35 fun things to do on a rainy day at home (2023)

Fun things to do indoors during a heat wave

Refresh your space

If you feel like you're in the wild, changing the look of your home is the perfect rainy day activity. Luckily, there's a lot you can do without spending a cent or going out. You can rearrange the furniture. Shop your cabinets and closets for baskets, art, or vases to replace what's on display. or rearrange your books into an aesthetic cover color scheme.

Arrange styling

If you feel like you always wear the same clothes in the same way, staying at home can be the perfect opportunity to experiment. Pull out your clothes and accessories and try them on in new and exciting combinations to see what works — and maybe snap a photo or two so you can remember what you did together on those days when you're in a rush.

Pro tip: Keep a box or bag to store anything you're ready to part with. Chances are you'll find more things that don't suit your style or body type.

Organize a hack-style cooking competition

Search your pantry for a few ingredients, form teams and see who can come up with the most creative (and delicious) dish with what you have on hand. (Bonus: It can help you solve some of the clutter that's taking up space in your freezer or pantry.)

Gain a new skill

Maybe you're not fluent in French or knitting a sweater after a rainy day at home, but now is the perfect time to seek out lessons on how to do what you love (or what you've always wanted to try). You can explore YouTube videos to learn anythingcake decorationbasic guitar chords or choose apps like MasterClass to invest in a full lesson.

Find your Zen

The rain itself is an incredibly relaxing sound, so go ahead and soak up the zen vibe. Try a new meditation orpracticing yoga, or just daydream while listening to the rain fall.

Make your own dance party

All you need is an epic playlist to get the party started. Luckily, most streaming services will even offer it if you just say something like "play party music" or "play dance music." Add glow sticks, glitter accessories and lens flares to upgrade it.

Treat yourself to a Nail Art manicure

When you're stuck at home and have nothing else to do, why not pamper yourself and let your creative juices flow at the same time? Give your hands the full manicure experience, with a good soak, plenty of moisturizer and some fresh nail design.

Solve the crime

A rainy day is perfect for winding down with a good mystery. Listen to a true crime podcast, stream a hot mystery show (we can recommendJust the murders in the building?)or select oneDownloadable murder mystery gameyou can solve it yourself.

Solve puzzles

You can involve the whole team in solving a riddle or puzzleonline escape room, or download a new puzzle app to occupy your mind.

Create something for someone you love

It's fun to make something for yourself, but it's even more fun to make something special with a loved one in mind. Or decidebake a treatbring the next day, write them a poem or heartfelt letter or design a photo album together with your favorite memories, your recipient will love it.

Recycle something for your home

Turn trash into treasure, or turn beautiful artwork from old greeting cards and calendars into placemats, or turn tin cans into cute planters with a splash of paint—or even give away your vertical hangerhose reelcolorful makeover. (We have onea few bad ideasstart!)

Start the seeds

All you need is water and a pod or seed likeavocado pit—some water and a few other things you have around the house to launch your new pet.

Spy some cute animals

Live animal cams can come to you from zoos, animal shelters, wildlife centers and your average backyard from around the world. Whether you like penguins, pandas, bird feeders or just cute cats, you'll find a live cam for all the senses.

Start everything

You don't have to sit still when you're stuck at home—there's tons of fun stuff inside to get everyone moving and active. (And they work for both kids and kids!) Try making an obstacle course out of pillows, blankets, balls, and old boxes. Play The Floor Is Lava game where you park from furniture to floor cushions and furniture. And of course, an old-fashioned pillow fight can be the perfect stress reliever.

Build something great

Building complex dominoes or marbles, a house of cards, a Lego cube or a cardboard castle will keep everyone entertained for hours.

Take a good nap

Most people are sleep deprived. (You understandThe CDC recommends seven to nine hours of silenceevery night?) So go ahead: take this day home to catch up on your ZZZZs.

Sit comfortably with your favorite book

When you're looking for fun things to do indoors, cozying up with a good book is definitely at the top of the list. As long as you cansettle down with a new book, revisiting an old favorite is guaranteed to be a good time. So grab your warmest drink and your favorite book-reading tipple and settle in.

Virtual Hangout Host

When you're stuck at home, you can still be social. Take time to reconnect with loved ones—especially people who live far away. Enjoy a quick virtual briefing via Zoom, whether you're just chatting or using the opportunity to play an online game.

