buzzfeed Press
43 Products You’ll Definitely Want On Hand If You Spend A Lot Of Downtime At Home
Images
BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More There’s no place like home — especially when your home is stacked with this Ugg slipper-inspired blanket and a new “Spooky Shire” puzzle. As a Senior Shopping Writer at BuzzFeed, I specialize in a broad range of topics, including beauty, cleaning, fashion, personal care, home, fitness, and my beloved “TikTok made me buy it.” My work has been featured across lifestyle and writing publications during my ten years in the digital media space, including Bustle, HuffPost, HelloGiggles, and The Washington Post. Read more about how an Epsom salt soak or bath can help with stress and muscle relaxation at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "Love this Warm Vanilla scent! Warming fragrance lingers even as it dissolves well in the bathtub. When I looked at the fragrance components, I was doubtful I would like it, but the combination does impart a warm vanilla scent." —Erma Promising review: "Feeling how soft the Squishmallow kids' toys are, I decided to try out the pillow for sleeping since I have yet to find the right pillow. This pillow is the best I've come across — perfect amount of head support and super comfortable. Even the provided pillow cases are soft and inviting." —TAP Get a set of two (plus pillowcases!) from Amazon for $49.99. Promising review: "SUCH a great introduction to color by numbers! Lots of cozy, peaceful scenes to pick from, and the book size is great for carrying around with you. All you need is a small packet of Artistro black acrylic markers, and you're set! They don't bleed through either, thanks to the thick, one-sided paper. It's also super fun to slowly reveal the whole picture by coloring in only the areas with the 'O.' I can't wait to work through this one and invest in more of these books! Well worth the money if you want a relaxing new hobby!" —Sabrina Promising review: "The smoky sea salt by Maldon is the best by far that I have found. I love the crunch and flavor. I put it on my steaks and on my vegetables and baked potatoes, and top my scrambled eggs with it. I suggest buying two boxes." —Kimberly Yarbrough Check out all of the cult-favorite Magic Puzzles here for more fun options! Promising review: "This candle smells amazing, and it lasts a long time. I light candles all of the time, and this one lasts for weeks. The fragrance is subtle yet very cozy." —Alyssa Promising review: "Absolutely gorgeous!! 😍 It is SO stunning! I love it! Well worth the money. Fast shipping and well-packed!" —Diane Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in five styles). This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories. Promising review: "Bought these to give my parents so that future generations have something to look back on. This would also make a good college graduation gift for someone to fill out over the years. There is a full page dedicated to each question, allowing for either a short or long response. The paper is sturdy, which will hold up over time. Recommend this if you want to record your history, or if someone you love!" —Amazon Customer Promising review: "This dust is the best seasoning in the world. I use it on everything. I actually use this to season pork, don’t knock it ’til you try it. It’s really good to put on ribs. You can put it on waffles. You can put it on cereal, you can put it on oatmeal, you name it." —Sarah N. Donnie Promising review: "This is one of the best coffee makers I have bought. I almost passed this up since I don’t think of Keurig as a high-end brand, but my last one was, and this is better. It is well designed, easy to use, and the pot pours well, never leaking. You have options for strong and cold brews, and the time to brew a full pot is remarkably fast. I grind my own beans; this uses a basket filter, and the coffee comes out fresh and flavorful. If I don’t feel like a whole pot, I have the option of brewing a single cup, which is super convenient. It’s not fancy, but it does the job beautifully, is a pleasure to use and clean, and is nice looking to boot. I am pleasantly surprised." —DCR Promising review: "This is exactly what I was looking for! It lays flat to easily complete the word search and not have to fight with the book. There are different types of puzzles, and some have extra secret searches! It’s great for the slow days at work!! I will definitely be buying more of these word searches!" —Roy Y Hahn Mellow is a small business that specializes in sleep products. Promising review: "I absolutely love my Mellow Sleep quilt! It feels incredibly soft, smooth, and luxurious against the skin, while still being wonderfully light and comfortable. The quality is excellent, from the beautiful fabric to the neat stitching and thoughtful design. It gives my bed such a clean, cozy, hotel-like feel and makes bedtime something I genuinely look forward to. This quilt is perfect for anyone who wants their bedding to feel soft, breathable, and premium. I’m extremely happy with my purchase and would highly recommend Mellow Sleep to anyone looking to upgrade their sleep experience. Definitely 5 stars!" —Betty Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in Twin—Cal King and four colors). Promising review: "Very soft and kinda lumpy, which works great for my back issues. I'm waking up in the morning with less stiffness.I highly recommend for anyone, as my very firm mattress was not good for my back." —Sheila Goodwin Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in sizes Twin–King and four styles). Promising review: "Adorable heart shape. Takes a little longer to cook since it's so thick. It's adorable for making a soup or pasta dish for the kids on Valentine's Day, or to just show love to your partner. Good quality that you'd expect from Barilla. Everyone thought it was adorable and enjoyed it." —Amazon Customer Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It’s honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It’s definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that’s a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" —Amazon Customer 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: "This is the most beautiful and calming aromatherapy oil diffuser I have seen. This is incredibly easy to use and features various timer buttons that can be shut off at your discretion. I love to watch its realistic 'flame' effect. The scent emits wonderfully. It also looks beautiful in my home. This was a great value for the price and great