Home renovations are stressful even under the most ideal conditions. You have hundreds of decisions and an ever-increasing budget as your construction team encounters unforeseeable expenses.
You also have to decide where to stay while renovations are underway and how you will conduct everyday activities like eating and getting ready.
As challenging as these decisions may seem, they’re even more complicated when you add young kids. Keeping them out of trouble and in a routine is beyond challenging but not impossible.
These tips can help you escape the madness and come out on the other side with your family and home intact.
Photo by Allen Taylor on Unsplash
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Tackle One Thing at a Time
Whole house renovations are an enormous undertaking, usually requiring you to move out for a while, which can stretch the budget and leave you less to improve your home. It’s also incredibly disruptful to your young kids who need structure and stability.
If at all possible, tackle one project or room at a time. Work with a contractor who understands your needs and timeline or do some DIY if you have the right skills. When you narrow the focus of the renovation efforts, you can minimize the disruptions. For example, starting only in the kitchen allows you to contain the mess and still use the other rooms of your home.
Consider the Season
Living somewhere that experiences vast changes in seasons can make renovations a little more tricky. You’ll need to consider the timing of each renovation project. Planning a kitchen gut in the summer would allow you to grill food and even go on picnics. However, attempting the same project in the dead of winter would severely limit your options for cooking.
Similarly, remodeling the playroom or living room during a rainy season could leave your kids running amok in less desirable areas of the home since they can’t go outside to play.
The same goes for a roof replacement – perhaps you should wait until summer to avoid any potential water damage from rain. Think ahead and schedule projects accordingly to minimize disruptions and keep your kids safe and comfortable.
Handle Demo With Care
Before you begin any demo, especially if you’re handling some of the work yourself, you need to know what materials you’re tearing down. Homes built before 1978 have an increased chance of containing lead paint and asbestos, incredibly harmful substances. If you have an older home or see something concerning, get a professional to take a look as soon as possible.
Also, if you’re able to remain in the house while renovations are underway, you’ll need to take preventative measures to keep the construction dust and odors away from your family. Use plastic sheeting to cover entrances and exits into the affected rooms.
Have Some Fun Before Demo
All that being said, demo can also be really fun for your kids. Once you’ve minimized the dangers allow your children to let loose a bit. Now is the only time they can reasonably write or paint on the walls. Give them safety goggles and small hammers so they can help start some holes.
Having your young kids help with the demo work helps them feel included in the project and
Let Them Help in the Design Process
When you want to create a house you can enjoy for a long time, your dream home, let your kids have a say in the design process. Picking out the flooring for their bathroom or the paint for their bedroom will help them feel partial ownership of the renovation.
They’ll get excited to see their choices come to life in the space and be more likely to demonstrate patience while waiting for projects to wrap up.
Choosing from many options may overwhelm young kids or leave you with colors, patterns or finishes that don’t match the vision for your home. Instead, pick two or three possibilities you can live for them to decide from.
Maintain a Consistent Routine
Renovating with young kids can make their world feel like it’s in a constant state of upheaval. For the best outcome, it’s essential to maintain as close to a steady routine as possible. Get them to any activities they’re used to, maintain bedtimes and keep up with typical family bonding efforts like game night or Friday pizza.
Kids depend on reliable schedules, so not having one can make them uncomfortable and lead to behaviors.
Hire a Cleaning Crew
You thought your young kids were masters of mess — you haven’t seen anything until you experience the level of uncleanliness a renovation leaves behind. Construction crews will remove their equipment at the end of a job, but that’s about it. You’ll be responsible for further cleanup.
This may be a reasonable task for single people or young couples, but extensive cleaning with small kids in tow isn’t easy.
To save you time and a headache, leave room in your renovation budget for a cleaning crew to come in and help you out. Their expertise and skills will finish the job in no time, leaving you with a spotless and safe home to enjoy with your kids.
A Pinch of Positivity Goes a Long Way
As cheesy as it may sound, positivity will be your most essential tool while renovating your home with young kids. Your attitude will rub off on your children no matter how hard you try to hide it.
Your stress and anxieties will make your kids feel ill at ease about this transitional period, while an air of positivity will help them feel calmer. A happy family will make the whole renovation process just a little more bearable.
