Why Home Renovations Can be So Stressful – 3 Solutions
When you’re collecting inspiration for your home renovation project, you’re most likely pulling from a trove of polished final products. That’s most of what you’ll see on my Instagram feed since that’s what all of our hard work amounts to in the end. The outcome is the best part, after all! Yet, the home renovation process is anything but a polished experience. So, what makes renovating a house so stressful? And how can we avoid that stress together?
You Have More Junk Than You Realize
I know you have a junk drawer of cords and chargers that belong to outdated electronics or closets overflowing with clothes you haven’t worn in years.
Whether it be a bathroom, kitchen or bedroom, you’ve collected a lot of junk in your home. And we can’t start a renovation before you’ve removed your belongings. This can be a very stressful hurdle for homeowners, especially for those of us that have spent several years settling into a home. How can you not collect stuff?!
The Solution?
You’ll need to sort through, pack up, and remove your belongings from the area before the workers can begin. As tedious as this might be, it is a great opportunity to recycle, donate or toss out items you may no longer use or want.
Sorting through these items will not only help you declutter the space for when you move back into your forever home, but this will also allow you to take up less space when you store your items while the renovation takes place.
Your Daily Routine Will Be Interrupted
It’s no secret that a home renovation is an inconvenience. Your day to day will change, largely depending on the magnitude of the project. If you opt into staying in your home while it’s renovated, you’ll be living on a construction site.
If your project involves a high traffic space – such as a bedroom or kitchen – you will lose that space until the project is complete. If you work from home or there are any nap-takers in your household, the construction noise might pose a problem. To avoid this stress, both sides of the equation will need to adapt to the other.
The Solution?
The Jackie Barnes Design Team wants the renovation process to be as enjoyable as possible. This is why we ask that you share with us your daily routines and preference. For example: Do you want the construction crew to begin or wrap up at a certain time of day? Do you work from home and need designated quiet hours?
Communication is key! These simple guidelines, placed by you, will keep the project on track as well as protect your daily life from the whirlwind of construction. We can work together to establish ground rules that work for both your family life and your desired timeline for the remodel.
We understand that living through an ongoing home renovation can be very stressful on days when you just want some peace and quiet. So, give yourself permission to get out of the house!
Don’t feel guilty when you choose to take your family out for dinner multiple times a week or choose to go on more out-of-house excursions. If it helps your family get through this project, it will be worth it. Take advantage of the situation. Try out new restaurants, or take that trip you’ve been putting off. A home renovation can be the perfect excuse to try something new!
Still feeling stressed? Read our blog 8 Ways to Actually Enjoy Your Home Renovation Project.
We’re About to Create a Huge Mess
We will most likely have to demolish parts of your home, so the renovation is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better. That’s just the nature of making big changes! This means you’ll most likely experience a lot of dust and debris floating around your home.
While we build or move pieces of your home, there is a chance of scraps or nicks in places we didn’t plan for. Before you throw in the towel on your renovation over this, we’ve accounted for this issue and have some solutions in place…
The Solution?
Raise questions during the renovation, rather than waiting until the end to speak about concerns. This can potentially save you time and money. I encourage you to take a photo of the progress to document the way something was done, if it raises concerns for you. We understand that a renovation is a large investment, so your comfort is our top priority. And remember: there’s no such thing as a silly question!
Creating a functional temporary space to live in will also help eliminate some of the headache of a renovation. Hopefully this temporary space can bring normalcy back to your family’s life during the project. You can create a temporary space by moving essentials to a room that makes the most sense for your family’s comfort. Set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave, camping cooktop, mini-fridge, coffee maker, etc. Use disposable plates, cups, and utensils to avoid the hassle of cleaning and drying dishes. If your toiletries are moving from your master to a secondary bathroom, use stackable baskets to save space or purchase a temporary clothing rack to recreate closet space.
Living in a construction zone with children and a partner – plus many other bodies coming and going every day – can feel overwhelming and stressful. Our best tip is to be patient and keep your mind on the end goal. You will have a stunning new space to live in, and we promise it will be well worth it!
