot of different hydrocolloid acne patches with varying results, but so far these are the only ones that seem to actually resolve the zit in a day or two. Others have irritated my skin, or are difficult to remove and pull at my skin; these don’t do any of that. They stick quite well, but come off without a problem when I’m ready. They are cute too, and I like that I can’t see the gunk it pulls from the outside of the sticker." —ML Get a pack of 72 from Amazon for $16.49. The set includes four forks, knives, tablespoons, and teaspoons — all are dishwasher-safe. Promising reviews: "I love love love these! The colors are awesome. They are sturdy. And they look great on the countertop." —Alice A. Holt "I love the way these look in the drawer. After several runs through the dishwasher, they’re still bright and new-looking." —Stuff Buyer Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (also available in nine other styles). Promising review: "Have I become a salt snob? I asked for a marble salt box for Valentines Day, and I couldn't very well put common table salt inside such a beautiful thing, could I? No. I did a bit of research and found out that Maldon's Sea Salt flakes are the gold standard... even better than the pink salt I bought at the big box store that rhymes with Bosco! This salt's texture is a delight and the flavor is clean and bright (without being sharp). This is a little luxury in my kitchen, and every time I use it, I'm like, 'Dang. This is the good life!'" —Indiana A. Get a box it from Amazon for $5.99 (also available in smoked salt, and in a beautiful almost 50-ounce bucket with the same design). This winds up and times up to 60 minutes, ending in a loud buzzer. Reviewers also use it to help time themselves with work tasks and studying. Promising review: "This is whimsical and fun; my kids love it. I tell them their dinner comes from a fairy mushroom forest. 😋 Works great, keeps my little monsters in line — 'Dad, the mushroom went off.' Love it." —Vik V Get it from Amazon for $7.59 (available in four colors). Promising review: "I use these as subtle couch protectors so the corgi can get on the couch and not have her hair embedded in the fabric. They are super cute, which normally I don’t go for, but the ivory color is subtle enough — it doesn’t look like a pet blanket. She immediately loved it. I’ve now purchased a few, so I can have one on the couch while I wash the others. The product is high quality; it’s not super thin, like a lot of pet blankets come through once delivered. And also not so thick that it makes washing difficult. Definitely recommend." —SD Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five sizes and 15 colors). The birria bombs are made with arbol, ancho, and guajillo and make enough broth for 5–7 people. Reviewers say to use beef broth instead of water for a bigger punch of flavor. Promising review: "Cooking the birria was super simple: just meat, water, and bombs. Sooo tasty. Better than the ones from our local restaurants. I cooked it range top and did have to add additional water to ensure enough consomme, but so worth it." —Justin Get two balls from Amazon for $15.98 (also available in three other flavors). A slider at the top of the refillable pen lets you control the level of smell. According to Johns Hopkins, you may want to avoid diffusing oils around larger groups and young children because of potential side effects. You may also want to avoid using an oil diffuser around pets with breathing problems, according to the ASPCA. Promising review: "I bought two pens for my daughter and her roommate during midterms for something fun. They loved them! They said all the scents were amazing, and the pen writes really well! Now I have to buy one for myself! Great little gift idea for the upcoming holidays or just because!" —Dana Lynne Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in 13 scents and multipacks). Promising review: "Perfect for the car!!! I put one on the driver's door where I don’t usually store anything, and they're very easy to reach and dispense." — Florencia Get a pack of four from Amazon for $13.44. Promising review: "I love this couch cup holder tray. I made a small, portable office in my bedroom. I often work from the bed so I can keep my feet raised to prevent my ankles from swelling. I put the couch cup holder tray on the bed next to me and kept the TV remote, my tablet, my drink, and other items in it for easy access. I moved all over to see if the tray would tip, but no tipping occurred. (Note: I have a firm memory foam mattress). It is sturdy, easy to clean, and doesn’t tip over when you move around. Because of its size, you can use it anywhere…like on the couch or when you are outside sunbathing or working on the deck/porch. It is a good buy for the price!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five colors). Promising review: "Never thought something analog would be SO useful in my daily routine. I work from home and am constantly project managing many complex strategic projects. Having pertinent information directly in front of me and top of mind has done incredible things for my productivity. Never would have imagined it would make such a difference. For a nominal investment, I highly recommend it if you have trouble keeping up with things." —Captainflapjax Get it from Amazon for $23.69+ (available in five styles). Promising review: "It's beautiful! 😍 I'm so happy. I used it as soon as I got it open and it works like a dream. It is very sturdy, and I love the little crook at the end of the stem/handle. It's so cute. 🥰 I'm so glad I bought this for my bathroom. It really adds an adorable touch to my bathroom decor, and it had a purpose, so it's even better!! A+++ 🍒" —BumbleBee Promising review: "This product is a little smaller than I was expecting, but it is still very comfortable. I spend a lot of my time sitting on the computer, but don't have a legitimate desk chair, and this has definitely been a breath of fresh air for my rather unforgiving wooden kitchen chairs. Plus, I was looking for something cute and fun to bring some more color to my apartment, and this adorable duck definitely accomplishes that. I think it would be extra perfect for kids, too!" —Claire Rorick BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Chelsea Stuart is a Market Editor on the BuzzFeed Shopping team who covers a little bit of everything, including home decor, travel, fashion, skincare, and pet products. When she's not working on BF content, she's hanging out with her bonded cats, marathoning reality TV, and making her next travel plans. Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.