How to Live Through a Kitchen Remodel
Living through any renovation is challenging. But living through a KITCHEN remodel is a different kind of beast. Imagine multiple months without a sink, oven, cooktop, and in some cases, a fridge. Lucky for you - I don’t have to imagine, I’ve already done it. And it was eye opening to say the least.
If you or someone you know is planning a kitchen renovation, this post is a must-read. These nifty hacks will help you prepare and help keep your sanity! So keep reading to find out my favorite (and well tested!) tips and tricks.
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1.) Set Up a Temporary Kitchen
Plan for 3 months of no kitchen (#Covid). That’s quite some time to be without your kitchen sink, dishwasher and stove. BUT there are some clever work arounds you may never have thought of:
Pare down the items you’ll use regularly (plates, silverware, cups, food storage, etc.) and create a temporary storage solution for them. Plastic bins work great for this or even using a dresser can be a game changer.
You could easily eat with plastic utensils and paper plates. It gets old, REAL fast. (Plus, the environmental impact.) Instead, clean dishes in your bathroom sink or bathtub. Save the headache and get yourself a drying rack.
If you don’t already have one, buy a slow cooker! It became my best friend during our renovation.
Soups – ✔ Chicken and veggies – ✔ Pot roast – ✔
You may be ready to kick it to the curb, but hang onto your old fridge just a little longer. Move it to another room of the house, where it will definitely be an eyesore, but you’ll be so thankful it’s within reach. (Thrift a mini fridge if this isn’t possible.)
Have decent weather? Put your grill to work and move your dining experience outside.
2.) Food:
Freeze meals ahead of time. Think about food that can easily be warmed up in the microwave or slow cooker.
Adjust your grocery list and shop more often. Stock ready to eat items like dry and canned goods, fruits and vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, raisins…
Don’t forget the grab-and-go section at your local grocery store. The salad bar, rotisserie chicken, and hot food items will make your life so much easier.
And when you just aren’t in the mood to cook or want to get the heck away from the construction zone… Plan extra cash in your budget to eat out more frequently.
3.) Contain the Mess
It is impossible to avoid dust but there are ways to minimize the impact, especially into other parts of your home. Ensure your contractor tapes off the construction zone with plastic sheets. Kitchen vents should be covered as well as any nearby finished floors, especially the path tradespeople use to come and go from your home.
Pro Tip: Let it be. There is NO way to keep up with the dust. You’ll only kill yourself by trying.
4.) Determine a ‘No Reno Zone’
All sorts of tools and materials will be used throughout the project. Moving these items in and out of the house every day is not reasonable or efficient. Work with your contractor to determine where items can be stored and make sure you leave one area of your home renovation free. This will give you a space of refuge to spend time with family undisturbed by tradespeople and their stuff.
5.) Get into the Right Mindset
Let’s face it - construction is messy, noisy and just plain inconvenient. Expect to feel exasperated at times as the project runs it course. It may be that you just want to be done living amongst a mess or you're sick of answering questions. Or you may just be tired of having so many people in your house. By getting in the right mindset, you'll be better prepared for when the difficult and frustrating parts happen.
Don’t forget to remember the big picture and treat it as an adventure (hard to do at times, I know). So hang in there! Renovation fatigue will be temporary and you'll soon get to enjoy your newly remodeled space. (Cue the happy dance.)
P.S. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel this year, check out my free Kitchen Design Checklist. It’s the exact tool I use with clients when we begin a new kitchen remodel project together.
