10 Hilarious and Outrageous Home Inventions

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We all know someone who’s a little obsessed with gadgets. She was first in line for the iPhone — having camped outside the Apple store. He tempted his child with energy drinks and extra pocket money to endure hours of waiting for the PS3, and has gone to great lengths to snag a Wii Fit. These individuals spend their weekends shopping at stores like Home Depot, Brookstone, and Sharper Image to fill their homes with fun gadgets that serve no real purpose. Their partners might say that their gadget obsession is taking the fun out of their relationship.­

You’ve definitely met this person before.

This individual has invested considerable time and money to make their home a more exciting place. So, hypothetically speaking, if they were your neighbor, what would you encounter on a tour of their house? We’ve put together a list of 10 possibilities.

Some of these gadgets serve no real purpose. Others take care of tasks we often overlook or could easily do ourselves. A few simply add flair to an otherwise mundane life. And then, there are those that are genuinely practical.

10. Illuminated Fruit Bowl

Imagine you're touring the home of your gadget-loving neighbor, and your first stop is the kitchen. You notice several undoubtedly pricey but practical inventions — such as energy-efficient slide-out freezers. But then, something catches your eye — a subtle blue glow emanating from the counter. A sleek bowl sits there, with what appears to be a white faucet above it, except it’s not water flowing out, but blue light. Various fruits rest in the bowl, illuminated by the ethereal glow.

What you've encountered is the BLUE bowl, a product born from a partnership between Turkish designers Ahmet Bektes, Koray Gelmez, and Eda Kose. Not only is this bowl a visual treat, but the blue light ring helps extend the freshness of your fruit. For those of you who often buy fruit but struggle to eat it in time, this invention is your new best friend.

The device casts UV blue wavelength light over the top and around the bowl’s edges. UV light is known to deactivate certain bacteria, such as E. Coli and salmonella, as well as ethylene gas, a gas that accelerates the ripening process. [source: Science Direct]. By neutralizing these bacteria, the BLUE bowl keeps your produce fresher for a longer period.

The device is rechargeable or can be plugged in. While it isn't in production yet, the BLUE Bowl has been generating a lot of excitement online [source: Yanko Designs].

Next up, a houseplant that smiles.

9. Mood-Sensitive Houseplants

As you make your way through your home gadget tour, you get the feeling you're being observed — not by paintings with eyes, but by houseplants. One plant to your left flashes a smile and winks, another glares at you, while a third appears to be pleading for water.

The Pet Plant, designed by Junyi Heo, makes it as easy to know when to water your plant as it is to recognize when your dog is hungry. Optical sensors in the planter measure soil temperature, moisture, and light, then the device displays a digital face reflecting the plant's needs.

How is your plant feeling today? Is it mad at you for neglecting it? Is it happy? Is it on the verge of dying? Now, you can tell just by glancing at the digital face.

The pot connects to a USB cable that can download your plant's data — including soil moisture, light levels, temperature, and near-death states — directly to your computer, helping you monitor its condition. Even better, it detects when you've overwatered and drains the excess into a backup dish. The Digital Pot isn’t just great for healthy plants, but also adds a friendly touch to your home décor (well… as long as you keep watering the plants) [source: Yanko Design].

Next up, a balcony that’s as practical as a fold-out bed.

8. Fold-out Balcony

Next on your tour, your tech-savvy neighbor walks to a window, pushes it open, and prepares to step out. Before you can yell, "Don't jump!", you realize that with the press of a button, the window has transformed into a full-fledged balcony. It comfortably accommodates a small set of furniture for both of you. As you relax with drinks and watch the world pass by, your neighbor explains that in Sweden, building regulations prevent balconies from being added to apartments. The fold-out balcony allows homeowners to enjoy the luxury of a balcony without violating city codes.

The balcony consists of a robust window frame made of steel and aluminum, which is fitted into the window space. A motorized leverage system gently lowers the balcony with the assistance of reinforced steel bars. The award-winning Bloomframe folding balcony was slated to begin production in early 2008. It can be customized to fit most windows and is available in a variety of colors [source: Hofman Dujardin Architecten].

On the next page, we’ll explore a coffee table that puts on a mesmerizing light display.

7. Interactive Coffee Table

As you step back inside from the balcony (which your neighbor has now folded away), you notice another soft blue glow, this time coming from the coffee table. Your neighbor places the drink tray on the table, and the surface lights up, surrounding the tray with bright, twinkling white lights. Once the tray is removed, the lights fade to a soft blue, twinkling delicately. Then, the cat hops onto the table, and wherever it steps, the table responds, lighting up in sync with the feline’s movements.

The coffee table, known as the Wave, uses LED lights to interact with objects placed on or near its surface. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are bright white lights that don’t rely on a filament like traditional incandescent bulbs. Instead, they feature a phosphor coating that produces the white light. The Wave table’s lighting is controlled by sensors and circuitry that detect pressure and light changes when an object is placed nearby. Powered by a hidden cord, the table requires no programming or maintenance.

This coffee table isn’t just visually striking and interactive—it’s also eco-friendly. Crafted from sustainable, non-formaldehyde plywood made from American Maple, it’s coated with a water-based lacquer and consumes just 35 watts of energy when fully illuminated. Most of the time, it remains inactive, using even less energy. Depending on the tabletop material and shipping options, this coffee table can range in price from $1,795 to $2,340.

Next, we’ll explore a bathroom that has a spine.

