27 Things For Your Home That Are Totally Worth The Investment

Dollars well spent.

1. A white-noise sound machine with 20 settings to ensure you get a good night's sleep or work done while sharing space with a noisy roommate.

Amazon

Promising review: "This sound machine has literally changed my life. The sleep with this machine is like nothing I have ever experienced. Our neighbor likes to spend his mornings shoveling gravel on a cement surface with a metal shovel about 4-5 feet from my window (like 6 a.m. early) and to be honest I was starting to have some pretty dangerous thoughts about stealing his shovel, breaking his arms, burning his house down...One goes down some pretty dark paths when they suffer from insomnia already and then when they finally fall asleep get woken up with a shovel scrapping down a sidewalk. Okay so the machine somehow COMPLETELY covers the noise from the shovel, the toilet flushing next to my room, dogs barking etc. It is incredible. There are a plethora of choices concerning volume and intensity of sound. Highly recommend." —MorAvFire

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

2. A linen wraparound mitt to give yourself the gift of minimal burns while transporting hot cookware. (And you'll never have to worry about losing the pair.)

Food52

Get it from Food52 for $48+ (available in blue chambray, oatmeal chambray, and agrarian striped).

3. A heavy-duty (and very beautiful, FWIW) trash can that'll open its lid when you: a) say "open can" or b) wave your hands in front of its sensor — perfect for those times when you don't have an extra hand to do it yourself.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "Who knew a voice-activated trash can could so quickly become an essential around my house. When my hands are dirty or full, I no longer have to worry about how I'm going to get the garbage into the can. Set up couldn't be easier: plug it in or drop in 6 AA batteries. From there all you have to do is activate the motion sensor by walking up to the can, or you can say 'open can' and it flips right open.

But there's more to it than that. The 58L is well designed from the ground up. It has a sleek, minimalist vibe with a stainless steel exterior that resists fingerprints. On the back of the can is a little slot that holds the batteries or where the adapter plugs in, but it also has a little spot to hold can liners. That is actually a nice feature to have because I used to keep my liners in the base of the can and they have been ruined by leaky bags. While you can use any bag that is the right size for the can, the Q bags that are made to fit this particular shape are very nice. They can hold a lot and they don't tear or rip easily. The liner is held in place by a plastic piece that fits over the edge, making it stay in place and looking much nicer than your typical liner.

The motion sensor works very well. I've never approached the can and not had it open. I have it in my hallway, and I was worried that it would open every time I walked by, but the sensitivity is calibrated so that you really have to get right up to the can to open it. Walking by doesn't generally set it off. The can will also stay open if you stay by it, which is nice when you are struggling to get something in there. The voice feature has worked an astounding 100% of the time. " —Kristine Hale

Get it from Amazon for $345 (available in five colors).

4. A pair of aerating wineglasses for giving your cheap wine a big boost. And yourself: a new Friday night activity.

amazon.com

Promising review: "We tested them by comparing the wine before and after using the glass and there WAS a difference in the quality of the taste. Most items are mostly hype but this one seems to be real. Besides, it's cute to watch it flow." —KHofferMD

Get it from Amazon for $50 (for a pair).

5. An eye-catching desk that'll give you a spot to be productive and creative at that is not your bed. Its clear, tempered glass top will require minimal upkeep and the bent wood shelf isn't just decorative — it'll make for a very handy cubby for things you need at the ready.

Overstock

Get it from Overstock for $373.49.

6. A Japanese gooseneck coffee kettle that'll perfect your pour-over.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I have used this kettle practically every day for the last five years and it has worked perfectly for coffee and tea. I use it with a Chemex, Aeropress, and fresh press. It boils water quickly on a gas range. The best part of this kettle is the spot design. It gives you so much control over your pour which is very important for certain brew methods. If you make coffee via any pour over method you have to get this kettle!" —Copper

Get it from Amazon for $39.50+ (available in two sizes and in black or stainless steel).

