Welcome to Filter finds, a series where Filter contributors share the things they love most – and think you might, too.
The objects we choose to surround ourselves with should, above all, be useful – but life is short. Why not have a little fun while we’re at it? This month, we asked our contributors to share the practical things that spark not only joy, but whimsy – a sense of playfulness in our everyday lives. They certainly delivered!
From a toilet brush shaped like Excalibur to a concrete banana, these are the items our contributors use in pursuit of a whimsical life.
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Some zippy, colorful storage …HAY Tin Containers
Hay Tin Containers none-selected
I’ve had a quartet of an earlier version of Hay tins for years. Most of my kitchen is pretty muted, so the four bright boxes lined up together add some much-needed vibrancy. The best part is that while they look fun, they’re actually practical, too. I use them to store coffee filters, protein powder, vitamin bottles and anything else I use regularly but don’t want to clutter up my counter. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some work well for pens while others are a perfect fit for pasta. Jenny McGrath
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… for these fun bandages!Welly Flex Fabric Bandages
Welly Flex Fabric Bandages none-selected
Zero children live in my house, but every good first-aid kit needs bandages. Instead of reaching for beige, though, I grab a Welly whenever I have a cut or scrape. They’re plush and waterproof, so they’re perfect for blisters and won’t come off when you wash your hands. The best part is the array of colors or patterns. My favorite is the one that reminds me of the northern lights. I have my eye on the space-themed set for the next time I run out. JM
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A handy kitchen helper that makes a gross task easy …Angry Mama Microwave Steam Cleaner
Angry Mama Microwave Steam Cleaner none-selected
There’s nothing very whimsical about cleaning the inside of your microwave and perhaps because of that fact, it’s a task that I rarely do. A few months ago, my sister took a look at the state of my microwave and declared, correctly, that the solution to my problem was Angry Mama, a stout little gal with a perpetually angry expression and the ability to clean my microwave without me having to do much. When it’s time to clean, I take Angry Mama’s wig off and pour a mixture of water and vinegar into her body. Once the wig is in place, just put it in the microwave for three to five minutes and let ‘er rip. The grease and caked-on food steams off and can be easily wiped away when you’re done! When this old broad isn’t cleaning my microwave, she sits on the stove, waiting for her next round. Megan Reynolds
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… and a little bathroom helper that makes a even grosser task fun!Heller Excalibur Toilet Brush
Heller Excalibur Toilet Brush none-selected
Usually, the idea of “cute” things for gross tasks is great in theory, but less so in execution. Surprisingly, this toilet brush, designed by Philippe Starck for Heller, is a bit of fun that actually does the job it sets out to do, which is to clean the inside of my nasty toilet. Removing the brush from its holder is a bit like, uh, pulling a sword out of a stone – the brush’s handle is really more of a hilt and therefore protects your hand from ick. MR
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A bit of fun for the kitchenThe Nessie Family by Ototo
Ototo The Nessie Family none-selected
As a cookware tester, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen with practical (though sometimes plain) items, so it’s always a joy to find useful kitchen objects that are also fun to look at. I was given The Nessie Family by Ototo, which is a set of tools consisting of Mama Nessie (a colander), Nessie (a soup ladle) and Baby Nessie (a tea infuser). The colander and ladle have feet that let them stand on the bottom of a pot while their little heads peek up over the surface – your own personal Loch Ness Monster in soups and stews. I find myself reaching for the Baby Nessie tea infuser often during the colder months; it also has feet that let it stand upright in or out of the mug, letting the infuser drain while also adding a bit of whimsy to tea time. Bernadette Machard de Gramont
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A splurge-worthy fountain penScriveiner Gold Fountain Pen
Scriveiner Gold Fountain Pen none-selected
In this digital age, no one really needs a fountain pen. But when you need a break from constant screen time and want to put ideas on paper, this fancy gold model brings elegance and extra inspiration. The ink flows beautifully and the pen has a nice, satisfying weight in hand. It’s a little splurge that adds a lot of joy to journal entries and handwritten letters. Paige Triola
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A simple toy for your best palJolly Pets Romp-n-Roll Dog Toy
Jolly Pets Romp-n-Roll Dog Toy none-selected
Nothing brings more whimsy to my life than watching my dog romp around the yard like a doofus, and nothing makes him romp more merrily than his Jolly Ball. It is, quite simply, a big red ball with a rope through it, knotted on both ends. It’s as basic as it gets, but it provides him no end of joy. He loves to swing it around and smack himself in the face with it, and when he’s feeling generous, he’ll run over and offer one end of the rope for a game of tug. Ours has survived years of abuse, and though it’s looking pretty rough, it’s still good enough for a good time. Tim Stevens
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Porch geese that get dressed for the seasonBigFoot Canada Geese Decoys
BigFoot Canada Geese Decoys none-selected
A couple in my town have installed some goose decoys in their front yard and dress them up thematically to delight passersby. And I am definitely delighted when I drive by and look to see what the “Nelsonville geese” are doing. They get dressed for holidays such as St Paddy’s Day, Cinco de Mayo (drinking Coronas), Fourth of July ... and they have a Santa sleigh. They also do local things such as fishing in a baby pool to coincide with the local fish and game club’s fishing derby. They are hikers with trash strewn around their feet (a local peeve). During Covid, they social-distanced, 6ft apart.