Create a restaurant menu at home

Combine meal preparation with a fun activity for kids. Start by asking your children to help you open your own restaurant at home. Get them involved in planning the meals they want to eat over the next few days or weeks, then have them come up with a creative name for the restaurant and each dish on the menu. Finally, put these ideas to paper (or whiteboard), adding fun drawings or food illustrations. Bonus points if you manage to get the kids to help you with the kitchen chores too.

Organize an indoor treasure hunt

Children at home? One of the most fun things to do inside is treasure hunting. Create a series of clues for each player (try rhyming for fun), with each clue leading to the next and finally to the treasure. Seal them in envelopes marked with an indicator number (ie 2/7 or "two out of seven"). This will help treasure hunters in their search.

Whoever solves the clues first and finds the treasure—a small toy, an IOU for a movie, maybe a stash of coins (plain or chocolate)—is the winner. Or let your kids play as a team to solve the clues and discover the treasure together.

Make your own bubble bath

One of the best activities for adults during the rain is a relaxing bath with your own moisturizing soap mixture. In a clean bowl, mix ½ cup of mild liquid hand or body soap, 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey, and 1 egg white. Pour the entire mixture under running water while bathing. Honey is naturala humectant, which will attract and retain moisture in your skin. Egg white helps create stronger, longer-lasting bubbles for a nice, fluffy bath. For extremely dry skin, consider adding a tablespoon of light oil, such as almond or light sesame oil. (Another amazing bath booster?Apple cider vinegar.) And if you have essential oils, a few drops will add a little aromatherapy to the mix.

Make a family recipe book

If you have a few enthusiastic little chefs and are wondering what to do on a rainy day, the perfect activity could be making a family recipe book. Here are the details:

Oh, what do you need?

• A non-linear journal
• Recipe cards (the more sauces the better)
• Labels for wine or champagne
• Photos of family meals
• Glue
• Foto kutovi
• Governor
• Glitter Alphabet Stickers (available at craft stores)
• Film

What to do

1. Copy all recipe cards, photos and color labels if you want to keep the originals or make more than one gift book.
2. Group memorabilia by time period, vacation, or any other theme that inspires you.
3. Place items horizontally on the calendar. Use picture corners for pictures and recipe cards and glue for stickers and notes.
4. Adhere the title to the front of the journal using alphabet stickers (using a ruler helps) and finish with ribbon.

Camping in the Great Indoors

While camping might not be your first thought when you think of fun things to do inside, who says tents have to stay outside? If you have a pop-up tent or a small canopy tent, it's easy to set up camp for your kids indoors. If not, you can create a fort by throwing sheets over the couch.

Get them comfortable with a few air beds, pillows and sleeping bags, then follow up with oneindoor picnicto eat "under the canvas". (Don't forget thatindoor s'mores!)

He invents a toy (without batteries).

Anne Libera, artistic associate atSecond city education center, recommends the following gameplay - anywhere, no scenes, rainy day activities.

One word story:Starting with Once Upon a Time, go around the room and ask each person to add a word to the story. Tip: Decide on a genre in advance – fairy tale, ghost story, etc. – and go from there.

Improvised poetry:One person says a song, and the next person has to say a line that rhymes with it, and so on. Let the children say the first verse. it's up to you to find the rhyme.

Yes, and… a monster!Invent a fictional monster, with each person adding a new feature to the first-person description of the monster. Each new idea should start with an enthusiastic "Yes, and..." and build on what has already been described.

Treat your hair in depth

What's better than being stuck inside on a rainy day and enjoying yourself? You wanted to give your hair a deep treatment, but you couldn't get to a pharmacy or a salon. Go to the fridge and find your solution: mayonnaise. Starting at the crown, coat strands with ½ cup mayonnaise. Leave for 15 minutes and then rinse thoroughly.

Bake chocolate chip cookies

Nothing cures the rainy day blues like a fresh batchcookies with chocolate pieces. Dip them in milk or eat them (practically) right out of the oven - a surefire way to weather the storm happily. Now, if you and your family prefer other varieties, that's no problem: we have 20 moreclassic cookie recipesto choose from.

Organize your own film festival

One of the most fun things to do inside is to stand in line for some classic, old (Singing in the rain) and new (Peter Rabbit 2). Let the kids add a few favorites—even mix in a few episodes of your last meal—and enjoy a marathon binge. Maintain a comfortable position to get under, aa large bowl of popcorn to dip into, and settle in to enjoy the show(s).

