8 Home Improvement Projects You Can Do While Staying at Home

The pandemic has changed everyday life for people around the globe. Public health and safety measures remain mostly intact, with non-essential travel being heavily discouraged. While staying at home is a big departure from your pre-pandemic routine, it is crucial to avoid exposure to COVID-19.

In fact, this is an excellent opportunity to spruce up your living space. Here are eight home improvement projects you can take on while staying safe at home.

Repaint old furniture

Picture this—you’re sitting on your favorite chair or setting a cup of tea down on a beloved table. You want to shake things up in your home, but you can’t bear to part with the furniture you have now. The answer is simple: breathe new life into old but loved pieces with a fresh coat of paint.

Photo by Kathy Marshall Design

To give your beloved pieces a color makeover, you’ll need some sanding paper, rubbing alcohol or any similar cleaning solution, primer, and a can of your paint of choice. You can choose to paint over or replace any existing hardware or fittings for extra flair.

Create a gallery wall

Gallery walls give your space character and tell a story about who you are and what you like. The best part? You can hang almost anything on them—precious photographs, memorabilia, collector’s items, and even handmade collages. Finding items for your gallery wall can also be a great way to bond with your loved ones while at home.

Photo by Form4 Architecture

The key is to have a central theme or color scheme to tie everything together. Try using frames of different sizes to keep things visually pleasing.

Organize your wardrobe

Spending more time at home means fewer opportunities to flaunt your wardrobe. Fortunately, this also means you have the chance to sort through and organize your clothes.

Photo by Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. (CKD, CBD, CR)

Find anything off-season or strictly for events only? Store them away in boxes to free up closet space. Deciding what to do with old, ill-fitting, or outdated pieces? Start selling them online. Having a hard time keeping track of your growing collection? Consider using closet organizing apps to better document each article of clothing.

Retile your backsplash

Maybe your backsplash has seen better days, or you’re growing tired of looking at the same, boring tile pattern every day. Updating your backsplash is relatively simple, so long as you have the materials on hand.

Photo via Houzz

Your new backsplash may stay in harmony with your pre-existing kitchen decor or provide much-needed contrast with bold color choices or tile shapes.

Start an urban garden

There are many reasons why people, especially millennials, are attached to houseplants—from finding a more sustainable alternative to children or pets and cultivating a green space in an urban environment to creating a bond with nature.

Photo by Revolution Design House

Consider starting your urban garden with herbs and vegetables that can grow within your allotted space. Not only will you have greenery to detoxify the air, but you’ll also have delicious and fresh greens to use for your meals. Just make sure to consider each plant’s needs when picking a space for them to grow.

Add an accent wall

Creating an accent wall for your home can be a fun and simple way to introduce a pop of color in a room. It can be as simple as picking an eye-catching shade to letting your creative juices flow and freehanding a design or pattern.

Photo by Gacek Design Group, Inc.

Not too confident about your painting skills? Try creating geometric shapes using a three- or four-color palette. Additionally, you can cheat the freehand by picking out a pretty wall decal!

Declutter your belongings

It can be tough to relax in a messy and cramped home. Being home more often can even amplify the effects of clutter on your well-being. Decluttering and organizing your things can help restore your peace of mind.

Photo by Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design

When you declutter, take the time to think about each item you encounter: what purpose does it serve in your home? Is there anything else you own that does the job better? Do you still like having it around? Do you still have space for it?

The answers to these questions should make it easier for you to keep the things you like and know which ones to donate, dispose of, or sell.

Update your interior layout

Seeing the same setup in your home can get monotonous and boring. What better way to get a change of scenery by updating your interior layout?

Photo by Burbeck Interiors ltd

Experiment with the placements of key items like seating and tables, as well as lighting fixtures and decor. Try swapping items from different rooms to keep your spaces fresh and exciting. Make sure all your changes are grounded in the purpose of the space. If it gets in the way of what the room is for, then your layout needs to go.

As the world slowly transitions into the “new normal,” it may take some time before it’s safe to travel outside again. In the meantime, you can use your extended homestay to improve your living spaces. With some simple changes, you can both live better and feel better.

About the Author

Michael Hill is the Marketing Manager at Ayala Land International. He believes that everyday is a chance to learn something new. On his free time, he writes about home improvement, personal finance, and lifestyle articles while listening to soul and jazz music.