33 Things That Are Both Practical *And* Fun Because You Deserve The Best Of Both Worlds

Buzz Feed

01-03-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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Hannah Montana was not singing about pickle bandages and gemstone soap in her theme song...but maybe she should have...
1. A cool checkered cutting board you'll want to buy for aesthetics alone — but this piece isn't just a looker. It has deep grooves to catch juices, hidden handles on the bottom, and rubber anti-skid pads.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
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).
2. A pack of food-themed bandages to make injuries feel a little more bearable. After all, who could stay upset while wearing a pickle or pizza slice on their arm? Not me.
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).
3. A sleek electric fireplace that looks like something out of a modern sci-fi show where everything is spooky-chic midcentury (Severance, Homecoming, etc). The minimalist space heater has three warmth settings, auto mode, overheat protection, and 3D faux flames.
www.amazon.com
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
Get it from Amazon for $72.99.
4. A pair of silicone frond leaf bookmarks you have to admit are a lot cuter than a crumpled pharmacy receipt. You can even shove one in the middle of the page if you wanna be super specific about where you left off.
Amazon
Get them from Amazon for $8.
5. A sardine tin cosmetic bag because why should fish corner the market on cute packaging? Now your makeup, credit cards, or random baubles can enjoy the Fishwife treatment with an adorable-looking home.
Amazon
Promising review: "Spacious. I love this little pouch; it's so cute and even bigger than I thought it'd be." — Sarah R.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in 10 colors).
6. A set of 10 peel-off jelly masks so you can feel like a frosted dessert during your next self-care session. The electrolyte-infused hydro masks come in styles like lavender, hyaluronic acid, tea tree, and chamomile and work to hydrate, soothe, and balance your pH level.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
These masks start out as powder and form into a jelly consistency once you add water.
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 of a layer. I slather it on Mrs. Doubtfire style!" — Courtney
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $32.95+ (available in 18 styles).
7. A set of vinyl coasters offering a retro (and super cute) way to protect your furniture from condensation. Guests that actually want to use a coaster? How the turntables.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $4.99.
8. A fuzzy pet blanket in a sweet heart design so your snuggle-obsessed pal can get warm and cuddly without coating your favorite throw in fur. The fleece blanket is easy to wash and cute enough to cover your furniture (in case you're looking to protect some investments).
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).
9. A soap dispenser that can save you money and cut down on waste (when you invest in a Costco-sized bottle of hand soap to refill it), sure. But more importantly: It's shaped like a leopard.
10. A solid lotion bar shaped like Totoro or Rilakkuma that's so cute, you may never actually use it. But you should because the almond butter-based lotion will make your skin feel softer than the Catbus. (I just assume a furry bus would be super soft?)
To use, warm the bar in your hands and swipe it over dry spots. Keep it somewhere cool to avoid melting. Jiro Soap is a Canadian company that aims to "turn your daily routine into a celebration."
Promising review: "The [Totoro] smells aMAAAzing! I was immediately greeted 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 $10.25 (available in two shapes and five scents).
11. An ornate curtain set for people who still sagely follow the old Portlandia adage: put a bird on it! There are sheer and peek-a-boo styles you can layer together for a bird decor extravaganza. Curtains don't have to be boring and birdless.
Promising review: "These are 100% charm. 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 in so 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 $41.93+ (available in four sizes and eight colors).
12. A pair of aromatherapy gemstone soaps sure to make your guests' bathroom experience seriously rock. Dad jokes aside, these soaps come in amazing fragrances (think: lavender, lemongrass, sandalwood, etc.) and have real crystals inside, like amethyst and tiger eye.
Amazon
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 $21.95+ (available in four styles).
13. A pretty tea cup set that looks like your mug is floating on a cloud. How delicate! How dreamy! Untethered and unbothered! Am I envious of a teacup right now? Time to whip up a cuppa and watch the leaves falling outside.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 $18.98 (available in five colors).