Organize a mini marshmallow pupping contest

Rainy weather may look a little gloomy outside your window, but the day can still be sunny with fun things to do inside - like a marshmallow popping contest!

Oh, what do you need?

• a pair of scissors
• auxiliary knife
• marks
• governor
• rubber bands
• glue
• tape (transparent, conductive, masking or colored)
• gift wrapping or decorative paper
• kraft paper
• balon, nenapuhan (1 po popperu)
• paper cup, bottom cut off (1 per popper)
• mini marshmallows

What to do

1. Tie the end of the balloon into a knot, then cut ½ inch off the top.
2. Stretch the balloon over the cut edge of the cup so that the knot is in the middle. (You'll need to hold the balloon in place when you "pop" or secure it with a rubber band for little hands.)
3. Place the mini marshmallow in the cup so that it fits snugly in the center of the tied balloon. Point the cup away from you (and others), pull the knot back, let go and send the marshmallow up. See who can throw marshmallows the farthest or put the most in a bowl several meters away.

Have a "Tea Party".

One of the most classic things you can do on a rainy day at home with the kids is to have a tea party. Dress in fancy T-shirts, set the table with fine china and wear your most formal manners (remember, spread the pink and drink decently). On the menu: tea (for you), juice or cocoa (for your children) and a light egg or chicken saladtea sandwichin fun shapes, thanks to cutters. Let your kids decide what the guest list will be - and which of their favorite dolls or furry friends will be on it.

Repair old clothes

Have a bunch of old clothes you wanted to make but didn't? Indoor day is the perfect opportunity to go through your closet and pull out any items that need fixing. Grab your emergency sewing kit and start mending those holes, knobs, or frayed edges—and make it fun by playing your favorite music while you work.

Pamper yourself with soothing ointment

Get a spa treatment the next time you need a relaxing activity on a rainy day and make a homemade scrub (this one is courtesy of New York Makeup ArtistGucci Westman): Grind about two cups of oatmeal, a natural skin pacifier. add a few handfuls of ground coffee and brown sugar. Then mix three or four tablespoons of skin-nourishing honey and ginger. Before storing the batch in the fridge, Westman scoops out enough for a week in a jar he keeps in the shower and uses daily. "It smells great and it's gentle," she says. "When my skin is very dry, I also add olive oil."

City map on paper

Do you have a roll of children's craft paper or butcher paper? Roll a long piece down the hall, use masking tape (or heavy books) to secure the corners and edges, and let your kids paint the metropolis. Build roads, bridges, dead ends and neighborhoods. Include lakes, playgrounds, schools, hospitals, shops and restaurants. Or use Legos and bricks to build buildings along the way. Children can drive cars through the streets and brighten up a day in the life of fictional characters. Accidentally tore the paper at one point? Earthquake! And when the kids are done with this rainy day activity, crumple up the paper and throw it in the recycling bin.

Brush up your Mixology

Is your drink a glass of red wine? Are cocktail shakers and coupe glasses scary? YourI wonder what the hell bitters are? (So ​​do we.) Use an afternoon inside to master the art of the classic drink—we sayAngry men- here are seasonal cocktails—which you can serve at your next dinner party or pour yourself after a hard day at work. Once you've learned the basics, you can customize the recipes to suit your taste. So grab some snacks - no one needs to drink a Manhattan or martini on an empty stomach - read up on the difference between bourbon and rye and try one or moreclassic cocktail recipes.

Plan a vacation! Really!

Okay, maybe you're stuck at home hiding from the rain, but you can still dream of a cozy seaside resort or a great mountain vacation. Even better: you can turn it into a game for an exciting and fun rainy day activity. A rainy day activity, it's actually a bit educational (shhhh, don't tell the kids).

Look at a world map if you can actually vacation abroad or in the US, and let the kids choose a place they would like to visit. Let them research how to get there, where to stay and what to do. They can make a budget based on the cost of a plane ticket or rent a house, make a plan for which places to visit or local food to try, and then sell their ideas to the rest of the family. At the very least, everyone will learn something about a new city or country. At best, you can discover your next family adventure.

If you'd rather make your stay indoors feel more like a staycation, here are eight ideastransform your home.

Organize a video game tournament

Exit the game system, pick some favorite games (go with the classics like PAC-MAN or pick some new ones!) and play to win.