This article was originally published on tv-bee and has been republished here with permission.
This pandemic has been going on for a while now, and it's fair to say that it made us all a lot more bored, but also creative. We've collected some of the most creative ideas out there to get your energy up and COVID fatigue down! Whether you're artsy, techy, or handy, we're sure you'll find something that ignites your enthusiasm!1. Pet Project
Quarantine really brought some people closer with their pets, something about being stuck inside in close quarters can either drive you to madness or greatness. If being inside with your pet all day brought you to the latter, consider doing a fun project that they’d benefit from.
This Reddit user completely redid their dog Rusty’s living room. Complete with a sign, mailbox, and cute window flowers this project spruced up their house and gave Rusty sweet new digs.
2. Miniature Set
If you don’t have space for any big quarantine projects don’t worry, this little miniature set will take up no room. You can buy kits online from sites like Amazon which enable you to build a miniature room from scratch, no skill required!
You might even get inspired to make a tiny replica of something important to you, maybe your own house or your childhood bedroom. Either way, this is a great new hobby to pick up when you’re stuck indoors and enjoy doing something detail orientated.
3. Pool Table
If crafting isn’t your niche or maybe you’re just too lazy to order all the supplies try working with what you’ve already got at home. This couple used fruits and a dining room table to make a pool table, hope he wasn’t planning on eating those for a snack later!
Fair warning, sometimes buying supplies can save you a mess, we’re not sure how long a tomato as a pool ball can last without something going wrong. The good thing is in lockdown you have nothing but time to clean up any messes you might make.
4. Concert
Lockdown is a great time to brush up on a hobby you might have not used in years, or learn a new one! This family decided to put on a neighborhood concert to show off their musical talent and bring some joy to their community.
Just remember to follow recommended guidelines when doing any sort of event! This group made sure to stay in their bubble (their household) and social distance by staying in their yard while their neighbors watched from a safe distance away.
5. Renovate
This one is for all the construction workers or architects stuck at home. Miss getting your hands dirty and working on a project? Maybe look around your own home and see if there’s a corner that needs improvement, a basement that’s been forgotten about, or just space to completely redesign something.
This Reddit user did just that by completely revamping their basement bathroom. It did require some technical skill and lots of materials, but the end result is worth it wouldn’t you say?
6. Learn to stitch
Learning a new skill during quarantine can be a great way for you to use your time. It can challenge you, give you something to be excited about, and is satisfying when you finish it. Lots of people discovered needlework like cross-stitching or embroidery as the perfect outlet for this.
This user recreated The Shire from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The cute Hobbit home is dotted with flowers and a cobblestone path. If you were going to remake one of your favorite fantasy movie scenes what would it be?
7. House Makeover
There aren’t many times in your life when you have enough free time and boredom to paint your whole house. But if we’ve learned anything during the COVID-19 Pandemic it’s that you need to expect the unexpected and be prepared to stay at home just a little while longer.
So why not paint your whole house? It’s a fun project that everyone in the family can get involved in and you don’t necessarily need technical skills if you can follow online instructions pretty well. A bright new coat of paint can completely spruce up your house and will last for years to come.
8. Fancy Dinner Night
Restaurants may be closed but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the fine dining experience you love from right at home. This couple decided to mix things up and put on a fancy dinner for their kids. You get to dress up, try some new recipes, and get a break from the lockdown rut you’ve been stuck in.
Don’t have kids? Not to worry you can take turns with a partner or roommate to put on a fancy meal for each other. Even if you live alone why not take the chance to do something nice for yourself? P.S. We won’t judge you if you still order take-out.
9. Ping Pong Obstacle Course
If you’re the type of person who likes a challenge then this activity is for you. Creating a ping pong ball obstacle course only takes a ping pong ball, lots of creativity and time, and anything you can find around the house.
This household made use of stairs, books, pots, and pans to name a few to see how versatile and long an obstacle course they could make. This is a great way to take over the house for a day and give yourself the challenge to complete.
