How to Live Through a Kitchen Remodel

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Kitchen remodels are a great way to increase your home’s value and sell it faster. If you’re not planning to sell, a new kitchen will give your home a much-needed facelift and perhaps even improve your cooking skills.

But a kitchen remodel takes time. And if you’re planning to live at home during the renovation, it’s going to feel like a long time. Will you have to eat out all of the time? Or clean your house constantly? We’re going to show you 10 ways to live through your kitchen remodel to make it as painless as possible.

10 Ways to Get Through Your Kitchen Remodel Without Losing Your Mind

Living through a kitchen remodel isn’t easy. And even though you’ll be cooking in your dream kitchen once it’s complete, the construction phase will test your patience. But don’t worry, these tips will help you get through it.

1. Straighten up your attitude

The next few weeks won’t be easy. You’ll be subject to constant noise, messiness, and uncomfortable cooking conditions. If you hired contractors for the renovation, you’ll also have to deal with strangers in your home at all hours of the day.

2. Set up a temporary, makeshift kitchen

Assuming you don’t have a second kitchen in your room, you’ll need to set up a makeshift kitchen or kitchenette to cook meals. Make room for just the essentials like:

Small plates
Silverware (forks, knives, and spoons only)
Essential cooking utensils (spatula, chef’s knife, cutting board, can opener, and measuring cups)
Oils & seasonings (salt, pepper, olive oil, etc.)
Portable electric grill or camping stove
Tea kettle or coffee maker
Mini fridge (you could also use the fridge in your garage or basement if you have one)
Microwave (this will be a lifesaver during the kitchen renovation)

3. Pack away your infrequently used pots, pans, utensils, and appliances

With limited space in your temporary kitchen, you’ll only have room for the essentials. So pack away large items that you don’t use often like large baking sheets, toasters, woks, and fancy knife sets. This will keep them out of the way of the construction crew and protect them from damage.

4. Meal prep like a pro

If you’ve never meal-prepped before, a kitchen renovation is a perfect chance to start. Since you won’t have access to a full kitchen, you’ll be unable to cook fresh meals for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Set aside a few hours each week to cook meals for the next few days, then store them in your mini or garage fridge or freezer. Though it will require more time on certain days, you won’t be forced to cook 3-4 times per day in a mini kitchen that frustrates and annoys you.

Another option is to purchase ready-to-eat food items so that you can eat without having to cook. Here are examples of healthy food items you can buy that don’t require anything more than a microwave:

Dry goods – cereal, crackers, nuts, and peanut butter
Canned goods – soups, beans, fruit, vegetables, and meat
Fruits – apples, oranges, raisins, bananas, avocados, and tomatoes
Vegetables – corn, onions, squash, carrots, and cucumbers
Carbohydrates – bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta
Frozen – vegetables, pizzas, and even full meals

5. Be prepared to eat out

After about a day or two, you won’t want to be anywhere near your kitchen. So when you find excuses to leave the house for even an hour or two, stop and grab a bite to eat while you’re out. In fact, you should budget money for eating out into your renovation cost as you’ll likely eat out 4-5 times each week.

We recommend cooking breakfast & dinner at home and stepping out for lunch. The reason for this is that you’ll likely be able to cook breakfast & dinner without being disturbed by the construction crew – they shouldn’t be in your home during those hours. But when you want some peace and quiet in the middle of the day, take a long lunch break so you can enjoy a meal to yourself.

6. Clean your dishes immediately

You won’t have a sink or dishwasher to place dirty dishes in once you’re done eating. So for the next few weeks, make a habit of washing your dishes immediately after you’re done eating.

7. Separate the kitchen from the rest of your home

It will be difficult to keep dust & dirt from spreading outside of your kitchen, but there are a few things you can do to contain the renovation to the kitchen area.

Hang plastic or sheets with tape to block doorways
Build a temporary wall that prevents construction noise from disturbing the rest of your home (and you won’t have to stare at the mess all day)
Designate an entrance for contractors so they don’t wander through your home

8. Clean the rest of your house once per day

Contractors will track dirt, sawdust, and other debris throughout your home; it’s inevitable. Instead of focusing on how dirty your home is, try to keep your eyes off the floor until work is done for the day. Then, as the day is winding down, clean up the mess so that you can head to bed with a clean home and clear head.

9. Make time for yourself

Whether you’re renovating the kitchen yourself or hiring contractors to do so, you’ll need to make time for yourself over the next few weeks to maintain your sanity. Schedule time out of the house several times a week to run errands, visit friends and family or take a walk around the neighborhood. It will keep you away from the noise and the mess and do wonders for your mental health.

10. Resolve issues as they arise

Kitchen remodels almost never go according to plan. The project goes over budget, contractors have to reschedule, and equipment breaks – these things are common. But instead of stressing about what might go wrong, focus on how great your kitchen will look when the remodel is complete. Handle inconveniences one at a time and try to keep your mind on the outcome.

Kitchen remodels are a great way to add property value to your home. But if you’re still living at home during the remodeling process, it can be quite a pain. But with these tried and tested tricks, you’ll be able to make it through the next few weeks without too much stress.