How to Enjoy Your Home During Social Distancing - or Anytime

It's been two and a half months since my hubby, kids and I moved into our new home. Right after we moved, we immediately began unpacking, and mostly made short work of the process. I can't stand clutter, so the more boxes we could clear out, the better. Two weeks into our new home adventure, the Corona Virus reared its head and we were ordered to stay at home. While I had already been planning what I wanted to do with our new outdoor spaces, I knew it would be more important than ever for my mental health to make our outdoor living areas spaces to enjoy, as we'd probably be using them quite a bit.

Our front porch is a large, wide space. It's one of my favorite things about the look and charm of our Craftsman home. Every house that I have lived in since my parents moved to our family to North Carolina in the 1990's has had a porch, patio, or deck, and most of the houses we lived in had a front porch. My husband and I have been blessed to live in two previous homes with lovely front porches, and even when we lived in an apartment outside of Washington, D.C., we had a large balcony which felt like a porch.

Our new home not only has a large front porch, it has a back porch which spans the length of the back of the house. This has been a huge lifesaver for me during this time we've been staying home and social distancing. While I enjoy being on the go, and can become bored easily, I knew I needed to create spaces in and around my home which I wanted to spend time in.

So many people are joking about wanting to 'break out' of their homes. I am blessed to love my home and love being in it. Our outdoor spaces have had a lot to do with our at-home enjoyment, as has the beautiful springtime weather we've had this season.

For me, making these outdoor spaces into areas my family and friends can relax in has been a top priority. Even to just have a space to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine in the evening has been soul soothing. My kids love to sit on either porch and read, or just relax.

Adding seating to outdoor areas makes them welcoming. Family members and guests know that there's a place for them to rest and relax. Multiple seating areas means that we can have lots of people over- or we can just have space to hang out together or in solitude, which we all need from time to time.

I decided to add lots of chairs, add tables, outdoor mats and rugs, solar lights, throw pillows, and plants to both of my porches. Having a comfy place to sit is so wonderful! Adding throw pillows for comfort makes seating even better. Low tables means more space for serving meals or snacks. Side tables make it easy to place drinks. Green plants add so much to a space, as do other elements. It all depends on what you enjoy.

If anything- at the very least, make your front door look welcoming. It won't be long before family and friends will want to drop by for lunch, a cup of tea, or just a chat!

Having a nice space to sit, even just for a little while might just give you what you crave- fresh air without leaving your home, a place to kick back and enjoy nature, a quiet spot to work from home, or a place to connect.