7. A stainless-steel cold brew maker because — no matter what the haters may say — cold brew is a year-round beverage.

Williams Sonoma

Promising review: "Our fridge is usually crowded but we made room for this cold brew coffee maker, and boy are we glad we did. We've saved so much money by making our own cold brew at home, this appliance pays for itself within a month for sure." —BRooks2785

Get it from Williams Sonoma for $79.98.

Check out our picks for the best cold brew coffee makers at three different price points on BuzzFeed Reviews.

8. A mini video projector if you have an empty wall in your home and a void in your soul that MoviePass once filled.

amazon.com

Promising review: "This is a great little projector! A great addition to our outdoor family movie nights. We use it to watch content on a screen that I hang on our garage as we sit on the patio and watch movies under the stars. The setup is really easy as the instructions are very clear. The projector is good and will adjust easily to fit your screen size (we use a 120 ft screen). The remote control is a great feature to have so you can set up everything with out having to touch the actual unit." —Craig Saeed

Get it from Amazon for $129.99.

9. A wake-up light that simulates a sunrise to help you wake up gradually and peacefully instead of in a jarring fashion.

Amazon

Promising review: "I got this alarm clock because currently I'm sleeping in a basement room with no windows (I promise it's not as depressing as it sounds) and was having a rough time waking up in the morning without the sun to give me an extra nudge toward consciousness. I was also dealing with some noisy upstairs neighbors and figured having a light-based alarm would allow me to sleep with earplugs and still get up on time, though I was nervous that I might not respond to the light. Turns out I'm super light sensitive, and this works great as a wake-up device. Even my dog (who also shares my windowless basement room) has learned what the light means." —Ladybug

Get it from Amazon for $85.

10. A cast-iron Le Creuset Dutch oven you'll certainly be using for the long haul — no more going through cheapos in the interim.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I can't say enough about these... just love them. They are pricey, but in my opinion, everything I have gotten from Le Creuset has been worth it. They are pieces that you hand down to your grandchildren. They are made well, cook well, and look beautiful. And, as a bonus, you don't need to have tons of pans, pots, and cookware if you're using these. Just a few essentials are all you need due to the quality." —Olga Loinfeisk

Get it from Amazon for $319.95 (available in thirteen colors).

11. A portable Bluetooth speaker that'll give you seamless home-assistant integration and the freedom to fully submerge it in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes if that is something you're into.

BuzzFeed

Promising review: "The sound quality with this speaker is amazing. Used it by the pool, and it fills the whole backyard." —JayHawksRule

Get it from Amazon for $179.95.

Check out our picks for the best portable Bluetooth speaker at three different price points on BuzzFeed Reviews.

12. A classy bar cabinet if you've watched Sideways and know wine isn't just a beverage — it's a lifestyle.

Wayfair

Promising review: "This bar cabinet was exactly what I was looking for! Not only does it look great but it holds a ton. My wife and I were able to assemble it within an hour and a half at a leisurely pace." —Chad

Get it from Wayfair for $255.99 (available in three finishes)

13. A gas grill that'll get you to take advantage of your backyard (and downtime) this season.

Wayfair

Promising review: "This is my second Weber LP grill and just love the ease of assembling it together. My last Weber lasted and is still operational after 30 years. I bought the new one as a present to myself. My son wanted the old one. I love the color and how it cooks the food. I will never buy another make of grill." —Kathleen

Get it from Wayfair for $479.

14. An acrylic Squatty Potty to get your colon and artistic sensibility aligned.

Amazon

Promising review: "This thing is SLEEK! I bought this for my new home's main floor guest bath. We wanted to provide guests with the convenience of the Squatty Potty without the eyesore of the white 7-inch one. I feel like if Kim and Kanye had a Squatty Potty, it would be this one." —Durga D

Get it from Amazon for $77.40.

Find the acrylic a little too hip for your pooping needs? Check out the original Squatty Potty for $24.99.

15. A paper shredder, so you can be more careful about disposing your personal information.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I am not someone who uses a paper shredder every day, but when I do, I really use it hard. This shredder was a surprisingly good value and quieter than I expected. That said, my last one overheated and needed to be replaced. This shredder has a 3-minute constant run time and a nice overheat indicator light that should help prevent me from making the same mistake.

