12 expert tips to survive a home renovation (without losing your mind)

There’s something so special leading up to a renovation project: a mix of excitement and nerves as you prepare for the next phase of your home.

You’ve pinned your inspo, planned your project, budgeted (hopefully, anyway!) and made what feels like a thousand decisions leading up to the actual work.

Excitement aside, renovations can be messy and disruptive, with people in and out of your home and areas becoming off-limits. It’s one thing to plan a beautiful new space, and another to navigate the day-to-day reality of having your home turned into a work zone! Living through the process is a unique kind of chaos that tests your patience, flexibility and even your relationships.

That’s why, whether you’re updating a single room or overhauling your entire space, you’ll want to read through these 12 tips to help you live through a home renovation without losing your cool (and your sanity).

We’ll let you in on a secret: renovations rarely go exactly to plan. Timelines shift, surprise issues pop up and your home will look worse before it looks better.

The best thing you can do? Expect the mess. Expect delays. Expect noise, clutter and that one thing that ends up costing more than it should. Transforming a space, especially the right way (with the right tools and professionals behind the job), takes time.

The more mentally prepared you are for the disruption, the less shocking it’ll be when things (inevitably) don’t go perfectly.

Get organized before the project begins to save you stress down the road! You need a solid plan before the first hammer swings, including a detailed timeline and budget (leaving a little wiggle room to account for the unpredictable).

Consider what you’re renovating and how you typically use the space. Then, plan for alternatives in case that area is out of commission during the project.

Clear communication with all parties involved in your project is key.

Having a reliable schedule, receiving regular updates from your project manager and knowing what work is happening when can help you plan around the chaos and ensure you’re aware of the process, progress and next steps. (See what’s involved when working with Grindstone Renovations.)

Tensions can also run high when everyone’s sharing less space. When it comes to your family, partner or whoever you share your home with, it’s important to make early decisions about things like meals, pets and where you’ll store belongings; these practical choices can make a big difference in your comfort level during the project.

That brings us to our next tip…

Some homeowners choose to stay elsewhere for part of the renovation, especially during high-impact phases like kitchen or bathroom work. For larger projects, moving out is often a requirement.

Others stay put and adapt as needed, setting up temporary spaces for cooking or working.

Either option works, but it helps to decide early and prepare accordingly. If you decide to stay in your home, we’ll do our absolute best to minimize distruption…but buckle up, there’s nothing easy about living through a renovation.

If you decide to ride out the project at home, do yourself a favour and designate one space as your safe zone (otherwise known as a zone of sanity).

It could be a spare bedroom or a corner of your basement, but wherever you choose, keep it free from construction tools, boxes, noise and dust as much as possible. Having even one calm, clean area can make the entire experience feel more manageable.

Don’t forget about the kiddos and furry family members! Construction sites can be dangerous, with plenty of hazards for children and pets. Keep both under close supervision, especially when work is in progress.

Noise, strangers, disruption… it can be a lot for little ones to take in! Create a temporary playspace so your children can still maintain some semblance of normal at home.

You should also consider ways to minimize pets’ stress levels and keep them safe during a renovation project. That could look like boarding your dog or cat for the busiest parts of the project, or setting up quiet spaces away from the noise and activity.

Dust and debris are an inevitable part of renovations.

Professionals will take measures to help reduce the amount of dust that infiltrates your home. If you’re tackling a renovation project yourself, seal off the work zone from the rest of your home so dust doesn’t get into your ventilation system.

For the do-it-yourselfers, here are a few more helpful tips courtesy of Family Handyman on ways to protect your home during remodeling projects.

With most projects, you’ll need to store furniture (and/or belongings like electronics and art) away so people can move around the space and keep your items safe and dust-free.

A basement, spare room or garage might do the trick, but if you’re short on space for storing larger items, renting a pod or getting an off-site storage unit may be the smartest solution.

We recommend getting organized before your project begins so you know where everything is and can access it as needed.

Home renovations throw a wrench in everything (excuse the pun).

Planning ahead and maintaining your normal routine helps ease the mental load.

Get up at the same time. Stick to your morning walk. Eat meals at regular times (even if it’s takeout or a pre-made salad on paper plates). Routine gives structure to an otherwise unpredictable period and keeps stress levels lower.

There will likely be a time (or 10) when you simply need a break. Give yourself permission to step away from your home when needed!

If the noise and mess start getting to you, take yourself outside the house. Go to a friend’s place. Head out for a long stroll around the neighbourhood. Work from a coffee shop for the afternoon. Book a hotel room or an Airbnb for a weekend, or stay with friends or family for a night or two.

When you’re in the thick of a project, it can feel like you’re not making any progress. But you are, we promise!

Take photos of each stage, not just the “after” shots. Look back when it feels like nothing’s happening and remind yourself how far you’ve come.

When you’re frustrated or stressed or wondering why you ever started this project (we’ve been there), remind yourself why you’re undertaking this work.

Maybe you’re renovating your home to make it work better for your family. Maybe you’re taking the opportunity to invest in your future. Maybe you just want your home to feel more like you!

Living through a renovation can test your patience, but every noisy morning and dusty hallway is a step closer to a space that feels like home. Keep your eye on the big picture!

With these 12 tips in your back pocket, you’ll be well on your way to not just surviving your home renovation, but making it through with your sanity (and maybe even your sense of humour) intact.

Want to dive even deeper? Check out our blog post on common home renovation mistakes to avoid.

Ready to bring your vision to life? Book a consult for your Winnipeg home renovation project today!