125 Fun Things to Do at Home, Anytime (and Often for Free)

When the warm weather heads for the hills and the sunshine turns to sleet, it’s time to seek out indoor entertainment. Sure, those deck parties with margaritas and music can’t be topped, but rest assured there are still plenty of fun things to do with friends and family, or by yourself — all at home.

After all, there’s an argument to be made for downtime. Like the hygge movement from the Danish folk, there’s something comforting about having a day where you just stay home and don’t spend money on excess belongings. In case you need a few new ideas, we’ve rounded up a ton of fun, nearly free things to do at home. Having a mega-list of things to do at home is a great way to encourage yourself and your family to build these slow-down days into your calendar. If you’re looking for some great ideas of things to do at home, you’ve come to the right place! Here are 125 of our very favorites.

1. Check out some of the simple art ideas on Instagram Reels.
2. Learn the art of amigurumi.
3. Watch a watercolor tutorial on YouTube.
4. Try your hand at blind contour drawings.
5. Bring out that crochet project that’s been languishing in the closet.
6. Watch a drawing tutorial on YouTube and practice.
7. Practice hand-lettering.
8. Make air-dry clay bowls pressed with lace.
9. Make plant babies.
10. Spray-paint some plant pots.
11. Spray-paint some frames.
12. Make a celebration banner or garland.
13. Cut some paper snowflakes.
14. Color with Sharpie on aluminum foil.
15. Press some flowers.
16. Print out some favorite family photos to frame and hang on the wall.
17. Bake something. Try something challenging, like a multi-layer cake or French macarons.
18. Decorate cupcakes.
19. Try a new recipe.
20. Do some needle felting.
21. Make friendship bracelets.
22. Make your own jewelry using a jewelry-making kit.
23. Make a photo book. 

1. Create an accent wall.
2. Wallpaper something.
3. Empty and edit. Take every single thing out of a room and then add things back, piece by piece, until you have just enough in the room.
4. Rearrange furniture.
5. Repurpose items. See if those baskets you’ve had in the garage solve your pantry storage problem.
6. Swap curtains between rooms.
7. Clear all decor from that counter/shelf/accent and see what (if anything) you really miss.
8. Clean. You’ll be amazed at how much better your decor looks when there’s little to no clutter around.
9. Cut some flowers or greenery and display them inside.
10. Declutter one small space. (We have plenty of decluttering inspiration.)
11. Rearrange your books and choose some to donate to a local library.
12. Create a distressed look on a piece of furniture with the use of chalk paint.
13. Print out some photos you’ve been meaning to display. 
14. Browse frame TV art on Etsy, buy something new, and add it to your TV. 

1. Clean under your bed.
2. Clean your dryer ducts.
3. Use car cleaning putty to clean debris out of the nooks and crannies of your car.
4. Wash your sheets. Enjoy sliding into fresh ones tonight.
5. Make a linen spray.
6. Refill your homemade cleaners. 
7. Clean your windows. Try this window cleaner tool.
8. Scrub your grout. Check out our favorite grout cleaning tips.
9. Dust the baseboards. Try a microfiber duster or a dusting mitt. Dryer sheets can be run over them to help repel dust.
10. Vacuum all the carpets, blinds, and fans.
11. Wash your bath mats.
12. Bleach the sink.
13. Fluff the pillows. Instantly perk up a bed or the sofa cushions by giving the pillows squeezes and pats.
14. Take a Magic Eraser to the doors and door jambs. High-traffic areas like these can get dirty faster than you think.
15. Sweep your entryway. Give yourself many happy entrances home.
16. Polish your granite counters. Easy to do and part of routine maintenance anyway.
17. Clean out your purse. You’d be surprised how much you feel like an adult afterwards.
18. Wash your car.
19. Shine all your stainless steel appliances. 
20. Deep-clean your oven. 
21. Vacuum inside your kitchen drawers.

