22 Brilliant Solutions to Everyday Problems (23 Photos)

Humans have an incredible knack for finding a way out of tight spots—or, in other words, winging it when things don’t go as planned. If you need to drive a nail and don't have a hammer nearby, you instinctively reach for a heavy, flat object or a handy rock. Got a wobbly table? Just slide a folded napkin or a coaster under the short leg. We do this with almost everything.

Thanks to human ingenuity and quick thinking, the world is full of clever fixes for everyday annoyances. Here are 22 great examples.







A well-placed solar panel combined with built-in charging ports turns this table into the ultimate shaded spot to power up your devices.





That's not a crooked table—it’s designed to be fully wheelchair accessible.



“An ‘on-air’ sign for my home office: the Wi-Fi-enabled LED strip on the door frame is synced with my work calendar. When I’m in a meeting, it glows red so the kids know not to barge in.”



Instead of single-use plastic wrap, this supermarket in Thailand uses banana leaves.



Green overhead lights in this parking garage show you which spots are open at a glance.



A custom ramp built just for ducks.



The lowest tier on this water fountain is sized just for dogs.



“Feels like the right time to finally show off the spice rack I built.”



These park benches fold out into full picnic tables.



“My new bracelet came with a paperclip to help fasten the clasp on your own.”



This shopping cart has a built-in standing platform for older kids.



“These traffic lights have handrails and footrests so cyclists don't have to dismount while waiting for a green light.”



The ultimate armchair for a dad of triplets.



A calendar made entirely from recycled paper.



“The entire text of Don Quixote is printed on the walls of the Madrid metro, so you can read while waiting for your train.”



This university vending machine stocks everything a student might suddenly need, from pads to power banks.



Pure genius!



This ruler has a slightly raised edge, making it effortless to pick up off a flat surface.



Tables mounted on rails that glide effortlessly whenever you need to rearrange the space.



A pen with a pull-out periodic table.



This egg timer changes color to show how soft or hard-boiled your eggs are in real time.



Extra-long shears made specifically for gliding through wrapping paper.