Stormy weather doesn’t have to halt your plans for fun. Even if outdoor activities are canceled due to the weather, there are numerous enjoyable indoor activities perfect for a rainy day at home. Keep this list of rainy day activities handy for the next drizzly or snowy afternoon—it offers plenty of inspiration, from relaxing self-care ideas to games suitable for kids.
1.Revitalize Your Space
When you’re feeling a bit stagnant, giving your home a makeover can be an ideal rainy day pursuit. The best part is that there’s a lot you can do without spending a penny or venturing outdoors. You might consider rearranging furniture, exploring your closets and cupboards for baskets, artwork, or vases to swap out for a fresh look, or organizing your books by their cover colors for a more aesthetically pleasing arrangement.
2.Have a Styling Session
Feeling like your wardrobe lacks variety? Being confined at home can be the ideal opportunity to experiment with your clothing. Take out your clothes and accessories and try mixing them in new and fascinating combinations to discover what works best—perhaps even take a few pictures to recall these outfits on days when you’re in a hurry.
3.Host a Chopped-Style Cooking Competition
Explore your pantry for a selection of ingredients, form teams, and challenge participants to create the most innovative (and delicious) dish using what’s available. (Extra tip: This could help clear out some odds and ends that have been taking up space in your freezer or pantry.)
4.Learn a New Skill
You might not become fluent in French or knit a sweater after just a single rainy day at home, but it’s a great time to search for lessons on something you love (or have always wanted to try). Explore YouTube tutorials to learn various skills, from cake decorating to basic guitar chords, or consider investing in a comprehensive class through apps like MasterClass.
5.Indulge in Tranquility
The serene sound of rainfall can be incredibly relaxing, so why not embrace the calming atmosphere? Explore a new meditation or yoga routine, or simply immerse yourself in daydreams as you listen to the rain pouring down.
6.Create a DIY Dance Party
All it takes is an amazing playlist to get the party started. Fortunately, most streaming services offer curated playlists; just say something like “play party music” or “play dance music.” Enhance the mood with glow sticks, glittering accessories, and flashlight spotlights.
7.Indulge in DIY
Nail Art When you’re confined to home with nothing else on the agenda, why not indulge in self-pampering and let your creativity flow? Give your hands the complete manicure treatment, including a relaxing soak, ample moisturizing, and a touch of fresh nail art.
8.Engage in a Crime Mystery
A rainy day sets the perfect scene for immersing yourself in a good mystery. Tune into a true-crime podcast, watch a cozy mystery show on streaming platforms (may we suggest “Only Murders in the Building”?), or opt for a downloadable murder mystery game for a solo investigation.
9.Puzzle Time
Involve everyone in the household by working on a jigsaw puzzle or an online escape room, or try a new puzzle app to keep your mind active.
10.Craft Something for a Loved One
Creating something for yourself is enjoyable, but crafting with a loved one in mind can be even more satisfying. Whether it’s baking a treat to share the next day, writing a heartfelt poem or letter, or designing a photo book capturing your favorite shared memories, your recipient will cherish it.
11.Transform Home Items
Give old items a new lease on life by upcycling them into something useful or decorative. Transform beautiful artwork from old greeting cards and calendars into coasters or give a fresh look to tin cans, converting them into charming planters using a little paint—or perhaps brighten up your vertical hanger hose reel with a colorful makeover. (We have some creative suggestions to get you started!)
12.Germinate a Seed
All you need is water and a fruit pit or seed, such as an avocado pit, along with a few basic household items to sprout your newest plant.
13.Observe Adorable Animals
You can access animal live cams streaming from zoos, animal sanctuaries, wildlife centers, and even backyard feeds from around the world. Whether your interest lies with penguins, pandas, bird feeder activities, or simply watching cute cats, there’s a live cam available to provide all the heartwarming moments.
14.Keep Everyone Active
Even when confined indoors, there are numerous entertaining activities to keep everyone active and moving. These suggestions cater to both kids and those young at heart! Construct an obstacle course using pillows, blankets, balls, and repurposed boxes. Engage in a thrilling round of “The Floor Is Lava,” where you navigate from furniture to floor pillows to furniture. Lastly, an old-fashioned pillow fight can be an enjoyable stress reliever.
15.Engage in Creative Building
Constructing an intricate domino or marble run, building a house of cards, crafting a detailed Lego arrangement, or fashioning a cardboard castle will provide hours of entertainment for everyone.
16.Indulge in a Restful Nap
Given that most individuals experience sleep deficits (are you achieving the CDC-recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night?), use this day at home to catch up on some much-needed rest.
17.Immerse Yourself in a Good Book
When seeking enjoyable indoor activities, relaxing with a captivating book is a top choice. While exploring new reading material is always exciting, revisiting a beloved favorite ensures a delightful experience. Snuggle up with your coziest throw and your preferred beverage for reading and enjoy the moment.
18.Organize a Virtual Gathering
Even when confined indoors, maintaining social connections is possible. Take the opportunity to reconnect with distant family and friends. Have a virtual catch-up session over Zoom, whether for a casual conversation or an online game.
19.Engage in Culinary Creativity at Home
Transform meal preparation into an entertaining activity for children. Encourage your kids to join in creating your personal at-home restaurant. Start by discussing and planning the meals they would like to have for the upcoming days or week, and then assist them in devising a unique restaurant name as well as creative names for each dish on the menu. Next, document these ideas on paper or a chalkboard, enhancing them with imaginative designs or delightful food illustrations. Encourage their involvement in kitchen activities for extra fun.
20.Arrange an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
If you have children at home, an indoor treasure hunt can be one of the most enjoyable indoor activities. Create a series of clues tailored for each player (consider making rhyming clues for added enjoyment). Each clue should lead to the next one and ultimately guide the players to the treasure. Place the clues in envelopes marked with a specific clue number (for instance, 2/7 or “two of seven”) to help the treasure seekers maintain their sequence. The winner is the person who solves the clues first and finds the treasure, which could be a small toy, an IOU for a movie, or even a collection of coins (either regular or chocolate). Alternatively, encourage your kids to work together as a team to solve the clues and discover the treasure.