If you’ve ever lived through a home reno, you’ll know that it can be challenging to say the least.
From restricted use of certain areas to the endless amounts of mess, living through a renovation can be a major disruption to your daily life. However, there are ways to make the process a whole lot more manageable.
For me, living through a renovation is nothing new. Growing up, my parents were always working on one home improvement or another. One of the best surprises of my younger years was coming home from a friend’s house to find them starting to dig out the hole for a swimming pool – by hand. (Thanks Mum and Dad!)
In Chris’s case, he’s always dreaming up the next big idea and he’s happiest when he’s working on a project. Even still, living in an unfinished home and experiencing your renovation day in day out can be a lot. So, it’s important to find ways to cope.
Here are our tips for living through a home reno – without losing the plot!
1. Know what to expect
This should come as a surprise to exactly no one, but renovations are messy work, and things don’t always go according to plan. For a variety of reasons, renovations can also take a lot longer than you might think. And, they can easily end up costing more, too.
Ultimately, taking on a renovation is a big task. But, having a clear idea of what to expect will help you to make the most of this time and prepare you to handle any bumps in the road
2. Don’t overdo it
While the idea of knocking out your reno in one hit can be tempting, it’s important to avoid biting off more than you can chew. Especially if you’ll be living there!
Whether you’re doing if yourself or hiring contractors, completing a renovation requires a whole lot of planning and preparation. At times, it can be pretty stressful. However, focusing on one thing at a time allows you to give it your full attention. And, maybe even enjoy the process!
3. Have a sanctuary
When half of your home is missing walls or covered in dust and debris, having a sanctuary away from the work and clutter can really help you to stay sane. Trust me on this one!
If you can, section off a room that is either finished, or not yet started. Promise yourself that you’ll keep it clean and avoid turning it into a dumping ground for all those extras you need to relocate from other rooms.
4. Make time to unwind
Working on your house can be kind of addictive, but try not to let it consume your life. Whether it’s a weekend away or even just a night out, make time to step away and give yourself a break.
One of my favourite little getaways was a trip to Venus Bay we took while our house we had painters finishing off a few things and respraying our kitchen cabinets.
It was the first trip we had taken since buying the house, and up until then, we’d been working so hard on the house without taking any time off. We were both feeling pretty burnt out, but getting away and spending some time together just us and the pups was exactly the reset we needed.
5. Remember why you started
It may sound like a cliché, but one of the best pieces of advice for living through a renovation is to remember what you’re working for, and why you started in the first place.
Renovating is never easy, but the results are almost always worth the effort. It’s easy to get so caught up in the process that you forget how far you’ve come, so make the time to document your progress and take as many photos as you can. There’s no greater motivation to keep going that flicking through your before and after photos and seeing how your home has transformed!
Are you living through a home renovation of your own? Let us know what’s worked for you!