The homeowner told me they got the idea on a trip to Canada and that’s why she got Canadian geese decoys rather than the usual (expected?) white porch goose. Maria Recapito
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A squat and cute mushroom mug
Streamline Imagined Ceramic Mushroom Mug with Lid none-selected
I am a deeply whimsical person. So imagine my delight when I discovered a two-piece mushroom mug. The cup is rounded, made to look like the stem of a pudgy toadstool mushroom. But where this mug really shines in comparison to the frankly dizzying selection of mushroom mugs out there is the lid: shaped to look like the top of a mushroom, the lid helps keep my coffee or tea warm for longer and is wide and deep enough to stay relatively cool to the touch, so I can remove it without burning my hands. Julia Skinner
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Dazzling bookends for corralling unruly pilesNature’s Decorations Blue Agate Bookends
Nature’s Decorations Blue Agate Bookends none-selected
I suffer from too many books and not enough dedicated bookshelves. As a result, various surfaces of my house are peppered with bookends. My favorites are these sturdy bookends made from a geode cut in half. They’re heavy enough to actually hold books in place, and come in a variety of colors so you can match them to any decor. JS
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A tromp l’oeil candle that looks good enough to eatCherry Basket Candle
Waxsmith Studio Cherry Basket Candle none-selected
One of the unexpected joys of being an adult is being able to buy stuff just for the fun of it. I love few things more than a novelty candle, so I was delighted to stumble across an entire Etsy shop full of food-shaped candles. They’re realistic and burn cleanly, and with most between $12 and $50, they’re affordable too. My current favorite is the scented cherry basket candle, which looks like fresh cherries from the farmer’s market, blue cardboard punnet included. JS
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A brass toad named HumphreyFrog Sculpture
LFWATAXY Frog Sculpture none-selected
My husband gave me this little brass toad, and its adorably grumpy face watches me as I work at my desk. I’ve decided to call him Humphrey. As an enthusiastic amateur herpetologist, I’m not ashamed to admit that the humble toad is my favorite animal, and I’m thrilled to have one as a desk ornament. Humphrey looks like he’s judging me when I procrastinate, so he’s a good co-worker. Plus, he serves as a worry stone; when I’m feeling stressed, I rub the tiny bumps on his back and start to relax a toad – I mean, a tad. PT
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A tape dispenser with a sense of humorThe Butt Tape Dispenser
Butt Supplies Store Tape Dispenser none-selected
My love language is giving gifts that are hyper-specific to that person. So when I found this tape dispenser in the shape of a toilet paper roll, I knew it would be perfect for my dad. This guy tends to lead with potty humor, due in part to his attempt to cope with and make light of living with an autoimmune bowel disease. Instead of relegating the dispenser to a junk drawer, it sits proudly on his desk, where his clients can catch a glimpse of his personality and maybe, for the first time ever, find joy or feel any other emotion besides existential dread at an accountant’s office. Marissa Miller
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Godzilla!Bandai Movie Monster Series Godzilla
Bandai Movie Monster Series Godzilla none-selected
I’m a huge fan of the Godzilla films, even the terribly goofy ones from the 60s and 70s. I’ve seen them all at least once and over the years have gathered quite a collection of Godzilla toys. My favorites are from the Bandai Movie Monster Series. Every time I visit Tokyo, I head to my favorite toy shop to pick up whatever the latest release is as a souvenir, but you don’t have to go that far. Bandai has recreated all of the major editions of the G-man himself, plus his greatest friends and foes, all in a size small enough and cost low enough to make collecting the big guy a small-scale affair. TS
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Captain Picard enjoying some spaghettiBrandon Bird Captain’s Mess signed print
Brandon Bird Captain’s Mess signed print none-selected
Brandon Bird has established himself as one of the world’s greatest creators of silly pop-culture mash-up art. Ever wonder what it would look like if Kenny G were part of the Mad Max extended universe? Or, what if TV’s Frasier joined the Fantastic Four? I’m a particular fan of his work called Captain’s Mess, which features Star Trek’s Captain Picard and a rather large plate of pasta. There’s no heavy meaning here that I can discern, and it doesn’t fit within the series canon to my recollection. Nevertheless, it’s hanging proudly in my kitchen, and it makes me smile whenever I see it. TS
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The best kind of paperweightPretti Cool Concrete Banana
Pretti Cool Concrete Banana none-selected
I have to admit that when I unwrapped this three Christmases ago, I was flummoxed. Is my husband pranking me? I wondered. Is there some joke I’m missing? The answer was nope and nope again. The gift was, in fact, exactly what it appeared to be, which is a banana made of concrete. And I have come to love it. Hand-cast in Houston, Texas, using custom molds, it comes in two colorways: “banana bread,” more black than yellow; and “perfectly ripe,” freckled and sunnier. Both bananas look hyper-realistic down to their pink produce stickers, and they have a nice heft and hand-feel to them. I keep mine on my desk and use it as a paperweight, but it would also look great in a fruit bowl or as an objet d’art on a bookcase or coffee table. Juno DeMelo
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It’s clogs o’clock!No 6 Contour Clogs with Shearling
No 6 Contour Clogs with Shearling none-selected
Now that summer has made a hard turn into autumn here in New York City, nothing makes me happier than my fuzzy-on-the-inside, shearling clogs from the Nolita boutique No 6. Each pair is handcrafted in the US from water-repellent leather, which means I can wear them outside in inclement weather, and they’re lined in dyed-to-match shearling, so my tootsies stay warm and oh-so comfy. The flat wood base with a polyurethane sole makes them comfortable enough to walk miles in and they’re a perfect slipper alternative when I’m working. And they look great too, with their smooth leather and lacquered wood sole. I have them in the navy indigo color, but they also come in java brown. Tobey Grumet Segal
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The easiest musical instrument you’ll ever playGrover Humanatones Nose Flute
Grover Humanatones Nose Flute none-selected
Most musical instruments require lessons, practice and at least a little talent. My Humanatones nose flute just requires a nose and a willingness to look ridiculous. The tone is similar to an ocarina, but the nose flute is even smaller and lighter.
