Remodeling your kitchen can be exciting and fun, but on the other hand it can also be stressful. You may be feeling overwhelmed with costs, getting used to the idea of having a construction zone in your home or just have general stress about your new project.
Don’t worry, here are four ways to help you and your family prepare for your kitchen remodel.
4 Ways to Prepare for a Kitchen Remodel
Determine Your Budget
First and foremost, you should determine the cost of a kitchen remodel. Keep in mind how much money you want to spend overall, how much time the renovations are going to take, and what you want your end result to be.
Once you have an idea of what you’re going to accomplish, you’ll also need to figure out size specifications, dimensions and the necessary materials you’re going to need to complete your project.
Maybe you’re only going to do a couple of minor renovations that take a couple of days or perhaps you’re going to take on a complete kitchen remodel where you won’t have access to your kitchen for weeks. Whatever you decide, it’s important to make arrangements far in advance to avoid any inconveniences.
Have a Back-Up Plan
For example, if you’re not going to have access to your kitchen for a while, you’ll need to plan for the days or weeks ahead. Since you won’t have access to a refrigerator or stove, then perhaps this means budgeting to eat out instead of having home-cooked meals. Or purchase items that can be made in the microwave.
But if eating out isn’t in your budget and TV dinners don’t sound appealing, then you might want to consider finding somewhere else to stay entirely during your kitchen remodel.
There are a variety of different options including staying with a friend or family member, or renting a short-term house, apartment or extended stay hotel with full amenities.
It’s important to think these things through to ensure that you and your family are as comfortable as possible during your kitchen remodel.
Build a Temporary Kitchen
If you don’t have plans to relocate during your remodel, then building a temporary kitchen will suffice for the time being. Before constructing your makeshift kitchen, you may want to consider the following:
- Purchase a mini-fridge to store perishable groceries
- Keep essential items like trash bags, soap, paper towels and cleaning supplies handy
- Move your microwave to a convenient spot for heating up your food
- Buy non-perishable food items like coffee, cereal, nut butters, snacks, canned goods, condiments, and microwaveable meals
- Stock up on disposable utensils and kitchenware since you won’t have access to your sink or dishwasher
Additional appliances like toasters, toaster ovens, electric grills, crockpots and hot plates will allow you to prepare home-cooked meals without a fully functional kitchen.
Prep Your Home
Another step that’s often overlooked is preparing the rest of your home for your renovation. You may want to purchase plastic tarps and other protective materials to cover nearby furniture, appliances, and other areas of your home that could potentially be affected by your kitchen model.
It’s important to keep you and your home safe from any construction hazards that may occur during the renovation process.
So when your kitchen renovation project seems like a disaster waiting to happen, remember that following these four tips can help your transition and remodel process go a lot smoother.
Identity Magazine is all about guiding women to discover their powers of Self-Acceptance, Appreciation, and Personal Achievement. We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written. In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally?Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
I’ve accepted that I am where I am and that’s a good thing.
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
I have found that when I appreciate everything I’m in a good space. I need to be more mindful of my tolerance of others.
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not onlywhat makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
I’m proud of living my dream of an alternative lifestyle on a small holding surrounded by animals. My dream is to make enough time to write and paint more.
4. Of course, we all have imperfections, or so we think. In truth, we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? Likewise, what imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
I love peace and quiet and ironically that’s not so easy to achieve in a world filled with people.
5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to appreciate and express all the positive traits that make you…well…YOU! In fact, sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (We assure you!) Therefore, Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I love my own space and my independence. Love my family, friends and my pets.