8 Steps to Surviving a Kitchen Redesign
Living through a kitchen renovation isn’t always fun, but these steps will help you work around a space in disarray
Congratulations – the kitchen renovation you’ve planned for months is finally ready to begin. Now comes the hard part: making do without a fully functioning kitchen for the duration. There’s no escaping the inconvenience, but with some smart planning, it doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your household. Follow these tips to make the construction process as smooth as possible.
2. Edit down your kitchen gear
During a redesign, your cooking and eating routine will be disrupted, and no matter how much you love to cook, ambitious meals will be a challenge.
Keep things simple and pare down to the kitchen tools you really, truly can’t live without. Be merciless – how often are you going to use your food processor or ice cream maker? Stash the essentials close at hand and store the rest.
More: 8 Things You’re Storing in the Kitchen That You Don’t Need To Be
During a redesign, your cooking and eating routine will be disrupted, and no matter how much you love to cook, ambitious meals will be a challenge.
Keep things simple and pare down to the kitchen tools you really, truly can’t live without. Be merciless – how often are you going to use your food processor or ice cream maker? Stash the essentials close at hand and store the rest.
More: 8 Things You’re Storing in the Kitchen That You Don’t Need To Be
3. Plan meals around small appliances
Portable workhorses, such as slow cookers, microwaves, electric griddles, hot plates and coffee makers can get you over the mealtime hump.
Move your fridge to your temporary kitchen, if possible; if not, invest in a mini fridge or borrow one from a friend.
Portable workhorses, such as slow cookers, microwaves, electric griddles, hot plates and coffee makers can get you over the mealtime hump.
Move your fridge to your temporary kitchen, if possible; if not, invest in a mini fridge or borrow one from a friend.
4. Stock the pantry with disposables
Without your usual spot to wash dishes, you’ll be getting creative (the bath, an outdoor hose…).
Make life easier by stocking up on recyclable or biodegradable plates, napkins, cups and utensils. You’ll streamline cleaning up and cut down on the stress of your temporary displacement.
Without your usual spot to wash dishes, you’ll be getting creative (the bath, an outdoor hose…).
Make life easier by stocking up on recyclable or biodegradable plates, napkins, cups and utensils. You’ll streamline cleaning up and cut down on the stress of your temporary displacement.
5. If the weather cooperates, put your barbecue to work
Here’s a secret: your barbecue can do almost anything your oven can. Need to roast meat or vegetables, or bake pizza? Look to the barbie. You can even channel your Scout days and use it for foil-packet meals and, of course, toasted marshmallows.
Here’s a secret: your barbecue can do almost anything your oven can. Need to roast meat or vegetables, or bake pizza? Look to the barbie. You can even channel your Scout days and use it for foil-packet meals and, of course, toasted marshmallows.
6. Keep a stash of non-perishable snacks
When you’re starving but can’t face putting together a full meal in your makeshift digs, snacks can save your stomach.
Peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, tinned goods, trail mix and more can make for quick meals in a pinch.
When you’re starving but can’t face putting together a full meal in your makeshift digs, snacks can save your stomach.
Peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, tinned goods, trail mix and more can make for quick meals in a pinch.
7. Go away for a short time, if you can
If you’re considering a holiday or need to schedule a business trip, now might be a good time, assuming you’re comfortable with the redesign work continuing in your absence. Bonus points if you’re visiting relatives – you might score a home-cooked meal or two.
If you’re considering a holiday or need to schedule a business trip, now might be a good time, assuming you’re comfortable with the redesign work continuing in your absence. Bonus points if you’re visiting relatives – you might score a home-cooked meal or two.
8. Remember the big picture
In the grand scheme of homeownership, this is but a short period of inconvenience amid years of kitchen bliss. Keep the process in perspective and treat it as an adventure. When you’re hard at work in your sparkling new kitchen, the temporary hassles will fade from memory.
In the grand scheme of homeownership, this is but a short period of inconvenience amid years of kitchen bliss. Keep the process in perspective and treat it as an adventure. When you’re hard at work in your sparkling new kitchen, the temporary hassles will fade from memory.
Tell us…
Have you made it through a kitchen redesign? Please share your survival advice in the Comments.
Have you made it through a kitchen redesign? Please share your survival advice in the Comments.
Eating out all the time gets tiresome, not to mention the strain it can put on your budget. And no matter how many takeaways you bring home, you’ll still need a spot to make school lunches, pour a bowl of cereal or brew coffee.
Set up a temporary kitchen somewhere that’s out of the way of construction. If you can, kit out a corner of a garage, utility room or dining room with a few portable tables, standalone shelves, storage crates and folding chairs.
Find a local kitchen designer on Houzz.