How to survive a home renovation with kids and pets….. This is a common question many of us want to know as we embark on a renovation within our home. Here are some tips on how to survive a home renovation and hopefully help keep your sanity. Plus get that reno done!
Okay, how many of you can relate to painting a huge area of your home, laying new flooring or doing a complete bathroom reno? All while attempting to live in your home with your family, including multiple kids and oh yah, don’t forget about the pets. I’ve definitely been there and done that….more then once! Hopefully I can share some tips today on how to survive a home renovation and make your life a little easier.
Over the years my husband and I have done many home makeovers or renovations together. It was never an option to to hire a babysitter, get meals delivered for two weeks or stay in a hotel. So we would just make the best of it, tackle the project with the kiddos and continue living in our home. There were definitely moments of craziness but the end result was always worth all the inconveniences.
Here are some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way and I hope they will help you.
1. Plan Your Reno
I am totally guilty of diving into a reno without it being completely planned out but it always goes way smoother and faster with a little planning done beforehand. Make a plan of your home project and write it out. Next take the time to figure out what supplies and tools you will need. Go and buy your supplies and have them ready to go.
2. Timing
While there really is no perfect time to complete a home reno, thinking about the timing of your project and when it would work best for your family and schedules does really help. For instance, doing a major project in the middle of our -40 winters isn’t always the easiest because the kids can’t be outside at all to play, we can’t cook meals on the BBQ or use the outdoor space to set up tools. When we painted out whole main floor area, we did it in the spring when we could be outside and even eat outside on the deck. This really helped with having a place for the kids and dog to go play.
Maybe it’s the timing of your work and kids school schedules. Think about whether it’s better to take a few days off of work to get the project done quicker or just clear your evening and weekend schedule while you work on the renovation.
3. Getting Prepared for the Home Renovation
Now that you have a good idea of your plan and the timing when you’ll do it, let’s discuss getting prepared. The area of your home that will be getting a renovation, may be off limits for a few days or weeks. Try to prepare another makeshift area in another spot to use temporarily. Whether this is for a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen space, arranging another area will be very helpful. This will make it so much easier during the renovation for you and the rest of the family.
If possible move any decor, furniture or items out of the area you will be working in. This will prevent damage to anything and reduce the amount of cleaning afterwards…especially from dust. It will also make it easier to work and move around in that area. Hang up plastic to block off any doorways if sanding or cover up anything you weren’t able to move out with sheets or plastic. When we painted this really helped with drips getting onto any of our furniture.
If the renovation is happening right in the kitchen, think about making some meals ahead of time to pull out and cook. Slow cooker meals are another big help. This will be so handy if everyone is hungry and you have no where to make a meal. Budget for a take out meal from a restaurant if this is an option as well. Having easy, simple meals handy will be a life saver.
4. Be Flexible
Life won’t be routine and everyone in the family household will have to make things work during the renovation. By explaining the plan, hopefully this will help everyone to be flexible and understanding. The end goal is a freshly painted house or a new bathroom…
5. Dealing With Fustration
Eventually there is frustration with the reno not going well, the kids and dog are running through your paint tray (true story), or you’re just done with the tools and ladder laying in the kitchen!
Take a deep breath or two and try to envision the finished renovation plan. Step away from the house for a break to regroup and refresh yourself. You’ll feel better and get renewed energy to work on the reno again.
6. Have Fun
Ok, you know my motto by now. As stressful as a home renovation can be, hopefully you can enjoy it and have some fun doing it. You will get to see all of the planning and hard work turn your home into a beautiful cozy space. To me the best part is at the end, when I get to decorate my new space.
I hope that these tips on how to survive a home renovation with kids and pets will help you with the next project that you and your family begin in your home. Hopefully it will make life a little easier. Even just to know that someone else gets it and has been there too!
Have a wonderful week and happy renovating!
XO Rachel
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