How to Thrive While Living Through a Dusty and Chaotic Home Renovation
Faith Led Interior Design Show | Episode 22
Dust, mess, noise, workers going in and out of your home, living in the rubble, etc...are some of the disruptions and chaos your family will endure during a home renovation, especially if you have to live in your house while it is being renovated.
What if I told you that all those things can be minimized if not eliminated with proper planning? Preparation is key to staying sane and happy when the house is in disarray.
In this episode, I share five tips for surviving and thriving during renovations. Whether you are planning a renovation or you are in the middle of one and are overwhelmed, this episode is for you.
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Be Blessed Verse
Our verse for the week is Song of Solomon 6:3: I am My Beloved and My Beloved is mine.
This is a quote from the Song of Songs. I take it, in modern times, now, to refer to the love between God and His children. He does love us sooo much and I just see us embracing each other. I feel secure in Him. There may be a whirlwind swirling around us, but we can sit in the eye of the storm, (the quiet, peaceful part), and just know that He has us and He loves us beyond words.
How to Thrive While Living Through a Dusty and Chaotic Home Renovation
Dust everywhere! Ah yes, a home remodel. It is both so exciting and so inconvenient! The tools, the noise, the plastic sheets, and the drop cloths are everywhere. Everything is topsy turvy and chaotic...
…but the end result, beautiful home will be worth the disruption. Right?!
When planning for a home renovation, the best case scenario would be for you, the homeowner, to find a hotel, an Airbnb, or a family member’s house to crash at throughout the project, but even that comes with its own challenges. So, why not plan ahead to make the most of the challenges, perhaps even enjoy the process?
Photo by Naomi Hébert on Unsplash
5 Tips for Living Through a Renovation
1. Set Seriously Realistic Expectations
Work with the design team and contractor to set realistic expectations from day one. Here are a few questions to get you started:
How long will it take?
What rooms will be disrupted?
What will and won't I have access to in the home?
How are you sealing off the rooms to lessen the dust and noise problems a bit? (Note: Usually this is done with zippered plastic sheeting to completely seal off the work area. It helps quite a bit, but not completely.)
As we all know, most of us have experienced, that timelines can change. Unexpected issues can arise throughout the project, but communication is key to navigating those setbacks...and during these times you may have to revisit and revise the expectations.
Just know that every professional wants the job done as quickly and professionally as possible, to get paid in a timely way, and to have a wildly happy client. I know that, personally, happy clients make my heart sing! I am genuinely so happy for them...and seeing those smiles…that truly is one of the best parts of my interior design job!
2. Designate a Delightfully Dust-Free Zone
I once had clients construct a makeshift kitchen in their master bedroom while their real kitchen was being remodeled. They even had simple, romantic dinners there, complete with wine and music. So cute!
While that story is adorable, it also illustrates a good point. It is important to designate a space in the home that remains neat, clean and organized as a "sanctuary" from the dust and noise of the project. This location will help you maintain sanity.
Your "sanctuary" will be so important because there will be days when you question why you are living through this chaos. It’s normal! You’ll think you were crazy when you made this decision. But, by being able to step away from it into some sense of normalcy, you'll be able to take a deep breath and gain some much-needed perspective.
3. Take Time to Purge and Pack
Even though contractors work very hard to close everything off and minimize dust, the rooms that are near the area being renovated will need to be packed away or covered very carefully with heavy drop cloths. Dust will get everywhere, so packing up ensures your stuff remains safe.
Packing up and moving items out temporarily is the best. And when that glorious day comes when all is complete or mostly complete and the professional cleaning people come, it is very close to time to celebrate and enjoy your new surroundings! Can you say, “Party time!”
4. Don't Deny Yourself of Daily Rituals
As I have watched clients over the years, I’ve noticed that the happiest ones keep their routines as normal as possible when living in the "construction zone". That's kind of like the Twilight Zone…and I’m not sure which one is worse. By maintaining regular daily routines, life will feel slightly less disrupted and your family will navigate the stress a little better.
Hint: Continue to wake up at the same time, make coffee each morning (even if you are living in the basement for now), keep up with family meals, create a makeshift kitchen with a hotplate and a microwave, etc... A jacuzzi tub, candles, and a nice glass of wine doesn't hurt either.
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash
5. Document the Dusty Disruption
Ask questions of the pros anytime they arise and embrace the inevitable chaos knowing it is short-lived and leading toward an end goal. Taking pictures and videos as things progress is really fun and will be great to look back on later. Telling your war stories, highs and lows, helps you realize that you made it through a pretty big deal! You did it!
Some day you will be glad that you have documentation of this crazy time because you will look back fondly at the time it took to create the beautiful home of your dreams.
I want to encourage you that it really can be worth it. A kitchen or bathroom remodel can be some of the best-spent money that you ever invest.
The Conclusion
Remember that the whole process will be more pleasant if you prepare well, plan ahead, and embrace the chaos while living through a renovation. Being flexible and trusting the process will help you both survive and thrive!
And if you need some inspiration as you ponder whether now is the best time to undergo a home renovation, check out our curated collection of current interior design trends. You don’t want to miss it!
As our verse for this week says, I pray that you have comfort that He is your Beloved and that you are His. Cling tight to Him this week! He loves and adores you sooooo much!
Now, Stop Dreaming, Start Designing your luxury home and within your budget!
Blessings and See you next episode…
