THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU'RE STUCK INSIDE THE HOUSE.
/Stuck indoors? Here are 35 things to stop you going stir crazy and keep you entertained.
This page contains some affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase after clicking a link I earn a small commission but it doesn’t cost you a penny extra!
For anyone who’s stuck inside and feeling overwhelmed at the thought of filling all that time, I’ve put together a list of 35 things I think will help make this time a bit more fun and dare I say it, even productive.
Make a schedule.
I know routines and schedules aren’t for everyone but it can really help if you have a little structure to your day. Even something as simple as a morning routine can get your day off to a good start.
Write a to-do list and check things off.
You can use my printable to-do list if you want.
Free Printable To-Do List
This simple printable to-do list is a sure way to help you get organised. Print it out and use it as a daily or weekly checklist. Jot down all those things you need to get done and keep them all in one handy place.
Catch up with friends and family.
Text, email, call, facetime, skype. It all counts.
Try a new recipe.
It’s all about comfort food.
Simple Baked Italian Oregano Meatballs
So here’s the deal. Aside from Creighton, no else is very big on meatballs. The idea of ground beef rolled into a ball just isn’t our thing, BUT, I found a way to make it our thing. Instead of ground beef, I really love using spicy Italian sausage. It just adds SO much flavor and the meatballs never come out dry. Another little secret of mine? Wet bread.
Make a craft.
I’m a big fan of making things (obviously) so of course this was going to make the list. When everything seems out of control it’s a great feeling to be able to say I made this. Even if it’s only the simplest of things like this DIY wall art.
Easy Origami Wall Art
I was looking for a cheap and easy way to create some art to go in the living room when I remembered this folded paper wall art tutorial from How About Orange. It's a simple diy that I think adds a lot of impact to a room and can really brighten up a neglected corner.
Do a jigsaw.
I haven’t done a jigsaw in years but Sf Girl has got a fantastic round-up of modern jigsaws. I’ve got my eye on this one.
Tidy something.
It doesn’t have to be big. A junk drawer, your wardrobe or even a corner of your dining room if you suddenly find yourself needing space to work. Clearing the clutter always helps me feel more productive.
Watch tv.
Of course, it isn’t all about getting stuff done. Make sure to allow yourself time to binge-watch your favourite show. If you need to rewatch every episode of Friends to help you get through this tough time, do it.
Make a music jar.
This has been on my to-do list for over a year and I’m excited to finally make it happen. Fill a jar with 52 artists or bands and pick out a new artist every week. A brilliant way of getting out of a music rut or rediscovering some old favourites. You can find the original music jar idea over on A Beautiful Mess.
Our Music Jar
For our jar, we put all our favorite music in and then I took ideas on IG to fill out the rest, and we ended up with a huge variety. It’s mainly older music from the 20th century, but there are some newer artists in there as well.
Bake something.
How about these brownie cookies with rainbow sprinkles? Or if you don’t fancy baking you could always watch people bake instead and spend some time catching up on old episodes of The Great British Bake-Off.
Brownie Cookies
If you are in need of an easy-to-bake cookie recipe and are in the mood for chocolate, then do yourself a favor and bake these brownie cookies. They are SO good! And they are so simple; there’s a good chance you already have all the ingredients.
Exercise.
Urgh, this one is hard. Being stuck in the house almost seems like the perfect excuse not to do any at all doesn’t it but I always feel better for doing it. We’ve been doing Cosmic Kids yoga most mornings and my little boy loves it.
Have a picnic in the garden.
We had a pizza lunch outside in the sun yesterday and it was lovely. Any opportunity to get outside while the sun is shining.
Sort out your wardrobe.
I’ve been meaning to sort through our wardrobes for ages but have been putting it off. No excuse anymore. Now’s the time!
Read a book.
If you haven’t already you can join the library online and get a temporary pass for the next few weeks. They have a great selection of ebooks and audiobooks you can borrow. I’m currently reading this.
Listen to an audiobook.
You can get a free audiobook when you sign-up to Audible on Amazon. I signed up and I’ve got Our Stop ready and waiting.
Make some paper dolls.
Take a trip down memory lane and make some paper dolls. A quick google will bring up hundreds of tutorials and printables but I’m partial to these from A Beautiful Mess and Design Eat Repeat (good for boys and girls) and these ones from A Lovely Drawer.
DIY Paper Dolls
With us being in the midst of the holiday season, we partnered with our friends at Canon USA to create some printable paper dolls so you can make your own set at home—such a great gift!
Printable Paper Dolls, Clothes, and Accessories
Printable paper dolls are such an amazing tool for learning and play. Your kids will have hours of fun dressing up their new little friends! Includes 6 characters, lots of clothes, and wait for it… a unicorn onesie!
Paper Dolls
With two characters to dress and an array of outfits and accessories for little ones to choose from they make the perfect gift. Each illustration is originally hand painted with watercolour and inks and all items of clothing come complete with tabs to fold over and attach to the dolls.
Have a movie night.
Grab some popcorn, sweets and a rug and make an evening of it. Maybe even make a snack cup or two.
Origami Popcorn Cups
All you need to make an adorable DIY snack cup is a single sheet of paper and this simple step-by-step tutorial. You’ll be folding your own paper cup origami in no time.
Tackle a house project you’ve been putting off.