6. The Swiss Army Bathroom

After a few rounds of refreshing balcony drinks, you excuse yourself to the bathroom. But this isn't your average restroom. A device resembling a giant Swiss Army knife takes the place of your traditional toilet, sink, and shower. A sink swivels out from the base, revealing the toilet underneath, which stays in place and empties into the connected plumbing. Sliding storage bins open, and two showerheads are revealed. The entire bathroom is a tiled room with a central drain, allowing the showerheads to be positioned wherever you prefer.

The Vertebrae bathroom unit was specifically designed for compact urban apartments to optimize available living space. Showcased at the Sony House of Tomorrow in London, it’s now available for purchase. With a wide selection of color options, this unit costs around $15,000—a reasonable price when you consider the expenses of room renovations. It fits into corners and occupies minimal space despite including several essential bathroom fixtures. [source: Design Odyssey].

Next, we'll come across a toilet lid that shuts on its own.

5. Electronic Bidet

While visiting the bathroom, the toilet lid lifts automatically to welcome you. Hesitantly, you sit down. After finishing, a warm spray from behind surprises you, making you wonder, 'Is this France?' Even more unexpectedly, the toilet flushes itself and lowers its own lid. Perplexed, you notice the toilet has a special seat attachment.

The Washlet S400, a toilet seat attachment designed by Toto, works exclusively with certain Toto toilets (shown here with the Vertebrae for storytelling purposes). Controlled by a wall-mounted remote, the Washlet can be set for automatic operation. This advanced toilet seat raises and lowers the lid (eliminating arguments with your partner), flushes automatically, and functions as a bidet, spraying warm water for ultimate cleanliness. While Toto products aren’t sold online, the Washlet can be found at retail locations across the U.S. and Canada for approximately $1,890 [source: European Sink Atlanta].

Next up, we’ll meet two majestic dogs that bark in rhythm to music.

4. Woofer Speaker System

After leaving the bathroom, you hear music playing. In the living room, you spot two white German shepherds — but they’re headless. These canine statues emit deep, resonating thuds that perfectly sync with the bass notes of the music, contributing to the overall sound experience.

These Woofer Speakers – the name is a playful pun – perform just like any typical woofer speakers, but their unique dog statue design makes them perfect for spaces like hunting lodges, rec rooms, or pop art studios. Each set includes two speakers in black or white and costs $1,479.00 (shipping is free to the U.S. and Canada). Designed by Sander Mulder, the speakers are made from polyester and feature 180-watt speakers [source: Generate].

If you’re concerned about indoor air quality, the next item on our list could be the perfect solution for your home.

3. Musical Home Oxygen Bar

You finally locate your neighbor, who is lounging in the master bedroom with his eyes closed. Soft, calming music fills the room, and you notice your neighbor inhaling deeply through what looks like a microphone headset while sporting a contented grin on his face.

Remember when oxygen bars were all the rage – people gathering to inhale oxygen in social settings? Now, you can enjoy this experience in your own home. The Zadro Oxygen Bar features built-in calming sounds and lets you add your favorite essential oils to enhance your aromatherapy session. The oxygen is delivered through a small compressor (which also functions as a speaker) that can be discreetly placed on the floor while you unwind in a chair. The compressor connects to an oxygen tube that directs the air to your nostrils, and you can infuse the oxygen filter with essential oils to 'flavor' the air. Priced at $299, the product has a quiet motor that compresses oxygen and removes excess moisture, although it's not for medical use. Breathe deeply and enjoy the rejuvenating effects of pure oxygen.

Next up, we'll discover how you can send emails from your backyard pool.

2. Pool PC

Your neighbor takes you to the backyard pool, jumps in, grabs a float, and announces it's time to order pizza – over the Internet. The float is equipped with a personal computer.

The Pool PC was designed by Barry Lai Yin Lock for the NextGen PC Design Competition. While it's not available for purchase yet, this waterproof PC is entirely feasible. Made from lightweight, floatable waterproof plastics and powered by solar energy, it eliminates the need for plugs. Unlike most computers that rely on fans for cooling, this one uses the pool water it floats on to regulate temperature. The touch-sensitive user interface removes the need for a keyboard, preventing water from getting into crevices. It also features a GPS system (in case you get stranded at sea), Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and Internet access. Additionally, a flexible attachment ensures it fits any size pool ring or inner tube.

If you're a believer in the health benefits of magnets, our top home invention is just what you need to unwind.

1. Hovering Recliner

After stepping out of the pool, your neighbor points to a reclining lawn chair that seems straight out of 'The Matrix.' In other words, it floats in midair.

Displayed at the Sony House of the Future in London, the Hoverit Recliner isn't just a regular chair. It's expertly crafted using transparent plastics and strong repelling magnets, allowing it to levitate above its base. The opposing magnetic forces between the chair and its base work together to push the chair upward. Some individuals swear by the health benefits of magnets, claiming they aid in weight loss and muscle shaping, which adds even more appeal to this floating chair.

However, a few precautions are in order. Keep this chair away from computers, credit cards, and any items with magnetic strips, as well as cell phones and large metal objects. You definitely don't want your spatula and grill flying towards you while you're trying to relax. Those with pacemakers should also avoid the chair, as it may interfere with the magnetic pulses. Additionally, older televisions and screens with cathode ray tubes could suffer from interference caused by the chair's magnetism.

That being said, you might need to set up a dedicated space just for this chair. But why worry? After all, you're here to unwind, so leave your cell phone behind. The only downside is the price tag: the chair costs $11,716, plus shipping. With only 2,000 loungers being produced, it's a rare collector's item.