10. Pet Challenge
One of the cool things to come out of lockdowns was the viral challenges that people came up with and then recreated all over the world. This one involves your pets and a toilet paper obstacle course to jump over (hopefully when you try this the toilet paper craze part of the pandemic has long passed).
The setup is simple, start with a short wall of toilet paper rolls and try and get your pets to jump over it. With each successful jump, you add another layer making the wall higher and higher. If you have multiple pets you can see who’s the most agile out of them!
11. Movie Theater Night
Miss going out to the movie theaters? The overly buttery popcorn, the sweet counter, and the big-screen TVs. Well, this activity brings the fun of a movie theater home to you. Buy some microwave popcorn, decorate the kitchen, and put on the movie bringing movie night to you.
This family even went as far as to make fake movie tickets to hand out to the attendees. This is a great activity for the whole family too, put on the show for your kids and enjoy some quiet time to yourself.
12. Pet Tower
This is another one dedicated to all the pet lovers out there. Got one too many cardboard boxes sitting around? Well, why not combine the pet love and the extra cardboard into creating a pet kingdom.
This is great considering how expensive online pet structures can be. It also is a fun activity that you can get creative with. All you need is masking tape and cardboard boxes! (We knew that Cheerio addiction would come in handy!).
13. DIY Suncatcher
Sometimes the most fulfilling thing you can do with your time is to make a gift for someone else. This Reddit user made a gorgeous DIY suncatcher with glass beads in the shape of a tree of life, which they gave as a Mother’s Day Gift.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has challenged families all over the world, so why not take some time to honor the ones you love with a gift. It might not be something as complicated as this piece, but even a letter to a loved one can mean the world to someone.
14. Coffee Table
Got an old hobby you haven’t had time to work on in the last few years? Why not break it out in quarantine? This Reddit user created an intricate coffee table that lifts up to make use of the space.
Woodworking requires a lot of technical skill, but it also takes a lot of time, so some people might let tools gather dust in the garage. Try getting online and get inspired with some Youtube videos and if woodworking is something you're familiar with then get busy!
15. Backyard Renovation
Since you’re stuck at home so much during this time you might as well take some time to spruce up your house. This Reddit user decided to do just that with their backyard area. They added beautiful string lights, comfy cushions, and some decor.
Try thinking about an area of your home that you don’t make the most of, or maybe that you love but need some TLC on. It could be a porch outside like this example, or a reading nook, or even adding some new art to your living room.
16. House Plants
Being locked down means you’re indoors a lot, so for this challenge, we’re bringing the nature you’re missing inside for you. House plants are a great way to bring some nature indoors, lighten up an area, decorate, and can help combat depression!
This Reddit user created a gorgeous indoor garden with plants on shelves cascading on the wall. You might need a ladder to water the plants up at the top, but besides that, this space is low maintenance and beautiful.
17. Stained Glass Activity
Stained glass doesn’t have to be something you only see in old cathedrals or churches, this Reddit user found a way to make stained glass windows right at home. All they used was painters tape and whiteboard markers, but the effect is perfect! Gorgeous colors shine through when the sunlight hits.
This is a great project to keep kids of any age occupied for a few hours if you need some peace and quiet. The tape helps make sure they know where to color and if you use the right materials it’s completely washable all the end.
18. Home Gym
Not everyone has spent their days indoors binging Netflix and eating too many snacks, some people got motivated to use the time to get in shape. Since you might be confined to your house why not take the opportunity to invest in a home gym?
A home gym can be as simple as a space set aside for some weights and a jump rope, buying a treadmill, or going all out as this person did by renovating their basement. This home gym has all the equipment you need to motivate you to get in shape.
19. Home Office
2020 was the year for sitting and working at home (do you even remember a time when Zoom wasn’t in your vocabulary?). Instead of dreading having to go to your home office space, your quarantine project can be revamping your space into a cool desk like this.
This person created this space for his wife, using a ladder and shelving units. Adding accessories like house plants and storage boxes is also a great way to make the space feel homey. As a plus, this also might help you organize piles of office supplies around the house!