quality." —Amanda Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in six styles). The OP Games is a small business that specializes in games and puzzles. I played this at a friend's apartment with a mix of people I did and didn't know, and we all had a BLAST. It was a fun opportunity for us to reference hyper-specific things when trying to lock down a specific shade (if memory serves, "zombie Barney" and "aggressive banana" were the ones that got thrown around) and to get to know each other's tastes and ways of looking at the world. The rules and scoring system are super easy to learn, too, so there wasn't a big hurdle in getting everyone on board. I highly recommend for some good, wholesome, often laugh-out-loud party fun! Promising review: "I absolutely love the Ugg Kirkwood throw blanket. It is unbelievably soft and cozy with a high-quality feel you notice right away. It arrives packaged really nicely, so it would make for the perfect gift. The weight is perfect, and it looks really nice on my couch or bed. It has held up well with no shedding and has quickly become my favorite blanket for relaxing. Definitely worth it for the comfort and quality." —Mika Fox Get it from Amazon for $98 (available in 11 styles). Promising review: "This blanket is soft and of quality! I sleep with it every night. I love all of the settings and rarely set it over two. There is a timer, so it shuts off on its own. It’s lightweight and plush all at once. The heat is just enough to soothe achy joints, and the lightweight feel allows room to breathe, so you still get the effects of the heat without becoming too warm. So far, I have not had any problems with it! The cord is removable, so you can wash it as well. I am 5’9” and it is big enough to cover me completely. I highly recommend this blanket." —ENVYGRL8 Get it from Amazon for $36.99+ (available in five sizes and six colors). Promising review: "I absolutely love this corner lamp! It was very easy to assemble and fits perfectly into the corner without taking up much space. The design is sleek and modern, and it instantly elevated the look of my room. The lighting is bright but not harsh, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. I especially appreciate how evenly it illuminates the space — perfect for relaxing in the evening or adding ambiance without overhead lights. It feels sturdy and well-made, especially for the price. I’ve received several compliments on it already and would definitely purchase again." —Keeli Get it from Amazon for $29.69+ (also available in a two-pack). Psst — you can also get a body pillowcase on Amazon in tons of colors! Promising review: "I recently purchased this memory foam body pillow, and it has completely transformed my sleep experience. From the very first night, I noticed a significant improvement in my comfort and overall sleep quality. The pillow’s memory foam material is incredibly supportive yet soft. It contours perfectly to my body, providing just the right amount of pressure relief to my neck, back, and hips. This has been especially helpful for me as a side sleeper, as it keeps my spine properly aligned throughout the night, reducing any stiffness or soreness in the morning. One of the standout features of this body pillow is its full-body length. It’s long enough to cradle my entire body, allowing me to comfortably hug it while resting. This provides excellent support whether I’m sleeping or just lounging in bed reading or watching TV. Overall, this memory foam body pillow is a fantastic investment for anyone seeking better sleep and added comfort." —sunny Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review: "Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" —pve Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in sets with smaller and larger palettes). Promising review: "This CD player is excellent; I can take it anywhere, it has Bluetooth connectivity, and the audio quality is very good!" —Gabriel Get it from Amazon for $74.95 (available in six colors). Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review: "I’ve tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won’t say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice artwork/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" —Karen Rorick Promising review: "This robe feels so luxurious. It is so soft and cozy yet not too heavy. Definitely worth the price. It fits just the way I like it. It doesn’t shed — not yet at least, and it absorbs water just like a regular towel. I didn’t want the hood which is why I chose this robe. This robe feels like a warm hug." —Tejal Dumasia Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in women's sizes S–3X and 14 colors). Check out a TikTok of the popcorn maker in action. Promising review: "This little popcorn popper is perfect! No fuss, no mess, no chasing popcorn kernels!! Fabulous! Easy to use — the popcorn maker part fits into the bowl part for easy storage. This is one perfect unit!" —Chrystal Promising review: "I bought all the bouquet sets to make with my daughter and son's girlfriend. We had so much fun making these, and the quality was amazing. Even came with a vase to place them. Will definitely be buying the other sets I've seen out. You won't be disappointed buying these." —Angela Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in two sets). Check out a TikTok of Murdle in action. The best part?? Once you finish "Murdling," you can use your sleuthing skills on Volume 2, Volume 3, and a whole BUNCH of other themed Murdle books — PLUS a Murdle board game and a book of Murdoku!!! Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativeness! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for awhile!" —Liz Gately Cup Cozy Pillow is a small business that specializes in family-friendly snack and drink organizers. Check out a TikTok of the Cup Cozy Deluxe Pillow in action. Promising review: "This thing is great! I’m home on maternity leave with my new baby and spend most of my time on the couch under a sleeping baby. This product makes it easy for me to keep my drinks, remote, etc close by even with dogs running around. It’s a little more expensive than I would have liked, but it works, and I love it, so money well spent!" —Amber Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in nine patterns). Promising review: "Totally worth every penny! The base is a beanbag made of a soft yet high-quality material. The beanbag makes the table portion very comfortable and also conforms to your lap, sofa, or other surface, ensuring its stability. The stand itself is also very sturdy and easily adjustable. It does not get flimsy over time