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10 Home Projects to do When You're Stuck at Home
House-bound? Break the monotony of your everyday routine with these home- and mood-enhancing disruptions
Chiquit Brammall
30 March 2020
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
Whether you’re working from home (WFH), self-isolating or actually on SHN (Stay Home Notice, because you’re such a jet setter), you’re probably feeling cabin-fever staring at your desktop or laptop monitor and the walls of your apartment.
There’s a solution – nay, several – for that. Break up your WFH day with a task that will make you – and your home – feel better when it’s accomplished. You don’t need to complete that task or home project in one day. In fact, if you’re working from home, you should be working – so you may only have one hour each day to devote to your project. But with days and days… well, you might just be able to accomplish all these projects!
Start with an hour of one of these projects. The break will help clear your mind and refresh you for when you get back to work. At the end of your chosen project, whether it takes you a couple of days or a week, you’ll have given your home a no-reno makeover that’ll set it up for healthier habits.
There’s a solution – nay, several – for that. Break up your WFH day with a task that will make you – and your home – feel better when it’s accomplished. You don’t need to complete that task or home project in one day. In fact, if you’re working from home, you should be working – so you may only have one hour each day to devote to your project. But with days and days… well, you might just be able to accomplish all these projects!
Start with an hour of one of these projects. The break will help clear your mind and refresh you for when you get back to work. At the end of your chosen project, whether it takes you a couple of days or a week, you’ll have given your home a no-reno makeover that’ll set it up for healthier habits.
1. Clear your home of clutter
If you’ve been stuck at home with your family, chances are that you’ve all created piles of paper- and schoolwork in several spots in your house. This is not relaxing, and can even lead to stress meltdowns. Reduce the visual noise by clearing your home of clutter. You could even start with just one drawer or bookshelf. Professional organiser Nathalie Ricaud of Get Organised & Beyond gives more reasons and tips on why clearing clutter is good for you. She actually says that clearing clutter boosts energy and reduces stress!
If you’ve been stuck at home with your family, chances are that you’ve all created piles of paper- and schoolwork in several spots in your house. This is not relaxing, and can even lead to stress meltdowns. Reduce the visual noise by clearing your home of clutter. You could even start with just one drawer or bookshelf. Professional organiser Nathalie Ricaud of Get Organised & Beyond gives more reasons and tips on why clearing clutter is good for you. She actually says that clearing clutter boosts energy and reduces stress!
2. Give your fridge a deep-clean
How often do you deep-clean your fridge? If you only do so in preparation for Lunar New Year reunions, your fridge is probably due for a deep-clean now. Read Give your fridge a deep clean.
How often do you deep-clean your fridge? If you only do so in preparation for Lunar New Year reunions, your fridge is probably due for a deep-clean now. Read Give your fridge a deep clean.
3. Clean your washing machine
It may seem like it’s self-cleaning, but your washing machine needs some tender loving care in order to give your clothes TLC in return. Especially in this time of viruses and bacteria, a clean washing machine will not only clean your clothes well, it will also give you some peace of mind.
It may seem like it’s self-cleaning, but your washing machine needs some tender loving care in order to give your clothes TLC in return. Especially in this time of viruses and bacteria, a clean washing machine will not only clean your clothes well, it will also give you some peace of mind.
4. Set up a shared workspace
You probably already have a study room or home office; many Singaporeans telecommute so this WFH space has become quite common. But, add a spouse or partner… and even your kids? Aiyo. In what may be a new normal, shared workspaces at home may be the key to working harmoniously with each other. Check out these family study rooms that maximise space for inspiration.
You probably already have a study room or home office; many Singaporeans telecommute so this WFH space has become quite common. But, add a spouse or partner… and even your kids? Aiyo. In what may be a new normal, shared workspaces at home may be the key to working harmoniously with each other. Check out these family study rooms that maximise space for inspiration.
5. Organise your wardrobe
Ricaud teaches these essential wardrobe organisation principles:
6 compelling reasons to organise your wardrobe
Ricaud teaches these essential wardrobe organisation principles:
- Purge
- Keep like with like (i.e. occasion, clothing type, size, colour, etc)
- Give prime spots to more frequently used clothing
- Categorise hung and folded clothes
- Choose nice hangers, and leave space for hung clothes to breathe
- File clothes, instead of piling them, in drawers
6 compelling reasons to organise your wardrobe
6. Cut down on allergens in your home
It’s not just asthmatics and allergy-prone people who can benefit from an asthma-safe home. Anyone with respiratory issues will appreciate a home that’s well-ventilated, low in humidity, and free from mould spores and dust mites.
It’s not just asthmatics and allergy-prone people who can benefit from an asthma-safe home. Anyone with respiratory issues will appreciate a home that’s well-ventilated, low in humidity, and free from mould spores and dust mites.
7. Give your bathroom a no-reno makeover
In-demand interior stylist Caroline Chin-Geyler of Arete Culture says it’s possible to spruce up a bathroom without having to renovate it. She’s done a lot of this for clients who are renting. Her no-reno tips include styling the vanity countertop like a hotel bathroom’s, bringing in fragrance and greenery, and adding some art.
In-demand interior stylist Caroline Chin-Geyler of Arete Culture says it’s possible to spruce up a bathroom without having to renovate it. She’s done a lot of this for clients who are renting. Her no-reno tips include styling the vanity countertop like a hotel bathroom’s, bringing in fragrance and greenery, and adding some art.
8. Make space for fitness
You need to stay fit to be healthy, but what if you can’t even go out? Then it’s time to bring the gym or yoga studio to your home. No equipment? Use canned goods as weights. Need more ideas? Check out these 22 uplifting home gyms, yoga spaces and more.
You need to stay fit to be healthy, but what if you can’t even go out? Then it’s time to bring the gym or yoga studio to your home. No equipment? Use canned goods as weights. Need more ideas? Check out these 22 uplifting home gyms, yoga spaces and more.
9. Be mindful
Mindfulness is also one of the things we need to help us de-stress. Whether you pray or meditate (or both!), creating a space that’s conducive will encourage you to spend some time doing this stress-relieving exercise. Sign up for a daily devotional email or download a mindfulness app like Headspace, and use it in your mindful space. I like Headspace because it only requires 10 minutes, and I’m good to tackle the rest of the day’s work.
Mindfulness is also one of the things we need to help us de-stress. Whether you pray or meditate (or both!), creating a space that’s conducive will encourage you to spend some time doing this stress-relieving exercise. Sign up for a daily devotional email or download a mindfulness app like Headspace, and use it in your mindful space. I like Headspace because it only requires 10 minutes, and I’m good to tackle the rest of the day’s work.
10. Jumpstart your home herb garden
Gardening is therapeutic, and being able to use your own harvest is just bonus reward. Try these six herbs for your edible garden: basil, mint, rosemary, chives, oregano, coriander.
Plant ideas for bakers and cooks
Tell us
We’d love to hear what home project you decide to take up during this time! Share a photo in the Comments, or simply write in below.
More
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Read more home health stories
Gardening is therapeutic, and being able to use your own harvest is just bonus reward. Try these six herbs for your edible garden: basil, mint, rosemary, chives, oregano, coriander.
Plant ideas for bakers and cooks
Tell us
We’d love to hear what home project you decide to take up during this time! Share a photo in the Comments, or simply write in below.
More
Find a renovation professional in Singapore
Read more home health stories
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