We all have those little jobs we’ve been meaning to get round to so why not tick a few off the list. The other half has been busy boarding the loft, a job we’ve been wanting to do for the last four years. I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally have somewhere to store the Christmas decorations that isn’t in the spare room.
Paint something.
Craftberry Bush has some really beautiful painting tutorials on her blog. Including hand-painted easter eggs, a painted buttercream cake and a how to paint the ocean video tutorial. She even has some printables of the finished pieces for you to download. So if you don’t fancy giving the actual painting a go you can still print it off and admire it hanging on your wall.
Hand painted Easter Eggs
I’m always able to find beauty in each season but this year, I’m especially loving spring. I’m truly enjoying the sunny days and all those little signs of spring. It had been very hard to get motivated up until a couple of weeks ago and I’m enjoying creating again.
Painted Buttercream Spring Carrot Cake
Hi friends. Me again with another spring hop full of delicious spring recipes. Make sure you check them out at the end of this post. I wanted to create something pretty and representative of spring so I made this pretty painted buttercream carrot cake. Well, the top cake is carrot, the bottom one is a dummy cake. But don’t tell anyone.
A video of how to paint ocean water with watercolor and a free printable
Hello friends. I hope you’ve been keeping well and have been enjoying your summer. I’ve started to see some pictures of my friend’s kids going back to school already and I can’t believe how fast summer has gone by. We’re also taking a little trip to the ocean before the kids go back, which inspired me to put together a little video of how to paint ocean water with watercolor.
Take an online class.
A couple of my favourites: Creative Live. You can watch their live classes for free so it’s always worth checking out what’s currently on. Creative Bug has a huge range of crafty classes. Learn sewing, crochet, hand lettering, drawing, cake decorating, card making, the list goes on. You can sign up for a free trial and then it’s billed monthly at $7.95 a month.
Take a virtual tour.
Did you know a lot of museums and galleries have online virtual tours? Here’s a couple of my favourites so far: The Natural History Museum (worth it just for that ceiling), The British Museum and The Louvre and The Royal Academy.
Learn to finger knit.
I have a whole series on how to finger knit so if it’s something you want to have a go at make sure to check it out.
Finger Knitting for Beginners
Who says you need needles to be able to knit? Finger knitting is an easy and addictive craft. Use your fingers and some yarn to make a bracelet, necklace or even a scarf. Once you get the hang of it you won’t be able to stop.
Watch a new show.
Looking forward to finally watching Killing Eve, finishing Star Trek: Picard and diving into season 2 of Altered Carbon.
Play a board game.
A few favourites in the games cupboard. Monopoly (Roald Dahl edition), Harry Potter Cluedo or maybe a game or two of Trainline. If you know someone who owns the same board game why not set up a game over Skype. Yes, it’ll probably take twice as long to complete the game but isn’t that part of the fun?
Do a puzzle.
Something to keep those little grey cells working. If you can’t get hold of a puzzle book there are loads of apps you can download for your phone or tablet. I downloaded a Sodoku app last night. And Martiza has a clever tutorial showing you how to make a printable family crossword using Silhouette Studio.
DIY Printable Crossword Puzzles
We’re homebound as most you are and my goal is to be creative with indoor activities. Which includes a lot of crafting. You don’t have to use family as a topic, but other topics of interest that will motivate them to solve the puzzle. I will be making a few more based on their interests too. If you’ll be home like we are for the next little while or heading on a road trip with your family, and looking for ideas for games for kids, then read on to make your own!
Make some origami.
A personal favourite. Origami is a good one to do if you’re stuck in the house as you don’t need any fancy materials to get started. Grab a piece of paper and you’re good to go. You can find all my origami projects here or don’t forget you can get my 20 Easy Origami Projects ebook for only £6.
How To Make Origami
Want to learn how to make origami? Here you’ll find all the origami projects I’ve made and shared on the blog so far. You’ll find a range of tutorials from the easiest beginner folds to the more advanced 3D origami.
20 Easy Origami Projects
Ever wondered how to make an easy origami butterfly, heart or box? The 20 Easy Origami Projects eBook can help. In this 123-page digital eBook you’ll find step by step photos and instructions showing you exactly how to make them and more.
Dance.
Pop on some music and have a dance party. Particularly good if you’ve got kids that need to burn off some excess energy.
Sing.
Loud and to anything that makes you feel good.
Make a playlist.
Put together a list of your favourite songs on Spotify and share with your friends.
Clean the house.
Yeah, I know. Not fun but it does help especially if you’re having to work from home.
Listen to a podcast.
I’ve got so many favourites right now. I’ll list them below and if you’ve got a favourite please pop them in the comments below. I’m always on the lookout for new ones.
Life and entertainment: A Beautiful Mess Podcast / My Favourite Murder / Tom And Lorenzo’s Pop Style Opinionfest / Craft A Life You Love / Toast / Off Menu / The Great Indoors.
Business and blogging: Simple Pin Podcast / Goal Digger / Work Like A Woman / Theory of Content / Inbox Besties / Eat Blog Talk / Blogger Genius Podcast.
Make a scrunchie.
Upcycle an old top into a cute hair scrunchie. Minimal sewing required.
Reorganise your books.
Forget sorting your books by author or title and try rainbow instead.
Take a nap.
Need I say more?
And of course you can take a stroll through the archives to find more DIY’s. If you’ve got any more ideas I’d love to hear. Please share in the comments and I’ll add them to the list!
