I am going to start this off by saying I hope you, your friends, and your family are healthy and safe. To say this pandemic is strange and terrifying, is a complete understatement. I would like to take this moment to acknowledge that. I am personally allowing you to say it out loud, this really sucks.
I am a self-proclaimed homebody. I would rather sit on my friends’ back porch, drink wine, and be in bed by 11 any day of the week… so you think I would be thriving right?! Wrong. That’s because I also love to be busy. I love it when I have a week full of site visits, meetings with new clients, home stagings, furniture deliveries, and fun activities planned with my friends. As I sit down to write this, I have technically only been “social distancing” for a few days. I am fine so far, but the words “indefinitely” are unsettling.
I shared a list of fun home projects you can do while social distancing on my Instagram earlier this week:
You all also shared some of the projects you have decided to tackle around the home, so I thought it would be great to consolidate all of those wonderful ideas here. I’m also going to share some fun and inspiring photos, because why not? I have time…
Cleaning & Organizing
Some of you may love this, and some of you might be dreading this. BUT I promise you, it will be more bearable to be stuck in your house for the next few weeks if it is clean, uncluttered, and organized.
1. Full Spring Cleaning! I am talking baseboards, all of the blinds, every knob and cabinet. Go crazy. You can do it all in one weekend or just tackle one room at a time.
2. Organize your pantry and cabinets. Check expiration dates on your foods and medications, then finally get rid of all of those free beauty samples you know you won’t use again. I suggest going to Home Edit for inspiration. I have also watched this video way too many times.
3. Marie Kondo your closet. Go through clothes, underwear, workout gear, linens, towels, shoes, bags, and then go back and double check those shoes and bags. Here is a fun 30 day challenge if you want to tackle this one day at a time.
4. Organize your junk drawers (we all have them)
5. What’s that one part of your house that absolutely drives you crazy? The playroom? The entryway? Tackle it, you will not regret it, I swear.
Pantry Design by The Home Edit
Fridge Organization, The Home Edit
Entry Storage Unit at Urban Outfitters
Landscape & Gardening
Since we will be stuck in our homes for a bit, you might as well make the only safe outdoor space you have, your ultimate oasis. If you don’t have a backyard or patio, then get a couple green friends to keep you company. Here is one of my old blogs, I discuss how to take care of houseplants and which ones are low maintenance.
1. Clean up your back patio or any outdoor space and set it up as your ultimate oasis. Dust off that patio furniture, it’s spring! Get some cute candles or outdoor lights, grab a good book and enjoy your space.
2. Re-pot your growing plants, give them the space they deserve! Some tips on re-potting here.
3. Build your own succulent arrangement or terrarium. If you can’t get down to your local gardening store, you can find kits online and get them shipped. This is also a fun project to do with kids if you are running out of projects. Here is a cute kid friendly terrarium kit I found on Etsy.
4. Pull weeds, mow the lawn, trim the bushes. This isn’t as fun, but it is necessary, so adding it to the list. Just look at that hedge! Who is she?!
5. Create your own greenery wall! I purchased these really cool planters to hang on our fence last year and I love them so much… I bought more.
WallyGro via PalmBeachPlantGuy
Design Changes
1. Paint or wallpaper an accent wall! There are some really great online stores who can sell wallpaper and paint online.
2. Re-arrange your furniture. If your current layout is not working anymore or you just need a change, then switch it up! It is the easiest way to make your space feel different without having to spend any money.
3. Get a new area rug or new bedding. I think I have confessed this to you in my Annie’s Home Style blog series, but I have done this to my master bedroom at least once a year. Again, it’s just a simple way to freshen up your space and make it feel new.
4. Hang up some wall décor or a new shelf. This is for those of you who still have all of your art stored in your extra bedroom and just “never got around to it” no excuses now, get it done.
5. Take the time to set up your smart home. Ryan’s favorite part about our home is that he can come home and say “hey google turn on the lights” and then 43, YES 43, light bulbs will turn on (it’s okay our dining room chandelier is like 15 of those 43). If this is something you have always wanted to do (and can afford) then go for it. We love that we can lay in bed and turn off that light we forgot in the living room or dim the lights when we are watching a movie.
Oprah wants you to Feng Shui Your Home, image via Pinterest
DIY Projects
I am not a huge DIY person, if it will take me more than 2 days, I will usually hire out. But this whole social distancing thing might change that? I don’t know, but here are a few cute DIY crafts that I think are inspiring and pretty simple.
1. Paint pots for your new plant babies. This could also be a really fun project with the kiddos.
2. Spruce up the front of your house with a new house number display..
3. Okay this one might require a trip to the store, maybe you can find online to get shipped? Any way, if you are going to be home, you might as well make your backyard amazing, so build a fire pit!
4. Update an old piece of furniture by painting it!
5. Tie dye but make it cute. Indigo dying is a fun way to add some more artistic (but sophisticated) pieces to your home. Think napkins, curtains, tote bags, pillow cases, sheets?!
Via The Small Step
DIY Painted Pots form Renae Karissa
Modern House Number Sign inspiration
Fire pit backyard Inspiration via Pinterest
Design Inspiration via Pinterest
Design Inspiration via Richards Stanisich
I hope these ideas have provided some form of inspiration during this time and will keep you busy. Please share with me any of your completed projects either in the comments below or on our social channels (Instagram or Facebook). If you have any new ideas, let us know and we will be sure to share.
Stay safe and cheers!
Annie