30 Things To Have Just In Case Surprise Guests Drop By

Apr 24, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Even with the least amount of notice, you can still be the host with the most.

BuzzFeed Staff

Promising review: "Perfect! Great quality. Looks exactly as described. The most welcoming doormat, so glad I got it!" —lital

Get it from Amazon for $16.65.

It has a refreshing lemon verbena scent, and is cruelty-free! It's also one of Amazon's "Climate Pledge Friendly" products.

Promising review: "I was so pleasantly surprised by this product. I got it on a whim, thinking, 'What the heck, I'll try it.' I literally use this cleaner for EVERYTHING! I mean from my wood furniture, mirrors, granite countertops, even my hardwood floors! The smell is so nice and not overpowering like other cleaners, and I feel safe using it around my kids. I'll be buying this product as long as it's made." —casandra

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $11.55.

Eight Hands Farm & Bee Co. is a small business based in Lambertville, New Jersey, that specializes in handcrafted home and body goods prepared in small batches. Their sprays are packaged in gorgeous glass bottles, are nontoxic, and come in scents ranging from Clementine Lavender to Coconut Seagrass.

Promising review: "Love the linen scent! I’ve been trying to rid my home of other sprays/candles/products that have yucky chemicals. As I’m replacing with safe products, it's been hard to order scents online before smelling. I’ve struck out with other companies a couple times, but I love everything I’ve purchased from here. The scents are so light and refreshing. Perfect! Thank you!!!" —Rachel May

Get it from Eight Hands Farm & Bee Co. on Etsy for $12 (available in 13 scents).

Promising review: "This candle is everything! I normally don't like the smell of 'pie' candles — they most always smell too artificial and nothing like the real thing. This one is amazing and makes the whole house smell nice and cozy, an especially nice scent for the holidays. 10/10 recommend." —Nicholas Degrassi

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

To help keep this chair in great shape, the manufacturer recommends placing it in an area without lots of direct sunlight and vacuuming/light brushing it every week or so.

Promising review: "OMG, I love my new rocker!! It is so comfortable. All my friends have sat in it when they come over and they all agree it's so inviting to rock in it! My neighbor helped me put it together and it was easy. Just wish I had an Allen wrench bit for my cordless screwdriver; it would have been faster. All in all, a fabulous purchase!" —Beryl

Get it from Wayfair for $231.99+ (originally $499.99, available in three colors).

This personal fireplace is fueled by 70% or 91% isopropyl alcohol.

Promising review: "I bought this as a house warming gift to myself when I moved into my new place. I’m impressed! I live in a small apartment and it keeps the place warm. It's also just a really good conversation piece. Everybody that comes over loves it." —Austin Bueno

Get it from Amazon for $74.99.

Each set contains two 100% cotton towels.

Promising review: "Very soft. I love these big hand towels. Perfect for guests. I had a hard time finding a 'guest' towel." —Sandy S.

Get a pair from Amazon for $24.99.

The Do Good Print Shop is a nonprofit art print shop based in Easton, Pennsylvania that sells all sorts of print designs — and donates all profits to animal and environmental charities! FYI, the frame is not included.

Promising review: "I love this print! It's perfect for above the toilet!" —Jennifer Dvorak

Get it from The Do Good Print Shop on Etsy for $10.50+ (available in five sizes).

Reviewers say it's on the shorter side, so depending on your height, it might be better as a stationary piece, rather than something you wheel around.

Promising review: "Six stars for sturdiness. This cart doesn't squeak or lean, it's very high-quality, and something I would expect to find at a Crate & Barrel." —Jason E Steckey

Get it from Amazon for $104.39+ (available in six designs).

Promising review: "My husband is quite impressed that the glass holds a 12-ounce beer perfectly. I was concerned it would be too large for my small hand, but it's fine! I’m happy that they are sturdy enough to go in the dishwasher, yet the lip isn't too thick at all. I plan on ordering more!" —Jan S

Get a set of four on Amazon for $16.95.

For best results, absorb the excess liquid, then saturate the spot with the stain remover. Let it sit for one to five minutes, then blot it out. This product can also be used on hard surfaces to remove latex paint and grease.

Promising review: "When you have anything white in your house and you have a love for red wine THIS PRODUCT IS A MUST! We had a dinner party of about 15 people in our house so I bought five bottles just in case. Someone spilled red wine on our brand-new white couch. I was so mad, but I used this stuff and it was GONE. It didn't just take most of the red wine out — the red wine was GONE! No trace of it at all! I will buy more!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $10.61.

