There are few things as exciting and stressful in life as a home renovation project. While you may be eager to see the final project and enjoy watching as it progresses, it can severely impact your daily life. Your routine may be impossible, rooms may not be usable, and there is a bustle of people in and out of your space. If you are renovating your home now or will be in the future, read these tips on how to live through a renovation.
Have a plan
This may seem like a no brainer, but planning is crucial to minimizing your stress later in the renovation process. Meet with your contractor and go over your expectations for the renovation and timeline. It’s best to understand when certain parts of the project will begin and a rough day of when it will end. This way, you can plan when you need to organize rooms and move around your belongings. You also want to be sure you have the proper equipment and supplies ready for each phase of the renovation to avoid unnecessary delays caused by missing pipes or paint.
Carve out a safe space
If your renovation plans include several rooms or one of your main rooms, it can be daunting to give up that space for several weeks or months. To combat the stress of being surrounded by work and unfinished projects, have a place away from the chaos. Keep this area clean and clutter-free so that it actually feels like home. If you need to move out of your bedroom or bathroom, bring your essentials, like toiletries and clothes, with you. This way, you don’t have to keep going in and out of an unfinished room, and dust won’t cover your important belongings.
Look to your design
Often, when living through a renovation, we tend to forget about the project’s actual outcome. It is crucial to keep the design you want in your mind to ensure you and your contractor are aligned — and so you have something to daydream about when the stress becomes too much. An Overland Park, KS, interior decorator recommends checking in with your contractor often to go over different aspects of your design and whether or not things need to be adjusted or changed altogether. Be clear about the non-negotiable components of the plan.
Combat dust
Dust is, unfortunately, an inevitable part of any renovation project. To keep your home from being overrun by dust, lay out tarps and cover furniture that you know will be impacted by the renovations. If possible, pack your décor into boxes so you can avoid having to clean each piece individually. Keep a small vacuum available for quick cleanups, and be sure to have rags on hand for easy wipe downs. If you or a family member suffers from allergies or asthma, it may be prudent to invest in an air purifier to clean out some of the debris from the air and make breathing easier.
Find some normalcy
Your bathroom may be gutted, and your kitchen may be missing an oven, but that doesn’t mean you have to uproot your life completely. Try to keep a fairly consistent routine, even if that means making more slow cooker meals because your oven is missing or brushing your teeth in the powder room because your bathroom doesn’t have running water. The more normal you feel, the less stress will creep into your life.
Home renovations are an exciting and stressful undertaking. By following the tips above, we hope your renovation will be a little more comfortable.