During a pandemic, quarantine is around the corner. Life is very difficult and different for everybody. Many people try everything and anything to keep themselves busy during these challenging times and crises. This is where home buddies were born but are you familiar with it? Do you know what home buddies are? I’m pretty sure not yet. So, to understand home buddies better, let’s get to know it more. Keep reading!
What are Home Buddies?
Home Buddies is a Facebook or virtual community that aims to refine living spaces founded by Frances Lim Cabatuando, also known as Mayora, last September 2020. They are all part of what they called barangay in which all the participants are the buddies or kapitbahay while the moderators or watchers are called tanods.
It has 2.3M members that focus primarily on home improvement design and ideas, redecorating, renovating, home inspiration, and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. This is a worthwhile activity, especially for those people who stay at home over the quarantine period or compressed work due to the pandemic.
Home Buddies recently acquired teams according to their participant’s preferences aesthetically; here are some of the teams made:
#TeamPuti (IKEA-Style Minimalism)
#TeamKahoy (Fan of Wooden Interiors)
#TeamNative (Fan of Rattan and Native Materials)
#TeamDENR (For Plantitos and Plantitas)
What is the origin of Home Buddies?
Home Buddies started an Instagram account, namely Nobi Home. When lockdown, quarantine, and pandemic happens, Frances Lim Cabatuando, who happens to be the owner of Nobi Home Instagram account updating her account about home improvement. Lots of viewers ask where she buys all that stuff and react to it. It seems like many of her followers get interested in her stuff, so from there, she started posting, started playing the minimalism game, and decided to make a group until it grows more and more every day.
Who are the moderators?
- Racho of myhomeinterior.ph
- Celestina Ava Su of Coffee-colored Casa
- Isai Martinez of Izzy Pad
What do Home Buddies do?
Discussions
This happens among the Home Buddies members. They often appreciate minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired interiors within the group, the overall vibe which is very Pinoy: warm and accommodating, with a lot of cheerful banter when showing off appreciation for the finer things in life.
Also, asking simple questions and all sorts of simple concerns like keeping things in place around the house is what home buddies do.
Minimalism Game
This is where home buddies participants let go of their unwanted possessions daily in 30 days. Whoever declutters more wins the game. We think it is a great way to declutter and be inspired at the same time. Who knows, with the inspiration you get from this activity, you’re up for more new ideas!
Budol Finds
In Home Buddies, sharing is caring. All their recent finds or latest acquired furniture for home decor and such is one of their popular things to do. This will surely give inspiration for new and mainstay members looking for tips on their coming home renovation plans.
What are their regular online activities?
Monday Market
This is where Mondays are dedicated for Home Buddies participants to buy and sell. This is the only day in their week that they are allowed to buy and sell. For most online sellers, this is a heaven-sent day! You can take advantage of this day too.
Friendsgiving Day
Happens every 18th of each month. This is where all the kapitbahay are encouraged to join to give or exchange gifts and somehow share their home items. These are the things that are usually no longer used but can still be used by other people.
Budolletin Board
This is where all the promos and discounts that are exclusive for members only are being posted. It might as well be a good day to join the group and find great promos and deals, right?
Home Buddies Giveaway
This is the most recent activity that Home Buddies has. They recently held a 100k kapitbahay giveaway for everyone. For sure more kapitbahay are happy and glad to be part of this community.
What are their upcoming activity plans?
If you’re unsure of what to do next, you may want to check Home Buddies’ latest schedule and participate in it. These new activity plans may help open doors and windows to more opportunities!
Having a house that can be called ‘home’ is the best relaxation place you can ever have. With a virtual community like this that can be a real-time community someday, there still hope that everyone can have a home like home buddies aim to have. Creating a community with one motive and direction will keep everyone dreaming big and get a life that everyone deserves.