They're BPA free and dishwasher safe.

Promising review: "Are you kidding me? How could anyone rate these anything less than a 5 stars? Mine arrived fairly quickly. They are colorful and the pattern is exactly as pictured. They are wrapped individually. What a good buy! I plan on using mine in a door wreath because they are perfect for decorations." —SuZck

Get a pack of seven from Amazon for $4.99.

It comes with an extra round tray, two slate labels (with chalk), two ceramic bowls for dipping sauces, and four slicing and serving utensils.

Promising review: "Bought the product as a present for my partner for the holidays. The charcuterie cheese board itself is great, and the ability to store the cheese knives was an excellent addition for transportation and to 'wow' people at parties. I was able to host twice with the device, and it often was able to hold around six to eight cheeses and cracker combinations reasonably well without feeling like the device is crowded. I also like how easy it was to clean, since the drawer used to store the knives can be easily removed. Finally, I enjoyed all the additional items that came with this set." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $45.99.

Avec is a Black- and woman-owned small business that crafts mixers made with 100% real ingredients, like fruit juices and natural botanicals. The sampler includes three of each of their five flavors: Hibiscus & Pomegranate, Ginger, Yuzu & Lime, Grapefruit & Pomelo, and Jalapeño & Blood Orange.

Promising review: "Love the assortment of flavors (from sweet to subtle, and all the way to spicy)! It was possible for everyone at our get-together to come away with something they really enjoyed, and all with less than 4 grams of sugar? Simply amazing. Cans are gorgeous as well! Thanks, Avec, will definitely be back for more!" —Lucy B.

Get it from Avec for $45 (also available as a monthly subscription for a 10% discount).

It's also waterproof, making it great for outdoor use as well.

Promising review: "I don't write a lot of reviews. Normally, a product meets my expectations. And if it doesn't, I send it back without complaining. But this speaker vastly exceeded my expectations and thought I should share. This tiny thing can boom sound like no other speaker of its size. I blasted the speaker full volume in a room downstairs. A few rooms and a flight of stairs away, I could still hear every lyric to the song I was playing. (You can tell I got a bit excited). It instantly connected to my phone via Bluetooth. It also seems sturdy enough that it can be knocked around a bit, which is helpful to me since I’d use it outside a lot. It's the smallest portable speaker I’ve ever used, yet produces more sound without any distortion at high volumes. The quality of the sound at all levels is phenomenal. I’m excited to see what mileage I get out of it. But as far as I can tell, this speaker is the best one you can get for this amount of money. And I’d argue it's worth more." —Connor

Get it from Amazon for $31.44+ (available in two colors).

Brilliant Or BS? is a Black woman–owned small biz! The game is designed for four to six players ages 14 and up.

Promising review: "My friends and I have played this game several times and now they request it whenever we do a game night! It is so much fun!!! It is a good mix of trivia questions, so there is a pretty level playing ground for everyone!" —Jenn Flegle

Get it from Brilliant Or BS? for $15.99 or Amazon for $17.99.

This assortment comes with 10 4-ounce bags, with varieties including baby white, red, extra-large caramel, purple, and mushroom (!).

Promising review: "I'm a bit of a popcorn connoisseur — I love it and eat it often. I always pop myself, from kernels in safflower oil. I've had all the major brands and supermarket house brands. This is by far the best. The kernels before and after popping are smaller than I'm used to, but so much tastier. This popcorn seems to have a bigger proportion of the fluffy white pop and less of the hard yellow shell left behind by other brands. Every single kernel popped with no burning. Oh, I love the packaging. It's got an old-timey look perfect to display on the open shelves of my kitchen. I will definitely keep buying this popcorn!" —Aquarian Here

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $17.99.

Reviewers say you'll barely hear this diffuser while it's on, and its automatic shutoff function is another much appreciated feature. It's designed to run for up to five hours and comes with nine LED light settings for a gentle glow.

Promising review: "I purchased this lovely diffuser because of the great reviews. I will add my two cents' worth. I use a CPAP at night and diffusing the aromas into the night air helps make for a more pleasing sleep experience. I recommend this fine product. It has added to the quality of life in its humble little manner." —Leone R. Burns

Get it from Amazon for $41.99+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "This blanket goes above and beyond the average blanket. If you've ever dreamed of sleeping in the pelts of 50 rabbits but don't want the guilt of all those rabbit lives, this is your blanket. It's light but warm, not too warm, just warm enough. The cats LOOKED at it and ran to the bed. Before I finished laying it out they started climbing on it, like, OK, guys, calm down! And it's huge so you can really bundle yourself up or add an extra person comfortably. This blanket just seems sexy and luxurious. I don't really know. It's magical, and it's changed my quality of life for the better." —Emma Stanley

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in five sizes and 21 colors).