Another thing I want to comment on: I am always paranoid about buying anything electrical online. I fear it won't work properly and returning it will be a hassle. If your like me, you'll be happy to know Amazon leaves a little note inside the package that they test the paper shredder before shipping it to you!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $38.49.

16. A multipurpose chef's knife that you can use to prepare vegetables and meats alike.

Korin

Promising review: "Beautiful knife extremely well-sharpened when it arrived. Love the developing patina. Weight is amazing at around 163 grams and balance is perfect. Stays sharp long if you care for it and sharpens wonderfully." —Miron

Get it from Korin for $87.

And check out our picks for the best chef's knives on BuzzFeed Reviews!

17. A uniform set of airtight food storage containers to tidy up your kitchen shelves.

amazon.com

Promising review: "When you use OXO products, you know to expect quality and these storage containers did not disappoint! You get five containers in four sizes that perfectly vacuum-seal to protect your food. The sizes are useful and versatile, and the airtightness means no worrying about pests. While these are recommended for storing dry goods, I put some liquid (olives and brine) in one of them to REALLY test the seal. Even when you turn it upside-down, no liquid leaks out. Another nice feature is that you can partially disassemble the lid by removing the white plastic piece on top of the gasket, allowing you to completely clean the gasket. I tried this on the container with the olives, and it worked perfectly. The entire container has no residual smell. Overall, if you want the best in food storage containers, these OXO containers are absolutely essential!" —Emi A

Get a 5-piece set from Amazon for $49.95.

18. A water flosser that'll thoroughly clean all those hard-to-get nooks and crannies in your mouth. Try giving me anything less than an "A" on my next dentist check-up, I dare you!!!

Amazon

Promising review: "So...this is amazing. This is my first review ever on Amazon after ordering numerous things. I had periodontal pockets from not flossing and I also experienced some bone loss. I literally hated flossing and would find myself avoiding to floss even though I needed it very much. My gums were red, swollen, and inflamed because I was in the early stages of periodontal disease. I started using this flosser and instantly knew I liked this way of flossing much better! After using it consecutively each night for only five days my gums were noticeably cleaner and felt much better. After two weeks of using the this flossing system my gums have done a complete 180 and my mouth and gums are starting to heal properly!" —Ebony

Get it from Amazon for $65.97 (available in seven colors).

19. A miracle-working air purifier to alleviate your allergies and zap all the nasty odors lingering around your house that you've been trying to ignore for the last year.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Wow, this air filter really works. I'm truly amazed and can literally breath easier now. Prior to purchasing this, I was having to use my emergency inhaler three to four times per day and night since allergy season began. From the moment it was plugged in, I haven't had to use my inhaler at all, and I didn't even realize it until about a week of use. No more running nose, itchy eyes, wheezing, and sneezing 50 times in a row. I live in a pine forest in high altitude and it works that well. I highly recommend this to anyone who suffers from allergies and asthma — it has made my quality of life improve greatly." —calcrnflakegirl

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in dark gray and white).

Read our full write-up of the Germ Guardian AC4825 here.

20. An Instant Pot that just might revolutionize the way you cook — and by that I mean, fewer occasions for cereal dinners. This thing is truly a lazy person's best friend.

Amazon

What can't this thing do? It can cook rice, pressure-cook, slow-cook, steam, saute, make yogurt, and warm up food. It cannot drive your children to school.

Promising review: "I absolutely despise spending a lot of time in the kitchen after work. I am tired, just want to pour a glass of wine, and binge-watch Supernatural. My boyfriend can't cook to save his life, so that isn't much help either. I'd feel better eating something created out of real, edible foods rather than microwaved in a pouch with fake cheese, so I cook even when I stay over at his house. Just when I was pondering the option of breaking up and finding a man who can cook (not really), INSTANT POT HAPPENED! Dinner is done and ready to eat every time in less than an hour. Sometimes WAY less than an hour. I can't believe I survived 30 years without one! It would have been AMAZING back when I was in college! I am constantly learning new things I can whip up (sometimes trial and error, sometimes recipe books). I can throw frozen chicken breasts in it, seasoning, just hit poultry setting, adjust the time up a bit, and boom. Super tender amazing chicken. Something about handling raw chicken makes me too disgusted to eat it once it's cooked, so being able to throw it in frozen is such a relief." —Sunahm

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in 6- and 8-quart).

