Disruptive, hectic, and quite frankly, messy – this is how many parents would describe tackling a remodeling project with kids. While it can be stressful, the end results are very well worth the effort. Whether you’re looking to update your existing space or make room for your growing family, here are five tips for staying sane while remodeling your house with kids.
Make sure you choose the right time of the year to remodel
If you’ve been planning on remodeling your dream home for a while now, you’ve probably given some thought to the best time to do it. Now, if you’re working with a tight budget, your best bet would be to start your remodeling project in winter because the prices are the lowest around this time. Some argue that spring and summer are the best time of the year to remodel your home due to warm weather and endless al fresco possibilities.
But when you take all the different factors into account, it’s actually fall that’s the ideal time to start your renovation. You won’t have to think about things like snowstorms, and there won’t be a rush which is often the case with spring and summer remodels. Keep these things in mind, but ultimately, decide what’s best for your family.
Designate a kid-friendly space that will be just for the little ones
There’s a lot of things going on during a remodel, and the last thing you want to do is follow your kids around telling them what they can and can’t do. Not only will all this chasing around make it more difficult for the contractors to do their job properly, but it’ll also make the kids feel restricted. Instead of making the project more stressful than it is, keep your work space and living space separate.
If you plan to live on site while renovating, designate an area of the home that’s currently not being remodeled and make it as kid-friendly as possible. Use cushions, bean bags, and teepee tents to make it comfy, and provide lots of different toys and activities.This will help them understand where they can play, and will help you keep them safe while there’s work in progress.
Set up a temporary kitchen and stock up on microwavable dishes
Aside from keeping your kids away from where they shouldn’t be, you’ll also need to figure out how you’re going to prepare meals. Keeping everyone fed and happy is not an easy feat when there are contractors all over your home. Not to mention the dust and debris that somehow manage to end up almost everywhere. If you’re staying in while your kitchen remodel is under way, make sure to set up a cooking area beforehand.
Make use of electric burners, toasters, coffee makers and microwaves, freeze a bunch of microwavable dishes, and don’t hesitate to switch to disposable plates and cutlery. Remember, this is only temporary! Just make sure that the kids know that once all the work is finished, they’ll need to start putting dirty dishes in the sink again rather than the trash can.
Store away what’s not in use…but not the stuff kids are attached to
It can be so easy to get lost in all the packing and preparing for the reno that you accidentally pack what you’re not supposed to. This is especially important if your kids have things they’re attached to. Whether it’s their favorite blanket or a lovey they can’t fall asleep without, make sure you always have them on hand. The last thing you want is to pack their favorite stuff away only to have your kids looking for them in the midst of a renovation. That said, make sure to take care of furniture and belongings and store whatever is not in use on a regular basis. This will help prevent them from getting damaged in the process.
Make use of plastic storage bins to keep everything organized. Not only will this make searching for the things you need easier, but it’ll also keep any dust and debris from falling all over your stuff.
Get the kids involved and make it fun
Last but not least, make sure that the process is fun for your little ones. Surely, you’ll be making a lot of decisions on a daily basis. However, it’s important that you keep your kids engaged in the process and make them a part of it. After all, you are trying to make your space better for the whole family, so let your kids have a say every once in a while.
Whether it’s the design of their new bedroom or a color palette of their playroom, let them make some of the decisions. Just make sure to offer them no more than three options at a time. It’ll feel empowering to them, and you’ll get a quick answer so you can move on to other things.
Wrapping up
Although challenging, remodeling a home when you have kids isn’t impossible. It’s not exactly stress-free either, but there are ways to make it easier to manage. Stick with the tips above, and you’ll not only survive your remodel but thrive while you’re at it.