A List of Small Things to Do on a Rainy Afternoon

06 Nov 2026

The Almanac

Written By

The House

Now that we're getting into the depth of fall and the puddles are becoming rather abundant, there seems to be no shortage of reasons to stay indoors.

The garden can wait, the muddy boots can stay by the door, and whatever plans you had for the afternoon can probably be rearranged. There's something quite lovely about a rainy day when you have nowhere in particular to be. A pot of tea, something warm in the oven, and a little project to keep your hands busy.

Of course, staying indoors doesn't have to mean spending the afternoon scrolling through your phone or finding another television series to watch. There are plenty of small, satisfying things to do that make an ordinary afternoon feel like time well spent.

So, should the rain keep falling, here are a few ideas worth keeping close.

25 Things to Do on a Rainy Afternoon

Make Something

  1. Bake a loaf of bread. Try your hand at sourdough, a simple sandwich loaf, or something with a little cinnamon and spice.

  2. Make a batch of homemade butter. All you need is cream, a jar, and a little patience.

  3. Try a new recipe. Choose something you've saved but never quite got around to making.

  4. Make fresh pasta. Flour, eggs, and an afternoon are all you need.

  5. Bake a proper apple pie. Especially if there's a bowl of apples waiting to be used.

  6. Make a batch of candles. Beeswax or soy, a few wicks, and something lovely to scent them with.

  7. Put together a little seasonal arrangement. Gather dried flowers, branches, berries, or whatever the garden has left to offer.

Mend & Make Do

  1. Sew a button back onto a favourite shirt. It's a small skill, but a useful one to have.

  2. Mend something you've been meaning to fix. A loose hem, a little hole, or a worn-out seam.

  3. Learn a new knitting stitch. Pick up your needles and try something beyond the usual knit and purl.

  4. Start a simple embroidery project. A little flower on a napkin or a monogram on a handkerchief.

  5. Give an old piece of clothing a second life. Shorten it, alter it, patch it, or turn it into something new.

  6. Make a set of linen napkins. A good beginner sewing project and something you'll use for years.

Put Pen to Paper

  1. Write a proper letter. Not a text message or an email. Find some nice paper and write to someone you'd like to hear from.

  2. Start a commonplace book. Keep favourite quotes, recipes, ideas, observations, and little things you'd like to remember.

  3. Try your hand at calligraphy. Practise a few letters, write out a favourite passage, or address an envelope.

  4. Make a list of things you'd like to learn. Big ambitions, little curiosities, and everything in between.

  5. Write down a family recipe. Ask someone for the details if you need them, and make sure it doesn't disappear into memory.

Create & Discover

  1. Press flowers and leaves. Save a little of the season between the pages of a heavy book.

  2. Try watercolour painting. Paint something sitting on the kitchen table, a flower from the garden, or simply experiment with colour.

  3. Draw something from life. Your coffee cup, the cat, a vase of flowers, or whatever happens to be nearby.

  4. Learn something you've always been curious about. Watch a tutorial, read a book, or follow a beginner's lesson.

  5. Put together a scrapbook. Gather photographs, tickets, notes, and little keepsakes from the year.

  6. Start a puzzle. Find one with enough pieces to keep you occupied for more than an hour.

  7. Plan a future project. Sketch out the cutting garden, map the vegetable beds, plan a room refresh, or finally tackle that Pinterest project you've been saving.

Make a Little Room for a Rainy Day

Of course, you needn't do all 25. In fact, I'd argue that rather defeats the purpose of a slow afternoon.

Choose one thing you've been meaning to try, put the kettle on, and give yourself permission to enjoy the process. You might make something useful, learn a skill you'll use for years, or simply spend a few hours doing something that makes you happy.

And if the rain lets up, there's always the option of pulling on your boots and heading outside for a little puddle jumping.

So, tell us: what's your favourite way to spend a rainy afternoon, and is there a project you've been saving for just such a day?

Comments