6 Tips For Surviving A Kitchen Remodel

Often, people put off their dream kitchen renovations because, initially, it seems like a pretty daunting task. And it might mean you’re living without one of the most important rooms in your home for an extended period of time. But, it doesn’t have to be as chaotic as you think. With careful planning and loads of patience, you can tackle a complicated kitchen remodel and still keep your sense of humour. If you’ve been waiting for years to finally complete your dream kitchen, there’s no reason not to take on the job now. We’ve come up with 6 easy tips for making your kitchen remodel as smooth as possible.

Here’s how to survive a kitchen reno…

Tips for surviving a kitchen renovation

1). Be prepared

Now is the perfect time to do a current kitchen overhaul. You know how much ‘stuff’ gathers in the drawers and cupboards in a kitchen – dad’s long lost golf balls, last year’s school study guide, batteries for the TV remote. And, in the pantry? When last did you check those John West expiration dates? If you’re about to take on a kitchen remodel, spend some time before the project kicks off to make sure your kitchen is clean and organised. Chuck away things you don’t use, take another look at appliances that are playing up, and start thinking about what you need to put aside for a temporary kitchen. The more prepared you are at the beginning of the renovation, the easier it’ll be to manage.

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2). Set up a temporary kitchen

In any household, the kitchen is a pretty crucial room. If your kitchen is under construction and uninhabitable for the foreseeable future, you need to have a back-up plan. Experts suggest looking at a temporary kitchen in the same way you approach food for a camping trip – what is the minimum amount of stuff we need in order to survive? You might want to set up a makeshift kitchen in the garage or basement – a room that doesn’t get too much traffic. And kit it out with basic cooking equipment and eating materials. And, with the dishwasher out of commission, no one is too good for paper plates.

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3). Make meals easy

While your real kitchen is out of action, it’s important to have a plan for mealtimes. Especially, because many people tend to eat meals at a breakfast nook or island in the kitchen. Make sure you have multi-purpose appliances like a skottel or airfryer in your temporary kitchen and set aside basic ingredients like salt & pepper, long-life milk, bread etc in a makeshift pantry. A mini-fridge and microwave go a long way, too. Then, keep meals simple and easy so that the prep and washing up is minimal. And don’t forget about ready-made meals or takeaways.

ALSO SEE: 9 Easy Ways To Make Your Kitchen More Functional

4). Communicate

This one is important on all levels. When you take on a kitchen renovation, the most important thing is to be able to manage communication. You need to be in touch with everyone on the job, from the interior designer to the contractor and project manager. And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to keep your family in the loop about what’s going on and how much progress you’re making. Everyone is affected by the construction and disruption and, when communication systems fail, slip-ups are more likely to occur. It’s up to everyone on the job to stay informed throughout the renovation process.

ALSO SEE: 7 Common Renovation Mistakes – And How To Avoid Them

5). Learn to let go

With any remodel job, you need to come to terms with the fact that you can’t control everything. And you need to let go of the things that are out of your hands. Firstly, forget trying to keep the whole house spotlessly clean for the duration of the renovation. Do what you can to make common rooms useable but, if there’s a bit of dust in the living room and plastic sheeting acting as a barrier, it’s not the end of the world. In all likelihood, there will be challenges and hiccups along the way, but the important thing is to keep your cool and know that everyone is working to make sure your ideas come to life. And, once a solution has been made, go with it and move on. Try to accept the fact that you’re never totally in control during a rebuild.

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6). Ask for help

You don’t have to go through a project like this on your own. Experts are there to help and they’ll have advice on how you can make things easier for yourself. For example, ask your contractor to help with setting up a temporary kitchen space. He can tackle big jobs like moving and reinstalling the fridge. Phone a friend and trade her a homemade meal for the privilege of using her kitchen. And if you need help with a school run or grocery shop when you just can’t be away from site, ask for help on that front, too. Friends will want to lend a hand, and they’ll probably love it, but you have to learn to ask first. No one can anticipate all your needs.

Want to partner on your next exciting renovation project? Kitchen designs and renovations are two of our specialised services and we’d love to help bring your ideas to life. Please contact us to find out more about our bespoke turnkey interior solutions.