How to Live Through a Kitchen Renovation with Kids
Living through a large renovation project can be a true testament to your patience and sanity, so what do you do when you’ve got kids and the house is under renovation? The kitchen, in particular, can be especially stressful on parents as they try to keep a sense of normalcy in the house amidst all kinds of chaos. Not to worry, we’ve got some great tips that you can use during your renovation so that everyone makes it through with their sanity!
Speak to Kids in Advance
It’s always a good idea to speak to kids about the renovation projects that will be occurring in and out of the home before they begin. This is even more true if there will be equipment such as scaffolding being used, which can be dangerous for kids to play near. When you speak to them it would probably be helpful to give them an approximate timeframe so they know how long the house will be a bit upside down.
If you have young children, you can approach it like an adventure that the whole family will be going on together. Make it seem fun and neat so that they aren’t focused on the negative aspects of home renovations.
Get Kids Involved
Kids can often feel pretty left out of the renovation project when in fact they can easily be involved and take an interest in it. As you pick out all your design elements why not show the kids and ask for their input. Yes, they may end up telling you the kitchen needs to be painted bright orange, but at least by including them they will start to understand just what will be happening during the renovations.
Leave the Stress to Someone Else
As a busy parent, you already have enough on your plate on a daily basis, so hiring a contractor is certainly a good idea. The contractor will know what they are doing, will get the job done faster, and they can offer input on the design and functionality of the kitchen. Just be sure to do your research before you choose and hire a contractor.
Create an Alternate Kitchen Space
With the kitchen out of order, the family can be left scrambling at meal and snack time, so it’s a good idea to set up an alternate kitchen space before the work begins. You’ll need to have access to a sink, have cutlery and dishes (this is a good time to use disposable items), a fridge, a kettle, and a toaster oven or microwave. Just by having these items accessible you’ll be able to create a variety of simple meals and snacks. It’s obviously not ideal, but it will be enough to get by until the renovations are complete.
Let the Renovations Begin
Now that the family is prepared, you’ve set up an alternate kitchen space, and you’ve hired on a professional it’s time to let the work begin. Before you know it, you’ll have that gorgeous new kitchen of your dreams.