Getting our homes the way we want them is a priority for any homeowner. Without your own decor and design inspiration, there’s just no way you’ll feel relaxed in that space. Hence why major redecoration projects and even complete renovations can often end up on our cards.
While the ends definitely justify the means for projects like these, there’s no denying that such undertakings can be stressful. Standing on the brink of a home renovation project can certainly be enough to give you one hell of a headache. After all, you face upheaval, mess, and a whole lot of stress. Or do you?
Sadly, we’re can’t wave a magic wand and tell you that all your home reno stressors will vanish in one hit. To some extent, this is always going to be a volatile time in your home-owning life. That said, there are some surprisingly simple steps to take that could see your stress levels dropping at least a little. And, we’re going to discuss the top ones here.
Keep one room normal
The first and most crucial sanity hint we can give you is to keep at least one room normal. The house could be turned entirely inside out elsewhere, but when you close the door in this space, you should almost be able to convince yourself that renovations aren’t happening at all. That means no reorganization here to fit furniture, and no stray tools at any time!
Even if you don’t think you’ll need it, this one normal space will become your absolute haven. Instead of returning home every night to a house that makes you want to leave again, this will ensure you have somewhere to relax. Here, you won’t need to worry one jot about the headache all that mess could give, or the cluttered thoughts that come along with it. You’ll be able to dedicate yourself solely to keeping this space up to the home standards you typically like to enjoy.
Take care of mess as you go
Renovations are messy. So messy that your usually lovely home will look like a bomb has hit it not too long after you get started. We’re afraid to say that this is inevitable, especially if you’re working on mucky tasks like plastering or knocking down walls. Still, many of us make the mistake of assuming that the inevitability of such messes makes them impossible to handle. Instead, we leave piles of rubble and taken apart cupboards all over until that big finishing clean up. The trouble is that, as well as giving you a mammoth task down the line, leaving cleaning until last really adds to the feeling that you’re losing control of your space.
That’s why our next sanity step is to clean up as you go wherever you can. Of course, you will need to use your logic here. Getting rid of plaster dust at the end of every day is a waste of your time and energy if you’ll be carryinging on with the job the next day. Still, something as simple as embarking on rubbish bin hire at the start of this undertaking rather than the end can save unnecessary reno clutter from building. Instead of letting piles of rubble or dismantled cupboards get in the way for who knows how many weeks, you’ll be able to put them straight in the bin. You would be amazed at how much better you’ll feel just from taking this small step at the end of each reno day. And, of course, you’ll surely thank yourself for it come the end of the process, too.
Simplify other aspects of your life
With such high levels of stress from your renovation project alone, retaining sanity also primarily comes down to your ability to simplify elsewhere. The more you have going on during this process, the more overwhelmed you’re guaranteed to feel. So, strip things back.
For one, you may find that taking some time off during the renovation process helps. This way, you remove stressors like getting mess all over your uniform whenever you turn around. You also somewhat eliminate the horrible feeling that can come from returning after a long day to what is effectively a building site. And, of course, this can also help your sanity by making sure that you’re able to finish the project a lot faster than you might otherwise!
Work worries aside, many renovation pros also remove distractions like cooking by taking care of meal prep in advance. By eliminating the need to worry about cleaning your kitchen sides or even making time to prepare meals from scratch, you should find this entire process a whole lot easier to manage. You’ll undoubtedly feel saner when you’re able to focus on relaxing if renovation works finish late instead of squeezing into a potentially compromised kitchen.
Take time to make a timeline
For some of us, the idea of embarking on a renovation without intensive planning is petrifying. Others prefer just to get on and do the thing already. Whatever your renovation style, though, it’s well worth remembering that your sanity relies on a timeline of some description. Think of this as the light at the end of your reno tunnel. No matter how dark things get for the duration, you can hold onto the hope offered by this end date, and pull your sanity through no matter what.
Of course, as you’ll know if you’ve tackled projects like these in the past, things don’t always go according to plan. End dates change, and you need to understand that so that you don’t lose hope altogether if it happens. Still, knowing that there’s a time, not so long away, when you can live in your dream house is guaranteed to keep you smiling.
Conclusion
Renovations aren’t easy, but they do say that nothing worth having ever is. Still, you don’t need to suffer to the extent that you may be expecting if you keep these stress-busting pointers to hand throughout the process.
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