Surviving Renovations

Any kind of renovation has a way of turning your world up-side down. The best way to survive a renovation is to prepare detailed plans ahead of time. Plan for the renovation to last longer than you think it should. Plan for a new location for the displaced activity (cooking if you are doing the kitchen, sleeping if you are doing a bedroom, etc.). Plan for a place for all of the displaced furniture and other household goods that must be moved out of the space being renovated. Plan for a way to contain the dust and mess caused by the renovation process so that it does not become a much larger clean-up job than it has to be. Plan for unexpected events. If you are doing the work yourself, plan for easy meals. Plan a reasonable work schedule. If you spend day one on your knees for twelve hours, you may be out of commission until day four. In fact, if you are not careful, you might find that two hours on your knees is too much! Be sure to stretch out before and after. (My chiropractor reminds me every time!)

Do not surprise someone with a long-dreamed of renovation by tearing out the kitchen while she is at work. (Yes, I know a well-meaning husband who did just that.) If there is no plan, that renovation will turn into a nightmare fast. Organization of time, space, and energy can make all the difference. Take the time to plan.

I recommend “moving out” of the space to be renovated a few days early so that you can try out the new routine and make adjustments. Testing the temporary routine before the chaos of demolition day will allow you to make a smoother transition. Think of it as camping out, and “pack” everything that you could possibly need. The more normal your new set-up is, the easier it will be to endure until the renovation is complete and you can move into the renewed space. Next renovation, if you need help planning it through, ask Sweetly Stowed to help you plan your survival strategy!

Pack up

It is a matter of survival!