Home renovations are such an exciting time. You’re looking forward to seeing and experiencing your home with its new updates. You’re having fun choosing new floor plans, paint colors, furniture, etc. You can’t wait to invite friends and family over to share in the joy of a newly renovated home!
With all of the excitement of this new phase in your home, there comes the actual period of time when your home is an active renovation zone. Your daily routine and comforts are disrupted, and you have to learn how to function in and around it until it’s completed. This can bring on some stress and misgivings about the changes to your home. It really doesn’t need to feel like that though, it’s just that most people aren’t fully aware or prepared for these temporary changes and disruptions. But, if you’re ready for it, it’ll just become another exciting part of the process as you watch your home transform before you. Living through your home renovations can be a breeze with the right mindset, tools and preparations.
The best case scenario for most would be that they have a temporary space to stay while renovations are underway. A vacation home, a stay with family or friends, an Airbnb would be ideal for many, but that luxury isn’t always possible for everyone. Typically, we’re staying in our homes while the work is going on, and to make that the best case scenario it can be, here’s a list of things you can do to coexist peacefully with your home renovation:
Work closely with your contractors to create a detailed construction schedule. Do not attempt to rush any trades involved in the process with their timelines, this can cause issues such as quality, completion time and interrupting other trades. Prepare your schedule for a timeframe that works best for you, your family and the contractors. If everyone knows that their part is considered in the schedule, it’ll run smoother with less chances of the project finishing late. Do not plan your renovations around busy life moments for you, major holidays or winter - if it can be avoided.
Be sure that any permits and paperwork are properly filed and obtained well in advance. Have inspections scheduled to meet the construction completion schedule. Order all furniture, fixtures, flooring, finish selections, etc. in advance and know the lead times for everything. Quite often, delays in projects are related to permitting, paperwork, inspections and delivery delays/long lead times. Working with an Interior Designer plays an important role here. An interior designer can provide project management support on an intimate level to the client to ensure all of these items are taken care of and being tracked.
If doing renovations in multiple areas of the home, prioritize the kitchen and bathrooms first. It’s much easier to create a temporary bedroom for a little while than a place to temporarily shower! While kitchens and bathrooms are being worked on, here’s some additional tips to stay comfortable through that:
If you don’t have one already, get a gym, YMCA or spa membership so you have comfortable access to warm showers while yours is out of commission. Even during active construction, confirm with the contractor that your toilet will remain hooked up and available throughout the process.
Create a temporary kitchen setup. A hotplate, microwave, electric tea kettle, coolers and a water dispenser for drinking/clean water, paper plates, plastic cups and silverware, and makeshift pantry. This will allow you to still cook at home and maintain some comfort and routine, especially on those weekday nights when you just want to relax after work.
Storage is your best friend in this process! Pack away valuables, clothes, items that aren’t needed. Cover and protect furniture and flooring. The less that’s in the way and the more that’s protected, the easier it’ll be to put your home back together again.
Stay out of the construction zones! Really. Even when the construction crew isn’t there, stay away. This is best practice for safety and for the most quality outcome of your project. If you absolutely can’t stay out of the space, you should have a plan with your contractor on how you will safely use the space without affecting any of the ongoing work.
Be prepared with air purifiers. Renovations will create dust and dirt in the home. Setting up air purifiers will help with the air quality throughout the process.
Have realistic expectations. Unforeseen issues can occur during a renovation and can create delays/changes in the work and/or budget. Keep an open, positive line of communication with your team. Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the solution!
Do not ever begin a home renovation project without signed contracts. A reputable, trusted contractor will always have their paperwork in order and signed contracts prior to starting a project. This is just good business and professionalism.
Make sure you have a comfortable, consistent space in the home you can retreat to and enjoy. And don’t hesitate to use this time to get out a little more often and away from the house. Those salsa dancing lessons you’ve been wanting to try out? Now’s a great time to give it a shot!
Most importantly, enjoy the process. It’s such a fortunate and exciting thing to do for ourselves and our homes. There’s something so rewarding about watching your space transform into the ideas you imagined!
Approaching your home renovations well prepared will make the process so much easier. Hiring an Interior Designer to guide you through the process will make it seamless, fun and inspiring. Bring your dreams to Bella Home Interiors and watch as they turn into reality. Click Here to schedule a consultation and experience the gratification of your renovation!
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