To play, I hold it over my mouth, lightly touching my nose. My mouth shape adjusts the pitch, while breath from my nose controls the volume. It’s so easy to use that I can play virtually any tune I know with surprisingly good fidelity. I usually pick out the strongest, most memorable part of a song, switching between the vocal melody and instrumental lines just as I would when humming.
Some songs work better than others. Quick breaks, strong beats and rap vocals can be harder to recognize, while clear melodies translate beautifully into a whistle.
Mine stays within arm’s reach at my desk for spontaneous musical interludes. While it’s a great way to practice breathing and palate control for proper wind instruments, I love its simplicity for quick tunes. For such an absurdly simple object, it creates a surprising amount of joy. Alan Truly
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Some new earsTavery elf ears
Tavery Elf Ears none-selected
I’m a huge fan of Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings. While Spock might dismiss wearing elf ears as highly illogical, deep down I think he would appreciate the aesthetic. My wife, Tracey, grew up dreaming about fairies and elves, something that still finds its way into the whimsical art dolls she creates today. Between the two of us, we couldn’t resist the chance to suddenly sprout long, pointed ears. These simply slip over our own ears, resting there securely for an effortless transformation.
We pop them on occasionally to surprise each other, friends and family. I recently wore mine while working at the art gallery Tracey belongs to. A young man came to the counter with an art book, looking quite serious. Then he broke into a smile, and said: “Oh! I just noticed your elf ears.” Tracey, with a twinkle in her eye, quipped: “What elf ears?”
That little moment captures why I like them. They’re silly without being obnoxious and just conspicuous enough to spark a conversation or a smile. It’s a brief bit of frivolity but somehow still meaningful. For a moment two strangers get to share the joke. AT
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Lights that add personalityGovee COB Strip Light 2 Pro
Govee COB LED Strip Lights 2 Pro none-selected
Practical lighting illuminates a room, but fun lighting transforms it. Govee’s COB Strip Light 2 Pro places LEDs so close it creates a smooth ribbon of color rather than the dotted stripe. Instead of using the adhesive backing I mounted it with hooks to form a waterfall of light on our bedroom wall.
We use a foldable bed so the bedroom can become a yoga studio, lunch spot, VR gaming space and dining room throughout the day. The lighting changes with it.
For morning yoga, I like cycling rainbow colors to energize me and set up a nice day. After, I choose a blue and gold reminiscent of blue skies and sunshine.
For meals, I might match the theme to what we’re watching. When we binge watch Traitors, purples contrasting with green fits well. For a Star Trek movie, I set a slow cycle of light blues and greys, blending into magenta and dark blue to echo bright, cool ship interiors against the colorful nebulas of deep space.
It’s completely unnecessary, and that is part of the appeal. With a few taps, an ordinary room can take on a different personality for whatever we happen to be doing. Sometimes frivolous technology is the most fun kind. AT
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A digital picture frame with a twistDivoom Pixoo
Divoom Pixoo Digital Picture Frame none-selected
I bought this digital pixel art frame as a gift for my siblings, but then got one for myself out of Fomo because it’s so much fun. Like a digital frame you can upload photos to, the Pixoo lets you display fun pixel art – think classic 8-bit Nintendo games – that you download or create yourself using the companion app. Beyond art, the Pixoo can double as a status board, showing information such as weather and time, so it’s more practical than it looks. While it’s great for kids, it is a also bit of fun nostalgia for gen-Xers like myself. Les Shu
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
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‘The perfect food storage finally exists’: I tried the new Anydeli plastic-free containers
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Is pumpkin spice over? Food brands are betting on a new fall flavor