21. An extendable coffee table to satisfy your love of all things mid-century design.

Wayfair

Promising review: "The table came as expected. Quality, color, size is perfect. Very practical and easy to assemble (15 minutes, 2 persons). Very glad to have purchased this table." —Sara

Get it from Wayfair for $349.99 (originally $399.99).

22. A very sleek heated toilet-seat bidet that'll be like, "T.P. whom?"

Wayfair

Promising review: "Love it! It really gets you clean. The warm water feature and the ability to direct the water from the front to the back areas of your body are a big plus!" —Cleo

Get it from Wayfair for $239.40+ (originally $399; available in two finishes).

23. A folding three-step, steel frame stool you'll be relieved to have around so you don't resort to using a wobbly pile of books.

Amazon

Promising review: "I tell everyone this is one of the best purchases we've ever made! I actually use it daily. It's light, easy to use, and it fits snuggly behind the laundry room door. I can reach everything easily. No more climbing on the counters for this girl!" —L. Michelle

Get it from Amazon for $45.19.

24. A high-def, indoor/outdoor wireless home security system that’s ridiculously easy to install, even easier to monitor, and oh, did we mention the 365-day battery life from a single charge?

Amazon

From fellow shopping writer John Mihaly:

"I was in dire need of a home security camera system for some elderly family members requiring 24/7 care and I need the ability to check in from time to time and see what’s going on. Setting up the EufyCam2 (one camera for indoor, one camera for outdoor) could not have been easier or quicker (I think I spent more time grabbing and putting away the tools and step ladder). Now I’ve got a live-stream in HD (1080p) straight to the app on my phone (that doesn’t require any additional subscription fee). The cameras are weatherproof, offer legit night vision streaming, and since I’m not constantly checking in, the battery should last up to 365 days on its single initial charge. I even sleep a little better knowing my little old aunties are safe and sound."

Get it from Amazon for $299.98.

25. A gas-powered, portable generator for when the lights (and everything else for that matter) go out. Eight hours of run-time will power multiple electronics from high voltage appliances to heavy-duty tools. So, yes you can still watch TV while power sanding (although we wouldn't recommend it).

Amazon

Note: wheel kit sold separately.

Promising review: "After a very long power outage a few years ago, I decided I'd be ready the next time it happened. I used it for the first time when some tornadoes went through causing the worst power outage in 20 years. I found I needed to open the choke halfway in order to get it started the first time, but after that, it started really easy. I used it to power our refrigerator, freezer, sump pump, a couple of lamps, and I even used it to run the igniter on our gas stove so I could cook. It seemed like it could handle more." —TJ Smith

Get it from Amazon for $341.99+.

26. And a monthly subscription to Quip, the beautiful and award-winning electric toothbrush with a two-minute timer to effectively remove plaque and prevent gingivitis.

BuzzFeed

You’ll receive an electric toothbrush set (including the Quip brush, travel cover mount, a large toothpaste, and a travel-sized toothpaste). For $10 every three months, you’ll be sent a new brush head, AAA battery, and two different-sized toothpastes.

Promising review: "I love my Quip toothbrush! It does an excellent job cleaning and taking care of my gums. I also love that there is no bulky charging base and cord that has to sit on my bathroom sink. The mirror mount works great. I was worried it would lose its ability to re-stick, but it hasn't! It reattaches strongly to the mirror each time I put it back. The metallic colors make no difference in performance, but they're so gorgeous you HAVE to spend a little extra for them! The brush head subscription plan is brilliant. I am expecting my first refill soon and I love that I won't have to keep using an old brush head until I remember to grab one from the store. Great style, great plan and great performance." —Amanda L.

Get it from Quip starting at $25 (available in five colors).

It's also our budget pick for the best electric toothbrush on BuzzFeed Reviews.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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