Tiny Vine is a small business based in Savannah, Georgia, that makes nature-themed gifts, and their mushroom night-light ships for free!

Promising review: "This mushroom is so cute!!! It's a nice size and looks almost natural in my bathroom. The amount of light it emits is perfect." —Salem

Get it from Tiny Vine on Etsy for $15.99.

Promising review: "I bought this for my mostly blind 90-year-old grandmother after she broke her arm. She was struggling with trying to put toothpaste on with one hand while not being able to see where the toothpaste was landing or how much was coming out. I installed it on her bathroom mirror so it wouldn't destroy the wall. When I asked her today how it was working for her, her face lit up and she said that this is one of the best inventions, and that every blind person should have one." —Jae

Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "Always have on hand for unplanned sleepovers or after heavy garlic food for guests!" —Dave

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $4.96.

Promising review: "This is my second set of these towels, and I cannot say enough how much I LOVE THESE TOWELS. Seriously, I get compliments from guests at the quality of my 'everyday' towels...So much so, I'm thinking of getting some additional sets as 'Oh, you like them? Here's a set as a gift!!' to keep around...They're a perfect size (big enough to wrap around my...not small body) but, still small enough to actually be foldable to fit in my linen storage area. They wash well, and hold up well to normal washing/drying without beginning to look worn/frayed...I'd give 6 stars if I could!!" —AndrewD

Get a set of two bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths from Amazon for $33.99 (available in 15 colors).

Promising review: "Great pillows that have lasted me quite some time — nice and full, but not too full that they are awkward when used two at a time! Would recommend/purchase again myself." —Melissa

Get a set of four from Wayfair for $41.99+ (originally $149.99+, available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I have never been so surprised by how much I love a purchase. We have owned multiple air mattresses over the years, so I am used to these things taking forever to blow up and waking up in a taco of deflated bed, or at minimum a pretty uncomfortably sunken-in mess. I wasn't familiar with EnerPlex, but it said that it inflated quickly, so I thought I would give it a go. Having owned all of the big brands that you see in stores, it was time to change it up. The mattress definitely inflated as fast as described. I couldn't believe how powerful the pump is as it really isn't very big. You do need to plug it in to the wall, so keep that in mind for wherever you’re going to blow it up. The manual that came with the bed said to inflate it prior to using so I did that, but I was blown away when it was still fully inflated after sleeping on it for a full night. I think I have told everyone I know at this point how much I love this bed, seriously…get one!" —Alexa Simon

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in twin and queen sizes, and in three heights).

Promising review: "The tray is an attractive contemporary design and easy to handle. Glasses, mugs, and smaller breakfast/lunch/appetizer plates or bowls fit on it. I both got one for myself and for my best friend's birthday. My lovely friend who has a low-key aesthetic, mid-century house in California really did love the tray. She told me she uses it to bring her breakfast out of her kitchen most mornings to a more relaxing spot." —N. Erdmann

Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in two sizes and four designs).

Promising review: "I enjoyed all three flavored coffees, found them to be very smooth throughout with just the right amount of flavor. Best part of all, no bitterness. I would highly recommend these to anyone who wants a change." —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $27.59.

Promising review: "Love this little coffee maker! Small footprint, fast brewing, easy to clean, permanent metal basket, stay-hot carafe, auto turnoff — all the features of a fancy brewer at a much smaller price. Even with guests, it's easy for everyone to get a fresh, fast cup — no stale, burnt coffee sitting on the burner like with large pots. And after four years, ours is still going strong. I’d give it more than 5 stars if I could!" —Margaret S.

Get it from Amazon for $39.95.

This set includes six types of tea, including Earl Grey, green tea, mint tea, English black tea, green tea with lemon, and a spiced orange black tea.

Promising review: "I love every single flavor of these teas! Splash of milk too at night — so great! Great price for all these boxes. Make sure you get a tea organizer case so you can organize them and display them for guests ❤️" —Eaglins

Get a set of six 18-count boxes from Amazon for $16.63 (also available in other sizes and varieties).

It comes with two sticks of chalk — just be sure to hand-wash and keep it out of the microwave!

Promising review: "These are great little mugs. They are smooth and pick up chalk colors beautifully, they clean nicely with no imprinting. Very nice to gift." —MJ

Get it from Amazon for $9.95.

Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.