94 Fun Things You Can Do at Home

Photo by Esteban Cortez

Having a mega-list of things to do at home can save you from lackluster days of not knowing what to do with yourself.

Here is a long list of seize-the-day, fun things to do at home. Some of them are “fun” in the sense that you’ll feel really good having done them, and some of them will pluck your nostalgic heart strings as you’re making new memories.

Photo by Justice Darragh

If You’re in a Creative Mood

1. Try your hand at blind contour drawings.
2. Bring out that crochet project that’s been languishing in the closet.
3. Watch a drawing tutorial on YouTube and practice.
4. Practice hand-lettering.
5. Make air-dry clay bowls pressed with lace.
6. Make plant babies.
7. Spray paint some plant pots.
8. Spray paint some frames.
9. Make a celebration banner or garland.
10. Cut some paper snowflakes.
11. Color with Sharpie on aluminum foil.
12. Press some flowers.
13. Print out some favorite family photos to frame and hang on the wall.
14. Bake something.
15. Decorate cupcakes.
16. Try a new recipe.

Photo by Esteban Cortez

If You Want to Freshen Up Your Decor

1. Empty and edit. Take every single thing out of a room and then add things back piece by piece until you have just enough in the room.
2. Rearrange furniture.
3. Shop your house. See if those baskets you’ve had in the garage solve your pantry storage problem.
4. Swap curtains between rooms.
5. Clear all decor from that counter/shelf/accent and see what (if anything) you really miss.
6. Clean (see above section).
7. Cut some flowers or greenery and display them inside.
8. Declutter one small space. Find a trove of decluttering inspiration here.
9. Rainbowtize your books.

Photo by Joe Lingeman

If You Feel Like Cleaning

1. Wash the sheets. Enjoy sliding into fresh ones tonight.
2. Make a linen spray. Find some instructions here.
3. Refill your home made cleaners. For me, this would be my baking soda shakers and my Alvin Corn glass cleaner.
4. Clean your windows. I’ve got my eye on this window cleaner tool.
5. Scrub your grout. Check out this tutorial and these grout cleaning tips.
6. Dust the baseboards. Try a microfiber duster or a dusting mitt. Dryer sheets can be run over them to help repel dust.
7. Vacuum all the carpets.
8. Wash the bathmats.
9. Bleach the sink. I like to fill it up and use dissolving bleach crystals to disinfect my basin once a week.
10. Fluff the pillows. Instantly perk up a bed or the sofa cushions by giving the pillows squeezes and pats.
11. Take a Magic Eraser to the doors and doorjambs. You’d be surprised how dirty they are if you look closely.
12. Sweep your entryway. Give yourself many happy entrances home.
13. Polish your granite counters. Easy to do and part of routine maintenance anyway.
14. Clean out your purse.
15. Wash the car.

Photo by Diana Paulson

With the Kids

1. Movie night. Popcorn makes it legit. Bonus fun points if you pop your own.
2. Build a fort. You know the kind. Living room couch cushions, sheets, flashlights, the whole bit.
3. Make ice cream sundaes.
4. Have hot chocolate. Dig the packets from last Christmas out of the pantry or make your own.
5. Bake cookies. Chocolate chip, Snickerdoodles, peanut butter, whatever your fave is. Make enough to freeze some for later.
6. Do a puzzle. You’ve probably forgotten how fun and addicting it is.
7. Play a game. Current favorites around here include Blokus and Monopoly Deal.
8. Hide-and-seek or sardines.
9. Make a scavenger hunt. You’ll have a fun making up rhymes and hiding objects and then you’ll have fun watching the kids decipher the clues.
10. Read aloud. Picture books, a favorite chapter book from your childhood, or join in a book your kids are currently reading.
11. Have a coloring contest, adults included. Find a page online and print out as many copies as participants.
12. Finger knit. Find instructions here.
13. Use veggies as stamps. Check out this inspiration.
14. Have a shaving cream bath. This just means you put the littles in the tub and squirt some shaving cream on the walls for them to finger paint with.
15. Turn the sprinkler on and run through it. No explanation required, but get the camera ready to snap some idyllic scenes.
16. Play duck-duck-goose. Re-live your preschool days.
17. Camp in the back yard. “Camping” without having to pack for it.
18. Make s’mores. Extend the fun by collecting sticks for the fire beforehand.
19. Look through photo albums. Or digital pictures on the TV screen.
20. Make a bucket list. Not only will you come up with more ways to make memories together, but you’ll probably learn about some things your kids want to do that you didn’t know about.
21. Build a LEGO city. Put together the sets you have from their instructions or make your own creations.
22. Make an obstacle course. Do this inside or out. Think things to crawl under, jump over, tiptoe on, etc. If you don’t want to use furniture, use painter’s tape or crepe paper streamers.
23. Make lemonade. Find instructions for a tasty homemade libation here.
24. Blow bubbles.

Photo by Marisa Vitale

To Get Your Life In Order

Photo by Esteban Cortez

If You Just Want to Relax

1. Read a book. Find some of the mental health benefits of reading here, if you need convincing.
2. Browse your stack of magazines and then recycle them.
3. Binge watch an old favorite series. Or start a movie marathon.
4. Watch a documentary. Check out this list of top documentaries of 2019.
5. Sit outside and listen.
6. Have a picnic in your outdoor space.
7. Have a picnic on the living room floor.
8. Take a bubble bath.
9. Talk with someone over a couple glasses of wine.
10. Take a nap.
11. Swap foot rubs or back massages with a loved one at home.
12. Paint your fingernails.
13. Give yourself a pedicure.
14. Soak your feet.
15. Do an at-home face mask.
16. Place a grocery order. If you don’t have a subscription, consider a free trial to see if it’s right for you.
17. Meal prep for the coming week.
18. Make a holds list at the library.
19. Set up Subscribe & Save for regularly purchased household items.

Photo by Winkie Visser

Shifrah Combiths has been writing professionally for twenty years. She loves lifestyle photography, memory keeping, gardening, reading, and going to the beach with her husband and children.