5 Home Improvement Projects You Can Complete in a Day When You’re Stuck Inside
Stuck inside? Whether it’s the weather, school cancellations, or a sick kid, we’ve all those cabin fever-filled days. Why not tackle that honey-do list and make your home an oasis you look forward to hanging out in on those dreary days?
Here are some of our top projects to knock out in less than a day!
Paint a room
One of the quickest ways to spruce up your home is to paint the walls. Maybe it’s time to choose a calming hue for the bedroom or create a spa-like feel in the bathroom. Need some inspiration before you get started? Check out our Pinterest board to see the latest trends and ideas to help you create a home you’ll want to stay inside for!
Once you have decided on your color, calculate how many gallons of paint you will need to complete the job in one go. Take your color of choice to our paint center, and we will help you get everything you need to do the job right. Pro tip: have an item like a curtain you want to color match? Bring it into the store, and we can match it for you!
You will need to prep by removing any hangings on the wall, filling holes, taping edges, and covering the floor and furniture. If you can’t move the furniture out of the room, move it to the center and cover it with a plastic tarp.
As you paint, try rolling the brush in a “W” pattern to reduce the amount of roller brush strokes that you see on the finished wall. Make sure that the room is well ventilated and that you wait until the paint is thoroughly dry before painting the next coat. When you’re finished, give a day before you relocate any furnishings back against the wall--you can leave a little gap and move it flush the next day.
Create a garden centerpiece
If you have a green space, porch, or balcony in your home, now would be the perfect time to get a little outdoor time and create something you’ll enjoy for years to come. If you have a yard, consider creating a landscaped butterfly garden, raised vegetable beds, or even a rain garden. If you want to spruce up your patio or porch, consider creating a container garden that you can then take with you if you move or change out as needed. Have kids you need to entertain? Why not start an indoor herb garden that they can help you seed and water. It’s a great science project to supplement education when they are out of school!
What you need depends on what gardening technique you are using. You can trust Norick’s True Value has everything you need to get started, from beautiful, American-made pottery, to soil and seed starter kits.
Hang a gallery wall
This one is so easy you could do it in an afternoon. Depending on your wall size, you will want a variety of print sizes, ranging from larger prints (think 20” plus) to smaller sizes. A great way to plan your gallery wall is to cut butcher paper to the frame size and use painter’s tape to attach it to the wall. Make sure the distance between pieces is the same; this will make your gallery look more cohesive! Once you have the perfect gallery template, you simply need to pick the photos and/or art you want to hang.
If you are using personal photos, print the pictures you want to hang and frame them. Most pharmacies and office centers have a print center where you can email or even print from your phone. If you prefer art, we love checking out local art galleries in the Paseo Arts District. Several artists offer both prints and originals, meaning you can get beautiful local art no matter your budget. Can’t get out at all? Online markets like Society 6 offer independent artesian work you can get delivered to your door!
When you’re ready to hang the art, simply start in the corner or with a larger centerpiece. You will want to choose whether you start on top or bottom, depending on the lines in your home. For instance, if you are hanging above a shelf, use that to level the art. If you are hanging near the top of the wall, use the edge to level. Place the artwork where you want it and use a pencil to place a dot in the middle above the frame. Measure the distance from the top of the frame to the hook on the back of the frame. Use the same length to mark an “x” from the dot. Hammer a nail into the x and place the frame. Follow the same process for the next frame until your gallery wall is complete!
Upgrade your address plate
When was the last time you upgraded your address plate to compliment your style and add curb appeal? Chances are, it has been more than a minute. Lucky for you, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on a custom address plate; you can do-it-yourself!
Stain or paint a piece of wood (size depends on the length of your address) to the color of your choice -- use black for a more modern look or a bold color to create contrast. Pick up floating address numbers in our store. We have a wide variety ranging from traditional brass numbers to modern brushed nickel. If you want to use a different color, like white or trendy rose gold, you can simply choose the style and then spray paint and lacquer them.
Arrange the number templates on the piece of wood and drill pilot holes. You may need to add a quick coat of paint if the wood chips in the process. Turn the wood over and add the appropriate hardware to hang on the outside of your home. Flip back over and put a little dot of silicone inside the hole and place the numbers inside the holes. Let dry and then hang outside your home. Don’t forget to take a picture to share; there’s no need to curb your enthusiasm!
Build a tent for kids (or fido!)
It’s time to upgrade that living room blanket fort into something that’s more aesthetically pleasing and easier to put away. For this project, you’ll need four 6’ wooden dowels, sisal rope, and a flat sheet or canvas cut to 6x9’. You can paint the tips of the dowels, as they will be sticking up outside the sheet, or leave it with the natural wood.
Drill a hole 5” from the top of the first dowel, string the rope through the hole, and tie a large knot. Stand all the dowels together to create a tent shape. Mark the dowels where each hole should be with a pencil. Drill the holes in the dowels. String the rope through each dowel, one at a time, stabilizing the tent each time by wrapping the rope around the dowels a couple of times. Once you have added all the dowels, wrap the rope over and under a few times to fully stabilize, knot at the end, and cut the extra off.
Wrap the sheet around the tent, letting it drape naturally and adjusting as needed. Drill a hole near the top of a back dowel and secure the cloth to it with a washer and screw. Repeat with the remaining dowels, pulling the sheet taught as you move from the back to the front. Roll or cut the excess fabric. Add pillows and string lights to complete! Now, you just need to find the best movie to watch on Disney+ in your new pillow fort…
Need hardware, hammers, or a measuring tape to complete your stuck-at-home project? We offer a full range of hardware and home improvement products and provide curbside delivery if you can’t come in.
Did you make one of these projects? Tag us in your picture on Facebook/Instagram or leave us a comment below!