Remodeling your home is exciting and fun, but it can also be a headache, especially if you have kids. Let’s be real, none of us our Joanna Gaines…
Fixer Upper dreams aside, without access to everyday spaces, like your laundry room or bathroom, you have to get creative with how you handle everyday tasks. All while keeping the house somewhat organized and tidy.
Unfortunately, this is the reality of doing a remodel—but it doesn’t have to be as much of a pain. Use these simple tips to make your life easier during a chaotic and inconvenient time.
Bathroom Remodel: Set Up a Makeshift Bathroom or Get Away
If you have another bathroom, this remodel may not be as hectic. If you only have one, however, it will upset your entire routine. Without the bathroom, much of your daily morning routine is turned upside down.
The best way to make your life easier during a bathroom renovation is to make a temporary one: “If you depend on the bathroom that’s under construction for daily use (or if it’s your only bath), be sure to ask the designer/builder to set up a temporary bath,” suggests HGTV.
Experts told HGTV, “This can be accomplished by setting up a temporary fiberglass shower unit in the basement that drains into the utility tub floor drain.” You can even have a temporary toilet put in, with the cost for both being about $500. Note that this will likely differ depending on a variety of details, including location, so be sure to check about their price first.
Unfortunately, if you live in a condo building, it may not be so easy to set this up, as in most cases you need a bathroom. In this case, the only option is plan B: get away, whether you go to a hotel or rental home in the area. You can also take this chance to enjoy a short family trip or connect with family out of town.
Kitchen Remodel: Be a Crafty Cook
A kitchen renovation is just as difficult to work around as the bathroom renovation—and you don’t want to spend money eating out every meal of the day. Not only is it expensive, but it’s inconvenient. If your kitchen is completely unavailable, there are a few simple ways to reduce the chaos:
- Plan your meals: If you don’t already plan meals, now’s the time to start because you’ll need to buy mostly non-perishable ingredients—and you may not be able to cook. If you have a grill, that will be your new cooking area. The good news is, you may be surprised by how much you can cook on your temporary stove. Check out these 22 unique ideas.
- Create a temporary cooking and cooling space: Use a cooler to keep small perishable items good, like deli meat and cheese. Don’t forget to create an area where you can plug in your toaster oven, blender and other small kitchen items as well. With a toaster oven, you can still make toast and cook many frozen items—and the blender is perfect for making a smoothie, which is a quick and easy meal.
- Create a meal calendar: Prepping food and eating with limited space will get old fast. Make a meal calendar or schedule that includes which nights you’ll eat out and when you’ll stay in. For example, “Monday, Wednesday and Friday we’ll eat dinner at home and Tuesday and Thursday we’ll go out.” You may even need to switch children to school lunches for the time being so you have one less meal to worry about.
Don’t forget to avoid using regular dishware as much as possible. Without access to a sink, you’ll be extra stressed as you watch dishes piling up. Stick with paper plates and plastic cups and cutlery to avoid the extra cleaning.
Laundry Room Remodel: Use Wash and Fold Laundry Service
Whether your laundry room is out of order or not, doing laundry can be a real pain—not to mention a total time suck. With a wash and fold laundry service, you don’t have to worry about the pile of clothes collecting dust during the remodel, which is likely just another stressor during the already-hectic renovation.
Luckily, this service is plentiful in most metropolitan and suburban areas, so the challenge will be finding the service that’s both convenient and good quality. The Choosing Your Dry Cleaners guide suggests considering four factors:
- What services do they offer? For example, look for same-day pickup, which is especially convenient.
- What do the reviews say? Check online, but don’t forget to ask friends and family, who won’t be afraid to mince words.
- Is it easy to get in touch with customer service? If something comes up, you want to be able to get in touch.
- How affordable are they? A standard pricing of services will make this one easy to figure out.
Life Goes On While Your Home is a Mess
Having a home that’s under construction can be a serious challenge—whether it’s your kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom. Before you get frustrated, use these tips to make the time more manageable, whether you’re using a makeshift bathroom or sending clothes out for cleaning. Focus on what will make your life easier, and less stressful, because life will go on, and you just have to make it work. The good news is: you can do that!