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10 Ways To Beat Cabin Fever & Create A Calming Home

March 31, 2020

If you’ve been staying at home for days or weeks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be getting a little stir-crazy — or at the very least, feeling bored. Even if you love your space, spending days inside with limited human contact and outdoor activities can be taxing.

To help you adjust with your current situation, we have come up with some useful ideas and tips that you can do that will hopefully make your stay-at-home up situation a little less stressful.


1. Make your bed every day

While it may seem like a small act, making your bed every morning can instantly make your entire room look pulled together, creating a subtle vibe of tranquillity and competence. It also helps to lift your mood and lighten your emotional burdens.

Semenyih by Movent
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So spare a few minutes in the morning to make up your bed and keep your bedding clean by changing them at least once a week.

2. Clean your windows

When was the last time you cleaned your windows? Natural light is a proven anti-depressant, so now is the time to ensure you're getting as much natural sunlight as you can.

Victoria Cottage, Perak by PINS Studio
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Even if you don't have a lovely window seat like this 3-bedroom home, cleaning your windows in every room in your house, especially in your living room and bedrooms is an easy task that can make your home feel a little brighter.

3. Rearrange your furniture

Hiring an interior designer to renovate your home might not be an option at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make some changes to your living space.

The Greens, TTDI by IQI Concept Interior Design & Renovation
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Giving your living room a mini makeover by pushing the table or sofa up against a different wall or positioning armchair at a different angle, can give your room a subtle, but effective update. You can also consider swapping rugs from one room to another to refresh the space.

4. Tackle a DIY project

There’s only so much TV to binge-watch before restlessness kicks in, so it is a good opportunity to tackle those long-avoided home projects you’ve put off during this extended indoor time. Even if you don’t have any pending DIY project, now is the best time to create one.

Fen Yang Mansion, Butterworth by EMPT Studio
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For example, you can set up a wall gallery in your living room or replace photos or artwork with something new to keep things fresh.

5. Learn new skills online

Thanks to online resources, there’s actually a ton of things that you can do indoors nowadays, from learning how to cook, taking yoga classes, learning how to play an instrument and everything else.

Ascenda Residence, Setapak by GI Design Sdn Bhd
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You can also take advantage of all the extra time at home by upgrading your career skills with millions of courses available online. What’s more, some course sites like Udemy, Skillshare or Hubspot is now offering discounts or are available for free to make learning available to everyone during this stay-at-home period.

6. Declutter your home

A clean, clutter-free space is the best way to promote productivity and reduce stress while you spend more time at home.

Andes Condo 2, Puchong Kinrara by Archmosphere-ds
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Focus on one room at a time and use the extra hours by getting rid of all of the stuff you never use or things that have gone past their use date, including food, makeup, and medicine. Unworn clothes can be donated while empty bottles, magazines and papers can be recycled later.

7. Play soft music

Turning on a soft background music throughout your home can give your space a serene ambience. Playing classical music or some soft tunes can help you to relieve stress and help you to concentrate if you're working from home.

8. Set the dining table

While dining out is no longer an option during this stay-at-home period, you can recreate a restaurant-like ambience in the comfort of your own home.

The Pinnacle (A), Sunway by Ingenious Makeover
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Set the dining table with your favourite dinnerware to make dinner time a special occasion. This will add a little more structure to your days (instead of getting into the routine of eating in front of the TV) and will allow you to fully utilize your dining space.

9. Turn your bathroom into a personal home spa

While you may not be able to renovate your bathroom right now, a few simple transformations can turn your bathroom into a personal home spa.

KLGCC Resort, Bukit Kiara by Viinc Studio Sdn. Bhd.
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If your bathroom counter is cluttered with makeup, toiletries and hair products, reduce the clutter by removing items you don't use on a daily basis by storing them in your bathroom drawer or in a cabinet. Minimum visual clutter will help to maintain a relaxing atmosphere in your bathroom.

If you usually stack towels in a linen closet, consider pulling out a few of your very best ones and setting them out on an open shelf to create a spa-like ambience in your bathroom.

KLGCC Resort, Bukit Kiara by Viinc Studio Sdn. Bhd.
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Finally, essential oils, scented soap, and lotions, along with scented candles are the easiest ways to set a relaxing mood and a spa-like ambience in your bathroom.

10. Organise your kitchen

The kitchen is another area of the home that benefits from special attention during this stay-at-home period as we spend so much time preparing food.

Duta Villa, Setia Alam by Cube Creation Sdn. Bhd.
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While you are making frequent rounds to the kitchen (especially the refrigerator!) why not take the time to organise the kitchen for more efficient use. Tackle the pantry first by storing cereals, baking goods, pasta and rice for instance, into clear canisters so you’ll be able to see everything.

The Vyne, Sungai Besi by Archmosphere-ds
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Next, turn to your shelves. If you have open shelving, try editing them by only displaying items you frequently use to avoid visual clutter. Same goes to your refrigerator; position foods that usually have a shorter shelf life where it’s easier to access.

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