14. A bear-y nice under-eye stick formulated with skincare darling niacinamide, along with soothing Icelandic mineral water and seaweed extract, to soothe puffiness and dark circles. If a beauty item isn't shaped like an animal, is it even worth getting?
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Saw this in a BuzzFeed article and was intrigued. The blurb was interesting, and the reviews were correct: this helps my tired eyes with just a swipe under each eye. My puffy eyes aren't so puffy, and my face feels less tense. I keep it in the refrigerator, too, which adds to the cooling effect. I also swipe it over my eyelids, which relaxed me before bed. Will definitely purchase again." — S. B.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in three styles and multipacks).
15. A cutie pie planner to help you be a busy bee, or more likely a take-it-slow sloth. There's room for appointments, errands, and people to contact...all in due time.
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 with 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 how it's organized. It lets me divide tasks up into immediate needs and tasks to do eventually, as well as gives me a space for appointments and reminders for calling people. I also thoroughly enjoy the mood marker and the 'how was your day' section, as it also helps me track my mood. I absolutely adore this, and it will be a positive permanent addition to my life." — River
Get it from Amazon for $5.95.
16. A birria bomb — a delicious spin on the bath bomb. Dunk one of these spice balls into a pressure cooker with meat and water for a comforting consomme ready for dipping. In a way, these really are bath bombs, but for tacos and quesadillas.
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 $19.99.
17. A Godzilla microwave cleaner that shoots out cleansing steam instead of lasers. Not as cool, but definitely more helpful. Just fill the silicone tool up with water and vinegar, microwave it, and then marvel at how you found a cleaning supply that's actually fun.
Amazon
Promising review: "Followed instructions for use and had great results cleaning a nightmare of a mess from baked-on chili in the microwave." — Rj
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
18. A disco ball watering globe to make your plant feel like they're at their own personal dance party. It'll keep your plant hydrated between watering sessions and, when the sun hits just right, create a fun light show in your home. That's a lot of benefits from what seemed like an impractical purchase at first. 🤔
www.amazon.com
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 $24.99.
19. Soot sprite dryer balls that'll look sooo cute bouncing around in your dryer. Besides being adorable, they could reduce drying time, prevent wrinkles, and soften clothes, all without coating your stuff in a waxy residue like dryer sheets do.
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: "These are so incredibly cute! I love that they look like soot sprites! I used them today and noticed a significant decrease in drying time. No static, and able to be scented with essential oils. A great alternative to polyester, single-use dryer sheets." — Daria
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $18 (also available in nine other styles).
20. A set of travel "books" inspired by the Assouline travel series that open up to reveal secret compartments for all your most precious belongings. Whether you're hiding a diary or just trying to declutter your coffee table, you'll love having some extra storage space.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
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 $27.99.
21. A Grim Steeper silicone tea infuser that doubles as a useful reminder to people not to bother you until you're done with your morning cuppa.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 multiple times, just put him in a container in the fridge and re-steep for the next cup." — Codi
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
22. Mrs. Meyer's multi-surface spray in a seasonal scent (fresh cut grass! dandelion! tomato vine!!!!!!!) to make your home not only spotless, but incredible smelling as well. I've never met a Mrs. Meyers fragrance I didn't like, and I have to say they really knocked it out of the park with these.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Sadly, the fresh-cut grass scent is only available in a mini size, but you can still snag it in dish or hand soap form.
Promising review: "Excellent Mrs. Meyers quality! Great value, strong cleaning power with a bright, grassy scent. It's easy to use, cuts grease, and a perfect cleaner. I only wish I could get the large in this scent! Will buy again!" — A. QueenIsis
"This cleaning spray works really well and is a great value. I'm particularly obsessed with the tomato vine scent. I know it's a limited edition during the springtime, so the next time it's available, I'm going to buy multiple bottles for the rest of the year. Smells very high-end without having a high-end price tag." — James
Get it from Amazon for $4.89+ (available in two sizes and three scents).
