The last several months have been like no other in our lifetimes. With parents working from home and kids learning from home, we have to do the best we can. Use these tips to create a quarantine-friendly home.

We have almost reached the end of 2020 (yay!). Unfortunately, we’re still facing pandemic-driven challenges that we never expected to be dealing with at this point in the year.

Many of us are spending much more time at home than we have in the past which is forcing many changes within our lifestyles.

At the initial outbreak of the virus, many of us adopted quick and easy strategies to adjust to our new at-home lifestyles. However, in the long-term, they have proven themselves to be ineffective.

Working from your bed and cooking with everyone at home all day every day has become a challenge for some over time.

So, if your urgent adjustment to the pandemic is no longer suiting you and your Family, here are some great tips to try to create a more effective quarantine plan.

Related: Everything You Need To Organize Daily To-Do Lists

1.   Create and Adaptable Workspace

Work has become a primary part of both parents’ and children's lives while at home. Whether it be within your career, in an online college course, or in a virtual classroom, every member of the family is spending a considerable amount of their time focusing on learning and production.

Without a clear end to the pandemic, this makes it so much more important to create a designated workspace for everyone in the house.

For children, try to replicate the setup that they're familiar with in their typical classroom. This may include setting up:

• a desk or table for them to work from
• tools and supplies to set them up for success
• adding bulletin boards and educational posters around the work area for added support.

Parents may not need all the bells and whistles to make themselves more comfortable for remote work.

However, aim to work in a quiet or secluded area if possible. Of course, not every home has the space for this, but if your children’s classroom environment is upstairs, you may want to set up your work space downstairs.

Related: 7+ Resources To Help Round Out Your Child’s Distance Learning Schedule

Work in Adaptability

This will give you enough space from the family to get work done effectively and efficiently in the future. If you can’t dedicate an entire room to your workspace, you can add a divider or bookshelf to create separation between yourself and the rest of the family.

While choosing setups, also be mindful of its adaptability. It wouldn’t be ideal to set up computers and monitors across your Kitchen table or living room as you will be using the space regularly. Instead, you can find creative ways to hide your work in a closet space or under a staircase to avoid sacrificing any livable space.

Some budget-friendly storage solutions like over-the-door shoe holders and even spice racks  are great for keeping classroom and work tools tucked out of the way when not in use. The adaptability that small solutions like these create are certainly helpful in creating an effective, long-term work setup.

2.   Prioritize Clutter Management

An underrated step in creating a long-term, quarantine-friendly household is making some of the most-used areas of your home like the living room, kitchen, and playrooms, a priority.

While you may not see the direct results of developing these areas, they will have a great impact on how comfortable everyone is living in the space.

For example, your living room may have once been filled with clutter but now, with everyone home all day, it may be helpful to try some new storage solutions in your space.

Get Creative With Storage

Try implementing storage that doubles as furniture or decor pieces. Ottomans, trunks, and even floating shelves are all great ways to hide clutter without sacrificing your home’s style. Floating shelves, specifically, maintain a sleek look and can hold any decorative file holder that typically stores mail and other miscellaneous papers.

Additionally, don’t be afraid to make some changes to your kitchen as well. Cooking with everyone in the house can be a challenge so you may want to consider adjusting the layout. Some opt for full kitchen renovations if they are interested in committing to a bigger project.

However, there are several budget-friendly solutions you can try to readjust the layout of the kitchen to be more feasible for your at-home lifestyle. Investing in a kitchen island or rolling storage cart can create the added counter-space you may need for the whole family without taking on the cost of a renovation.

Aside from the living room and kitchen, it is equally important to prioritize the less glamorous parts of your home like the bathrooms. As you can imagine, a well-functioning bathroom is key during quarantine and surely all of us would dread any system troubles while stuck at home with all of our families.

Making a small investment in a protection plan like a home warranty can certainly help to save you time, money, and added stress while at home.

Related: How to Thrive When Distance Learning & Working From Home

3.   Develop Your Own At-Home Sanctuary

The need for quiet-time is commonly overlooked; however, it continues to be a very important part of being comfortable while in quarantine. Whether you resort to your room or backyard to be alone, dedicate time to making the space exactly what you desire to be comfortable and encourage this same idea for your family members as well.

For children and teens, try implementing different lighting and decor pieces to make their rooms match their specific personalities and desires. Recently, rainbow LED lights and galaxy projectors have been very popular amongst kids to help them love their space and feel relaxed after school.

Parents and adults typically opt for new interior styles in their rooms to encourage relaxation. For example, minimalist and boho-styled spaces have been popular and known for their inclusion of natural light and greenery.

They both can completely change the ambiance of your space and allow for a serene and relaxing atmosphere. Including white furniture and decor with dark accents can help to make the room feel light, airy, and cohesive in style.

Related: Must-Have Self-Care Routine Ideas To Help Busy Moms Relax

4.   Take Advantage of Quality Time

One of the most important steps in creating a quarantine-friendly home is to truly take advantage of the quality time you now have with your friends and family. Get creative with how you spend your days and explore your local area for seasonal and holiday activities around you.

If you’re running out of ideas, here are some popular quarantine activities to try:

• Apple or Pumpkin Picking
• Hiking or Boating Adventure
• Family Bonfire
• Family Staycation
• At-Home Scavenger Hunt
• Arts & Crafts
• Family Game Night
• Backyard or Living Room Camping
• Cooking Classes
• Newlywed Game (Family Edition)

Related: 14 Games to Play When Bored (beyond belief) at Home

The best thing you can do for your home is to create an atmosphere of family, friendship, and bonding. Without that, any adjustments you make physically to your home will serve little to no purpose.

Use the above activities to learn more about each member of the family. Ask questions you’ve never asked and watch as the memories and experiences grow. While quarantine isn’t exactly what we bargained for in 2020, we might as well take advantage of how much closer it has allowed us to be to our families.

Related: 75+ Fun Things to do With Kids at Home (updated for self-isolation)

Final Thoughts on Creating a Quarantine-Friendly Home

Staying at home has become our new normal and without any clear indication that the pandemic will come to an end soon, it's important to consider more long-term changes within our homes.

Luckily, many of these strategies do not require excessive effort or money to implement, yet they can truly revamp your home to be comfortable for the entire family.

Try these tips and add in your own personalized ways to make your home exactly what you and your family need during these uncertain times!

Related: 10 Sanity-Saving Tips for the Overwhelmed Mom