Renovating your home is one of the most exciting, yet stressful, experiences of your life. Nothing is where it should be, a layer of dust seems to be covering everything, and people are constantly in and out of your home. Your home is no longer the private sanctuary it once was. As interior designers, we see people dealing with this every day. However, along the way, we have accumulated some helpful tips and advice to get you through your home renovation with your sanity still intact.

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Prepare and Plan

Adequate preparation before the work even starts can make all the difference in how smoothly your project goes! Before you do anything else, set up a plan of attack and hire all contractors and tradespeople that you will need for the entire duration of your renovation. They should be able to provide you with their general timelines, which can help with your overall planning. This will allow phases to transition quickly from one to the next. Clear the space and rearrange. Trying to complete your morning routine in the middle of a demolition doesn’t work well for you nor your hired crew. Having alternative places and ways to complete daily tasks will help make everyone’s lives just a little bit easier. Dishes can be done in a bathtub or bathroom sink. Living rooms can become make-shift sleeping areas. Even your garage can be utilized for hooking up kitchen appliances.

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Keep Things Tidy

One of the biggest complaints from clients during construction work is cleanliness. Remodeling is a messy job, but there are steps you can take to keep the disorder at bay. Start by hanging plastic sheets or tarps in doorways or open spaces to block all the wood shavings, scraps, and other dust particles from traveling to other rooms around your home. As mentioned before, furniture and other items (especially electronics) should be removed. If you are unable to remove a piece, cover it with a drop cloth or plastic for protection. When dealing with glues, paints, chemicals, and even just bringing in new furniture or fabrics, there is a concern with off-gassing. This is the release of chemicals that were trapped in materials. To combat these air pollutions, good ventilation is very important. Make sure to include tidiness in your discussion when hiring your tradespeople. A good contractor will know these concerns and do their part in keeping things cleaned daily at the end of each shift. If you are local and would like a list of great contractors, please reach out!

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Manage Stress

Possibly the best way to manage your stress while your home is under construction is to rent a hotel, take a vacation or stay with family or friends. However, if this is not an option for you, find activities that get you out of the house. Continuously supervising your renovators is stressful for both you and them. Always check credentials of anyone you hire to do work in your home. There is so much to be said for the peace of mind that comes with having trust in those people and their work! Problems may arise and things may take longer than originally anticipated. Expect the unexpected. If you know it is a possibility, the situation does not seem as disconcerting. Finally, breathe. This is all just a temporary situation that will result in your dream home!