20. Renovate a Garden
If you’ve got a green thumb and a knack for landscaping then this one's for you. This user completely redid a section of their backyard with new tiles on the ground, a bench to relax on, and plenty of new plants to liven the area.
Gardening can be a great hobby in lockdown because you can watch your hard work come to pass as your plants grow as the weeks pass. They can also make your area where you spend all your time feel more life-giving and energetic.
21. Home Bar
For some of us, the endless lockdown might have driven us to a drink once or twice. Why not take your alcohol game to the next level by investing in a home bar. It’s a great way to host friends, once lockdown ends of course, and an aesthetic place to store your alcohol.
Having a bar can also help you learn fun new drinks, maybe try having a competition with your social bubble to see who can come up with the most creative and delicious drink!
22. Build Something
Being stuck inside so much can make someone appreciate the beautiful outdoors when you do get the chance to go outside. This Reddit user decided to make the most of their free time by making a canoe by hand out of beautiful cedarwood.
Sometimes the best quarantine project is one you might not even get to use during quarantine. You might not know how to build a canoe by yourself, but undoubtedly you have some skills you can put to good use to reap the benefits after the pandemic ends.
23. Custom Board Game
The Settlers of Catan is a board game cult classic for players all over the world. You conquer territories, trade with other players, and have fun all while doing it.
This Reddit user created a custom Settlers of Catan board using various types of wood to fit into this beautiful piece. This is a great project because as soon as it’s done you can play with it. It’s authentic and creative and would make a great gift for a board game lover in your life.
24. Higher Education
Lockdown is a great time to invest in things you may have been putting for years. For this Reddit user, it was getting his Master’s degree. Pursuing higher education can open new doors for jobs, higher-paid positions, and can give you an opportunity to learn about things you’re interested in.
Many universities offer courses online nowadays which means you can get a degree from the comfort of your home. Perhaps it’s not a Masters's, but maybe an undergrad you’re interested in. Or even just taking a few electives in subjects you’re interested in.
25. Goofy Photoshoot
Need a laugh after weeks of the same routine? Then this project is for you. These Reddit users decided to embrace the goofiness with a 1990’s inspired ‘awkward couple’ photoshoot.
Break out the ugly sweaters and raid your dad’s wardrobe, these photos will have you laughing for weeks. They are also great mementos from this crazy, unpredictable time we’re living in. If professional photographers aren’t open yet, just hang up a sheet for a backdrop and get creative!
26. Vegetable Garden
Learning how to garden can be a fulfilling and rewarding task which you can pursue in lockdown. Since you have plenty of time you can invest in water and taking care of your plants daily, which helps get you some Vitamin D too.
Why not create a vegetable garden while in lockdown? Do some research into seasonal vegetables and fruits for your area and in a few weeks, you can eat the literal fruits of your labor.
27. Adopt a Pet
Adopt a pet! We’ve listed quite a few projects which involve pets in this post, so if you’re feeling left out why not look into adopting a pet? Adopting is a great option because it rescues animals and provides them a home. It can also help you feel less lonely if you’ve been isolated a lot recently.
If you don’t think you can commit to full adoption, don’t worry, many shelters offer foster opportunities where you can care for pets for a few weeks while they wait for more permanent homes.
28. Dye Your Hair
There’s one bonus about not seeing people for months--you can experiment with hair dye! Since you’re not going outside why not go a little crazy and try some colors you’ve always wanted but maybe have never been brave enough to try.
You can look into both permanent and temporary hair dyes depending on your level of commitment. Make sure to follow a tutorial online, since most hair salons aren’t open yet.
29. Learn to Sew
Shopping online can be tough if you like to try on your clothes first or maybe are just really particular about what you buy, but sadly that’s the only option for most people right now. If you’re into fashion or love making things why not experiment with making your own clothes?
For most designs, you need a sewing machine and a set design to follow, but for smaller sewing projects like bags or scarves, you might not need all the equipment. This is also a great way to get rid of old clothes by reusing their fabric.
30. Do a Jigsaw Puzzle
Puzzles are a great fun activity to fill your time. They are pretty cheap online and you only need a table to work on them. There is also a wide variety of styles and difficulties, so maybe you start with something easy and work your way to harder ones!
