Remodeling your home can be an exciting time, but the upheaval can be stressful when the rest of your life has to go on despite the dust and noise. You’re probably planning to live in your home throughout the process. We are only replacing our floor and renovating our half bath and it has caused chaos in our house! These tips will help you stay sane.
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Designate Alternative Living Space
One of the biggest mistakes people make when attempting a large-scale remodel is not designating a living space for the duration of the period. For example, if you’re re-doing your kitchen, it’s going to be frustrating for you—and any builders onsite—if you have to wade through the rubble every couple of hours to make a cup of coffee or a snack. Set up a mini kitchen area somewhere else in the house, perhaps the living room or your home office. A simple kettle and toaster might be enough for you, but don’t hold back if you need gourmet fare to get you through your day. Feel free to go all out with a mini-fridge and even a toasted sandwich maker! If it’s your bedroom that’s being worked on, consider moving your clothes into another room, so you have easy access (and your clothing doesn’t get covered in dust).
Pack As If You Are Moving
Having piles of clutter in the way is one of the top sources of stress when you’re renovating. If your home is having a thorough remodel, it’s worth packing up everything in the rooms you’re going to work on. Use packing boxes, as if you intended to move house. Carefully wrap and store your belongings like ornaments and other small items. They will only get in the way of the work. Remember, not all dust was created equal. Construction dust is an absolute nightmare once it gets into your things. If you have limited space in other areas of your home and you don’t have space for the boxes, consider storage options for the duration of your remodel. When our house is being tipped upside down, the last thing you need is those big boxes under your feet. This packing ritual will double as an opportunity to throw away or rehome things you don’t want or no longer use.
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Create a Work Zone
If your home is being remodeled by builders, it’s important to set aside an area of your house as a designated construction zone. With safety considerations their main concern, many builders will insist that you residents stay well away from the action. But if you’re doing the work yourself, it’s still useful to keep your work area meaningfully separate from the rest of the house. The work won’t be done for a long time, and that feeling that nothing is ever complete can haunt you if you don’t develop ways to keep DIY work in its box. Using tape, or just a verbal statement, to separate the work area from the rest of your home is a great way to stop being bothered by the ever-present mess.
Whether you’re fixing up your bathroom or the whole house, your renovations project can be stressful if you’re residing in the house. These tips will help you stay sane until the work is done.
