When Dave Kyu, 34, an arts administrator in Philadelphia, realized that he would be working from home for the foreseeable future, he began to fantasize about the projects he could now complete around the house.

"We went and bought all this paint and cabinet hardware and thought we were going to do the kitchen cabinet project we had wanted to do forever," he said. Two weeks later, he and his wife haven't touched their supplies. They have two children and demanding jobs. There's no extra time.