Creating the house of your dreams is rewarding, but the journey can be a challenge, especially when you live on the property during building work.
Effective planning and thorough preparation are essential to successfully navigating a live-in home renovation. It’s not just about transforming your space — it’s about maintaining liveability and comfort throughout the process.
Join us as we share 10 essential tips to help you prepare for this unique experience. From managing disruptions and ensuring safety to minimising stress, we’ll guide you through your live-in renovation.
1. Manage expectations
Preparing for a live-in home renovation requires realistic expectations, as building projects are notorious for delays, surprises, and unforeseen expenses. Anticipate challenges and keep an open mind and cool head as you navigate the process.
When stripping back rooms, be prepared for discoveries like rotting floors, cracked walls, or dodgy wiring. House renovation projects often uncover hidden problems. Embrace this reality, and you will stay adaptable and proactive in addressing any setbacks that may arise.
2. Invest in noise-cancelling headphones
Home renovations are noisy with contractors working in your personal space. Invest in noise-cancelling headphones to maintain peace and focus, particularly if you work from home. These headphones will significantly reduce construction noise, allowing you to concentrate without distraction.
Consider using a white noise machine or app for young children’s daytime naps. White noise can help mask construction sounds and prevent upsetting a child’s sleep schedule, ensuring more rest for the whole family.
3. Plan the order of jobs
When renovating multiple rooms, it’s essential to be strategic about the order in which you tackle them. Think about the function and location of each room in your house and focus on one room at a time. This is especially important when updating multiple bathrooms, as you don’t want them all out of use simultaneously.
How to live without a bathroom during renovation
Living without a bathroom is challenging. When your bathroom is out of use, seek alternative facilities like a family member’s house, the gym, or the local swimming baths. If you don’t have nearby family or friends, consider joining an inexpensive local gym solely for shower access.
You can invest in a temporary solution or use a bucket for overnight toilet facilities.
How to live without a kitchen during renovation
Set up a makeshift kitchen to get by. A separate dining room is ideal as it’s nearby and unlikely to be used for other purposes during building work.
Use an air fryer instead of an oven and hob. You’ll also be surprised at what you can cook with a microwave and toaster. To wash dishes, fill a washing-up bowl in the bathroom or use water from the kettle mixed with cold water.
4. Decide where you’ll live
When staying in your home during renovation work, it’s crucial to separate your living space from the construction zone.
Plan to live in one zone at a time, moving as each room is renovated. As construction progresses, move to a different section of the house. This strategy will help minimise disruptions and maintain a semblance of normality.
5. Organise your belongings
Before construction begins, it’s essential to clear out your furniture and belongings to make way for the renovation. Start by decluttering and removing items you no longer need. Store the remaining items at a family member’s house or a self-storage facility.
While moving furniture to the centre of each room might be tempting, it’s best to clear the room entirely whenever possible. This helps prevent damage to your belongings and provides contractors easy access to the work area, ensuring a smoother and safer renovation process.
6. Prepare for dust
Renovations inevitably create dust that can spread throughout your home, even to areas far from the construction site. Protect your belongings by covering everything nearby with dust sheets or old bedsheets if you’re on a budget.
Covering cupboards two rooms away may seem excessive, but you’ll be thankful when the inside corners remain dust-free months later. If someone in your household has asthma or severe allergies, consider arranging alternative accommodation to ensure their health during the renovation.
7. Stay safe
Safety is the most crucial factor when living at home during building work. Always wear a hard hat, safety goggles, and boots when passing through the construction zone, even when workers are absent.
Additional safety measures are necessary for families with children or pets, like fencing off the construction area to prevent access. Ensure any exposed wires are capped, and turn off the breakers for any circuits being worked on. These precautions will help protect your household from potential hazards.
8. Organise waste management
Home renovations generate significant waste, from old tiles and flooring to bathroom suites and kitchen cabinets. Renting a skip at the start of the project is essential to manage this debris effectively.
If you’re renovating during the summer, book your skip hire in advance, as demand is higher during fair weather. Having a skip on-site will help keep your home clear of rubble and rubbish, making it easier to maintain a habitable environment.
9. Manage stress
Living in a house during renovations can be stressful, even for the most level-headed individuals. Every family member must prioritise their mental health during this time.
Spend time outside the house when possible to get a break from the construction environment. If leaving isn’t an option, or if you’re doing the work yourself, schedule daily relaxation time. Whether it’s half an hour with a book, a 45-minute walk, or a meditation session, find what works best to help manage stress and maintain well-being throughout the project.
10. Keep up the momentum
Whether you carry out the work yourself or hire professionals, maintaining momentum is crucial to avoid living on a construction site for years. When tackling projects alone, it’s common to lose interest or enthusiasm halfway through. This is understandable, as no one enjoys spending all their spare time on a challenging task.
However, it’s essential to push through these feelings and stay committed. Set realistic goals, create a schedule, and regularly remind yourself of the result. This will help you complete your renovation efficiently to enjoy your newly improved home sooner.