If you really get into jigsaw puzzles there are even sites where you can print your own with a photo you love and they’ll ship it to you. After you finish it you can even paste it down and frame it to hang on your wall.
31. Painting
Take up painting. Painting is a great creative outlet when stuck at home for days on end. You can buy supplies online and freehand or even buy a paint by numbers kit if you aren’t feeling too sure of yourself.
This Reddit user completed numerous paintings in lockdown and now even plans to sell them online. Perhaps painting is something you’ve never had time to engage, but now you can even see if you can make a profit from it.
32. Learn Photography
Pull out your camera. Photography can transform the world around you into new things to explore and capture the beauty of. Whether it’s people you live with and capturing their portraits or just the nature around your house, it’s a great hobby to have.
This Reddit user used lockdown to practice his macro photography. Macro photography is all about getting up close and personal with the subject, in this case, a flower. Some newer smartphones can even do this too if you don’t have a DSLR camera.
33. Embroidery
This Reddit user’s COVID-19 project is to embroider a jean jacket with well-loved characters from the Simpsons tv show. Embroidering your own clothes is a way to elevate them to the next level and make them unique.
Embroidering is basically just sewing designs onto things and it can be as hard or easy as you make it. You can embroider jean jackets, pockets on shirts, handkerchiefs, and even hats! What could tv-show character would you do?
34. Crocheting
Sometimes people associate crocheting as an old woman’s hobby, but this Reddit user showed that anybody can do it and turn yarn into something incredible. They created a lovely throw blanket with alternating colors and guaranteed to keep you warm and cozy.
You aren’t just limited to crocheting blankets either, a quick internet search will show you the possibilities from clothing to scarves to art pieces. You could even take commissions from friends and family to make blankets for a small fee.
35. Get Musical
Music has a way of comforting the lonely, bringing joy, and matching just about every other emotion you can think of. In the last year, this Reddit user decided to embrace his musical talent a little more by making his own custom guitar.
If making a guitar seems a little out of your reach you might just settle for learning how to make one. Sign up for a course online and you can watch videos or video call with an instructor to come out of lockdown with a new musical skill.
36. Learn a Language
This Reddit user went to town creating a language learning study guide that can help you learn any language you want to. Maybe this will inspire you to learn a new language while at home this year!
Learning a new language is easy with online sources like DuoLingo or Babylon. They require a small time commitment daily and then you can progress through levels of competency over time. What language have you always wanted to learn?
37. Baking
If there’s one thing that makes being stuck at home more fun it’s having delicious food to eat all day. This Reddit user made homemade focaccia bread with rosemary fresh from their garden during the lockdown.
Learning how to bake will make you a popular member in your household--who doesn’t like freshly baked treats? Maybe you learn how to make your own bread, decorate cookies, or perfect the perfect pasta recipe while in lockdown.
38. Movie Marathon
If you’ve been spending a lot of time watching tv you might as well go all the way and do a giant tv marathon. This Reddit user did just that by watching 53 hours straight of Marvel movies!
Tv marathons involve lots of snacks, can be fun with friends and is a great way to binge on your favorite series. Can’t decide between Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Try them both! You’ve got the time after all.
39. Pick up a Book
Sometimes a quarantine project doesn’t have to have new supplies or fancy equipment, maybe it’s just sitting down and reading a book. For this Reddit user it wasn’t just a book, but a whole book series.
In our normal routines, it can be hard to find time to sit down and read a book. It takes patience and a relaxed mind, not to mention lots of peace and quiet. But it’s the perfect way to escape from the world you’re stuck in and find adventure in a book’s pages.
40. Color
Coloring isn’t only for kids. Adult coloring books have become all the rage in the last couple of years. They are supposed to help reduce anxiety and are a fun creative outlet that doesn’t require much skill.
There are all sorts of adult color books you can buy online or bookstores, with different themes like a fantasy one shown here, or ocean or garden themes. If you have young kids this is a great way to bond with them too.