or loose, so you don't have to worry about it holding your Kindle or iPad and then eventually sagging. It can even be removed from the table if you wish, making the table even more functional for other uses. It is very easy to use, lightweight, easily adjustable, and strong!" —Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $41.98+ (available in five styles). Promising review: "This pistachio butter was a hit at home. My wife and kids loved it — smooth texture, rich flavor, and not overly sweet. It tastes natural and fresh, great on toast or even by the spoonful. Definitely something we’d buy again." —José Rodríguez Promising review: "My favorite towels in my favorite size! These towels are such a great value. They stay soft forever, it seems like. I replaced my whole family's towels with Everplush because I love them so much. The bath sheet is the perfect size, and SO SOFT." —WhatATimeToBeAlive Get a pack of two from Amazon for $58.99+ (available in six colors). Demi's Colouring Corner is a UK-based business run by Demi, a mother of two who loves all things horror and coloring. Another psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon! Promising review: "This book is a must-have for horror lovers. So many adorable renditions of classic and newer horror movies that are a blast to color. I like the simple style because it allows me to add my own flair and techniques like a lot of the popular 'cozy' coloring books nowadays. I so hope this artist does a second version because I plan to finish every single picture in this book!" —AyemmeJay Bambusi is a small business that specializes in quality-made home products. Promising review: "Surprisingly sturdy and well made. Assembly and construction is excellent, and the accessories are quite clever. On balance, the tray is impressive and well worth its cost. A thoughtful gift, especially for anyone who likes to relax in the tub, but not without their accessories and a glass of wine." —Barry Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors). Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Love the look. Love the temperature settings, although I don't believe I will use the lower ones since the 170 seems to be just right for me. Very simple to operate. Perfect Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for my daughter-in-law." —rkd Promising review: "Love this product. I prefer to make mini pancakes rather than regular pancakes, and it’s so easy to clean. The turning forks are perfect for flipping the pancakes." —Cindy C. Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review: "This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." —Adriana The GIF above shows the clouds syncing to the song "we can't be friends (wait for your love)" by Ariana Grande — you can watch the video with sound here, it's MESMERIZING how well it syncs, especially in the pauses!! Promising review: "This LED cloud is straight-up magical. The soft, fluffy look combined with the glowing lights makes it feel like you’ve got a little piece of the sky in your room. It’s lightweight, easy to hang, and instantly adds a dreamy, relaxing vibe. The RGB colors are a huge bonus; I can switch from calming blues to dramatic purples or party-mode rainbow with a click. Perfect for bedrooms, gaming setups, or just making your space feel unique." —Angel Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (also available in two- and three-packs). I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls. Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Psst — if you REALLY want to level up your homemade sushi game, I highly recommend adding this truffle seasoning on Amazon! It tastes so startlingly decadent. I've been ordering it for years to put on my avocado rolls and shiitake rolls when I order sushi. Promising review: "Received this the other day and the wife and I had our own sushi night at home...I did not realize there were two mats in the package which was a nice little surprise...everything is made of good quality materials, easy to use and a good fun activity for date night at home. I will be getting a few more as gifts for a few friends...good product, received it quickly and for the price you cannot go wrong." —Timothy J Stegner If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied, and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." —Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $14.99. Promising review: "We’ve been using this every day for a week. It is easy to use and cooks food up nicely. Love the glass so you can see what’s being cooked. If you open the drawer during cook time to check on or turn something, it stops briefly, then when you push it back in, it will restart where it left off. The control buttons are self-explanatory. So far so good. We upgraded from our old Ninja model and really appreciate having more capacity to cook more food and to be able to cook two things at once. There’s a setting where you can have them ready at the same time, which is another nice feature. The glass is easier to clean as well. It was well worth the upgrade for us. We can make foods with no oil or butter that will still be moist and juicy." —Darling Dumpling Get it from Amazon for $379.99 (available in three colors). Check out a TikTok of the Dreo tower fan in action. I live in an apartment with a wall air-conditioning unit that simply DOES NOT do the trick when it's 90+ degrees outside. This gizmo is an absolute lifesaver. The air actually feels COOL, and it's so quiet that if the air weren't blowing on me, I wouldn't even know it was on. I love how adjustable the fan speed is and that you have options to let it rotate or not, because I work from home and I am very picky about my working environment. I also appreciate how modern and sleek it looks! You hardly notice it, despite it being so tall. Promising review: "I am INCREDIBLY sensitive to noisy fans when I’m trying to sleep at night. I have tried so many different fans, and this is the first and only one that has been COMPLETELY silent, besides just hearing air come out of it. No clicking, no nothing. It’s incredible. I just bought another one for my office." —Lori Perkins Get it from Amazon for $89.91+ (available in three colors and with or without enabled Wi-Fi). Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review: "The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." —Sam Get it from Amazon for $25.59 (clip the coupon on the product page for this price). 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. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Comments
You must be logged in to comment.