1. Make homemade bath bombs.
2. Make cotton candy popcorn.
3. Make macarons.
4. Have a movie night. Popcorn makes it legit. Bonus fun points if you pop your own.
5. Build a fort. You know the kind. Living room couch cushions, sheets, flashlights, the whole bit.
6. Make ice cream sundaes.
7. Have hot chocolate. Dig the packets from last Christmas out of the pantry or, better yet, make your own.
8. Bake cookies. Chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, peanut butter, whatever your fave is. Make enough to freeze some for later.
9. Do a puzzle. You’ve probably forgotten how fun it is.
10. Play a game. Don’t miss Blokus and Monopoly Deal.
11. Play hide-and-seek or sardines.
12. Make a scavenger hunt. You’ll have fun making up rhymes and hiding objects and then you’ll have fun watching the kids decipher the clues.
13. Read aloud. Picture books, a favorite chapter book from your childhood, or join in a book your kids are currently reading.
14. Have a coloring contest — adults included. Find a page online and print out as many copies as participants.
15. Finger knit. Totally fun and easy to get started.
16. Use veggies as stamps. Check out this veggie stamp inspiration.
17. Have a shaving cream bath. This just means you put the littles in the tub and squirt some shaving cream on the walls for them to finger-paint with.
18. Turn the sprinkler on and run through it. No explanation required, but get the camera ready to snap some idyllic scenes.
19. Play duck-duck-goose. Relive your preschool days.
20. Camp in the backyard. “Camping” without having to pack for it.
21. Make s’mores. Extend the fun by collecting sticks for the fire beforehand.
22. Look through photo albums. Or digital pictures on the TV screen.
23. Make a bucket list. Not only will you come up with more ways to make memories together, but you’ll probably learn about some things your kids want to do that you didn’t know about.
24. Build a LEGO city. Put together the sets you have from their instructions or make your own creations.
25. Make an obstacle course. Do this inside or out (think: things to crawl under, jump over, tiptoe on, etc.) If you don’t want to use furniture, use painter’s tape or crepe paper streamers.
26. Make lemonade. Find instructions for the best lemonade on the internet.
27. Blow bubbles.
28. Draw hopscotch.
29. Play “four corners.”
30. Make your own Play-Doh using this recipe from Instructables.
31. Make a sensory bin using water beads and small toys.
32. Make a track and race toy cars.

1. Make a life goals list.
2. Come up with a family or household statement of purpose.
3. Set up a new budget.
4. Take a look at your existing budget.
5. Read up on money matters such as investment strategies, paying off debt, or how to reach your savings goals — whatever fits your situation.
6. Get caught up on your bills.
7. Go through that pile of mail.
8. Gather your returns and exchanges.
9. Make a list of errands you need to run next week.
10. Make a meal plan.
11. Make some lists. It can help declutter your brain.
12. Learn something new on Udemy.
13. Make some freeze-ahead meals.
14. Schedule any necessary upcoming appointments (like doctor, dentist, optometrist).
15. Clean out your email inbox.

1. Read a book. You’ll be amazed at some of the mental health benefits of reading.
2. Browse your stack of magazines and then recycle them.
3. Binge-watch an old favorite series. Or start a movie marathon.
4. Watch a documentary.
5. Sit outside and listen.
6. Have a picnic in your outdoor space.
7. Have a picnic on the living room floor.
8. Take a bubble bath.
9. Talk with someone over a glass of wine.
10. Take a nap.
11. Swap foot rubs or back massages with a loved one at home.
12. Paint your fingernails.
13. Give yourself a pedicure.
14. Soak your feet.
15. Do an at-home face mask.
16. Place a grocery order. If you don’t have a subscription, consider a free trial to see if it’s right for you.
17. Meal prep for the coming week.
18. Make a holds list at the library.
19. Set up Subscribe & Save on Amazon for regularly purchased household items.
20. Do a yoga video on YouTube.

Which would you choose?