5 Home Projects To Tackle During Stay At Home Orders

The United States has been under stay at home orders for about a month now and no one knows how much longer they might last. While this may be making you a bit stir crazy, you can choose to use this extra time to your benefit. 

Chances are, you've had a few home projects on your to-do list for a while. Until now, you simply haven't had the time to accomplish them. Now, however, you have all the time in the world, so why not tackle a few? Doing so can prevent boredom and leave you feeling refreshed, even in uncertain times like these. 

1. Plant Some New Friends 

On your next trip to the grocery store, grab a succulent, a fern or some seeds to plant your own. Adding a few leafy greens to your indoor space can brighten up the atmosphere and bring the outdoors in. This is especially important right now when your time outside may be very limited. Moreover, plants may actually reduce psychological and physiological stress, which is especially relevant and useful in uncertain times like these. 

Additionally, if you happen to have a backyard or garden on your property, spend some time caring for it. Plant some bright blooms or maybe some vegetables or herbs. If your local grocery store has banned the sale of plants and gardening supplies, you can easily order items online. From plants to seeds to potting soil, you'll find almost everything you need with a quick internet search. 

2. Upgrade Your Garage

You might also choose to upgrade your garage space during stay at home orders. Reimagine your garage by asking yourself how you might use it and what kind of storage space it already offers. Think about what kind of alterations you might need to make depending on how you plan to renovate it. For instance, if you plan to make it a second living room, you might also have to install a heating and cooling system, new flooring and insulation.  

If money is no object, however, your upgrade options are practically limitless. If you love crafting or woodworking, you might turn the space into a workshop. Or, if you miss going to the gym, you might turn the garage into a home gym, complete with weight racks, rubber mats and punching bags. Other options might include a bar, man cave, playroom for the kids, a musician's practice room or even a guest room. 

3. Paint Touch-Ups

As quarantine drags on, many homeowners have taken to painting their walls. While this is a great way to brighten up space within your home, you might not want to take on such a big project right now, especially with kids and pets running about. Instead, tackle smaller projects with touch-up painting. This is an easy way to freshen up pieces of furniture, floorboards, picture frames, window sills and other objects. 

Take a small paintbrush or a q-tip to dings or scratches around the house. Fill in nail holes and repaint stained kitchen walls or tabletops. Of course, this project may seem a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you notice a lot of dings and peeling paint around the house. Make the project more manageable by tackling one room at a time one day at a time. Keep in mind there is no deadline for this project, either. Plus, you can always use some of this extra time at home to use sites like MyHousePainter (https://www.myhousepainter.com/painters/pennsylvania/) to find a local painter near you who you may wish to call in order to get the bigger jobs done once quarantine has been lifted.

4. Deep Clean

While you likely already clean your home on a weekly basis, there are a number of nooks and crannies you probably overlook during this routine cleanings. These areas might include ceiling and floor corners, crown molding, light fixtures or window sills. These places tend to collect dust and dirt which can cause allergies and even make their way into your bloodstream, resulting in other more serious health issues. 

Use this time, therefore, to deep clean, paying special attention to these trouble spots. Throw on some rubber gloves and treat your appliances to cleaning as well. How long has it been since you've cleaned the crumbs from your toaster? Do you remember the last time you scrubbed your stovetop? Now is the perfect time to tackle these tasks. Choose one room to deep clean each day to make the project more manageable. 

5. Build Something 

If you're used to working or doing things with your hands, quarantine may be making you a little stir crazy. At this point, you may have already tried knitting, sewing, drawing or painting. If you're looking for something else to do — or simply dislike the aforementioned hobbies, you might try building something. This can give you a sense of purpose and fill the seemingly endless hours of quarantine. 

There are a number of useful things you can build with your own two hands and odds and ends lying around the house. In fact, you may not even have to visit the local hardware store depending on what you already have. Build a birdhouse, a spice rack, a mailbox or another small item with leftover wood scraps and a few nails. Shelving is also incredibly simple to make and hang. You can also remodel your bathroom to upgrade your home. It is a whole lot easier when you install a high quality sanicompact unit because it doesn’t require additional plumbing and major construction. It is also highly effective and cost-efficient.

Do What Makes You Happy 

In such uncertain times, it's important to fill your time with things that make you happy. These few, simple projects may be fun in and of themselves. However, they might also leave you feeling refreshed and encouraged because, when your home is clean and tidy, you'll be able to relax a bit more. Everyone could use a bit of stress-relief right now.