How to Survive a Kitchen Renovation and Maintain Your Sanity
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Kitchen renovations are hell, so to survive them you need to have a plan. Ideally, you would be able to move out while your home is turned upside down . Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. There are things you can do to minimize the havoc on your life though. I have lived through a few kitchen renovations so I really understand the turmoil that you may go through. I have learned the hard way and would like to share some tips to make the process go more smoothly.
To survive a kitchen renovation always keep the end result in mind...
When things start going wrong – when there are unexpected problems, delays and extra costs… And there will be… You need to stay focused on how beautiful it’s going to be in the end.
Adjust your mindset...be prepared for it to take longer and cost more.
All kitchen renovations are different. And yet they are all the same. It will probably take longer than you think it will to complete. Even if you have everything organized ahead of time, there may be a delay in getting crucial components. The cabinets, counter tops, tiles, faucet, sink, lighting… you name it. Even if your contractor (or you) are committed to working everyday, there may be things come up that prevent you. Something may come up that requires another professional to come in and then you have to wait for their schedules to line up with yours. Also, extra work means extra cost. Even if you don’t go over budget with the materials, you need to factor in at least 50% more for labor, unless you’re doing it all yourself.
Essential to surviving a kitchen renovation is to prepare a "temporary" kitchen...
Move a few essentials in that you will need – plates, cups, cutlery, BBQ utensils, etc. You might want to bring a compact microwave too. I cleaned out my laundry room and set up my coffee maker, blender and a dish washing station. I wash the dishes in the laundry sink and then put them on the washing machine. This is not ideal…but it works. Sometimes I just like to use paper plates though. There was already a garbage can in the laundry cabinet so I just had to add the small compost bin. The caddy with the dish soap and brush are kept under the sink.
Seal off rooms as much as you can with plastic sheets...
If you have an open concept living plan, the surrounding areas will get covered in dust. Actually, if you don’t seal off the room being renovated, dust will creep into every nook and cranny in your home. I don’t know how, but it will…trust me. To survive a kitchen renovation, don’t skip this step!
Keep at least one room in your home clean and uncluttered where you can escape the mess during your kitchen renovation...
If you have a separate family room where you can relax, that’s great. I don’t, but I am lucky that my bedroom has room for a couple comfy accent chairs. This is where I retreat to get away from the construction zone.
Plan alternate meals...
Fortunately, I am doing my kitchen reno during the summer, so it is natural to do a lot more barbecuing. You still might be able to do that in the winter, though. My stove is still hooked up so I can use it if I want to when it’s not too hot. Some days a sandwich will do and others – take out sounds really good.
Finally, just breathe...
If you are contemplating or under-going a kitchen renovation too, try not to stress too much. Get out for a walk, a bike ride or do something just for fun. It’ll all be over soon and life will continue again.
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