23. A set of LED lightsaber chopsticks to make fights over the last dumpling extra dramatic. They can change colors (red, blue, yellow, purple, and multicolor) so you can either make them match or change to red and blue to recreate The Duel on Cloud City.
Emma Lord / BuzzFeed, Amazon
Promising review:"The chopsticks are very durable, and the glow is bright. They're a bit bigger that 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 it from Amazon for $10.97.
24. A set of card-shaped sponges for anyone who's not playing when it comes to clean dishes. Each design features a face card also engaging in a light cleaning session — too cute!
Amazon
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 $9.01 (also available in sushi or sloths).
25. Iridescent pimple patches in fun shapes because zapping zits might as well feel like an art project. I wish all problems could be solved with a sticker.
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.
26. A clever two-sided travel cup for people who need several drinks throughout the day (one to hydrate, one to take the edge off, one to add the edge back, etc). Fill with two of your desired drinks and marvel that you can bring both coffee *and* water to your next meeting and still have a hand free for your laptop.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"You NEED this. This product is AMAZING. When I run errands, I hate bringing both a water bottle and 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 $13.99 (available in two colors).
27. Tissues in cylinder boxes so they can easily fit in your car's cup holder. And even if you don't have a cup holder in need of tissues, the packaging is just really stinkin' cute.
Amazon
There are 200 tissues in the pack!
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.
28. A 16-piece Brink House mix-and-match cutlery set that is certainly a lot more fun than your usual Ikea fare. I suggest getting a clear utensil holder to show them off.
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
29. A compact, typewriter-themed Bluetooth label maker so charming, you'll find yourself labeling everything, down to individual Diet Coke cans. The corresponding app lets you customize your designs with frames, stickers, and different fonts, so your labels will look super cute even if they're possibly a bit passive aggressive.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Each label maker comes with roll of label tape (but if you need more, grab some here).
Promising review:"This is an adorable and functional label printer. I love that you can use the little lever to cut the labels. You can create your own labels using their app which is very user friendly. I got this for my journaling and planning and I absolutely love it! Perfect gift for the journaling or planning enthusiast in your life!" — Idamis (@atomicjava on Instagram and YouTube)
Get it from Amazon for $45.99 (available in green).
30. A color-changing moisture indicator because plants can't speak and scream "WAAAATER!" These monstera-shaped stakes start off as a vivid green when the soil is wet (wait 30 minutes after watering to see the effect) and then pale to a ghostly white when the soils dries out. Guesswork is no longer the worst part of houseplant ownership! Now it's the bugs. >:(
It lasts for about 2–4 months and can be composted afterwards. Daphne's Botanicals is an Asian woman-owned small business based in Portland, Oregon.
Promising review: "This was a highly anticipated product, and it arrived with great packaging. I was so excited to receive it because I really needed something to help me know when my plants are in need of water since I'm always on the go. I almost broke one of the stems when trying to insert it into the dirt. I would suggest using something to loosen the area you want to stick these in, as they are not as strong. So far, so good. They are doing what they claim. The color changed from white to green and from green to white. I'm excited to see how well they continue to work long-term." — Lilly Moua
Get it from Daphne's Botanicals on Etsy for $15.
31. The TikTok-loved Maldon flaked salt packaged in a box so beautiful, you'll be hesitant to ever open it. Of course, you should, because everything from fish to brownies tastes better with a dash of really nice sea salt.
Amazon
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 $7.35 (also available in smoked salt, and in a beautiful almost 50-ounce bucket with the same design).
33. A Lifeline aromatherapy pen filled with an essential oil that slowly diffuses as you write. Now, the smell of lavender or crisp mountain air can calm you down before you write a passive-aggressive note to stick to the office microwave.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
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 the side effects of different oils. 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 $9.99 (available in four scents and multipacks).
Reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.