How do you cope living through a renovation?

[outlanderish]

We’re currently renovating our 5 year old house and I’m feeling completely overwhelmed. We’ve ripped out and redone the ensuite ourselves (nearly finished after 3 months), but our bedroom is a total state covered in dust, tools and chaos. We’re also having built ins fitted in two rooms, and the rest of the house is buried under mess, boxes, and things we’ve ordered but can’t use yet.

To top it off, we’re knocking down kitchen walls to create a big open plan kitchen/diner, getting rid of the hallway, and relocating the downstairs loo under the stairs. The disruption is constant and I’ve got what feels like a never ending list of things to organise, order and decide on. It doesn't help I'm also a clean freak so cannot stand any type of mess. I work from home too so I see it constantly...

We’re going on holiday this Saturday and the thought of leaving the house in this state is making me want to pull my hair out. Any tips on how to mentally cope with the chaos (or at least not let it ruin the break) would be so appreciated!

I feel your pain op. We are about to do the fourth. You have to go slow and plan zones which will be clean and for living. Stack deliveries in garage, shed or hire storage space. You have to be able to live to and more so if you work from home. Renovation is overwhelming but it’s actually only a very short space of time and you then live with an amazing finished home for many years. It is also sometimes worth reminding yourself that it is a 1st world problem, it’s a privilege, many would swap places with you and you chose this. It will be worth it and the overwhelm will pass.

You also have my sympathy OP. We last had our kitchen renovated twelve years ago, it took three months (problems with leaking pipe, electrical work, etc) and I would rather move house than do that again!

On the plus side doing renovations in the spring/summer is better than the winter. At least you can enjoy the outdoors and you’re not freezing because you have no heating or electricity etc.

Last time we had some major renovations we took the opportunity to declutter and dispose of items before the work took place. We also packed somethings up into boxes and a friend kindly stored them in their garage for two months. We also now try to only do one room at any one time (so we don’t have mess everywhere), however, that is easier said than done. Good Luck!

I’m moving my stuff into storage and myself into a holiday let so the builders can do it all in 6-8 weeks.

Its super hard. We cooed by always keeping a couple of rooms completely civilised - bedroom and sitting room. Not always perfect but at least a space to escape to.

Yes, echoing @Ilovemysheddo your bedroom up and keep it clean and dust free (and tool free!). We got a really good air purifier, and our bedroom and one other room for a lounge were where we retreated. We got some of those zipped door sheets to keep the dust out. And some slipper to walk between the clean rooms.

Good luck! It is worth it but it’s hellish when you’re living through it

You start with a spreadsheet of what needs doing then work out what order it can be done in to maximise efficiency and budget. Can you wash up in the bathroom basin or bath? Set up a mini kitchen somewhere with a camping stove and slow cooker/air fryer. In the dry weather meals can be eaten in the garden.

Do your bedroom first. Make it somewhere you can relax, eat a meal, watch a film etc. Make a coffee and sleep.

When it all gets too much, retreat to your sanctuary and shut the door.

It’s horrible OP, I hate having tradespeople in my home. I grit my teeth and focus on the lovely renovations. No other advice, but I empathise x

It’s bloody hard. We knocked walls down in our kitchen to make it bigger. Hubbie didn’t want to do it but I did so then felt I couldn’t complain about the mess 😂😂. We are almost finished and I love it

these are great https://www.screwfix.com/p/fortress-trade-single-door-dust-guard-0-95m-x-2-15m/466fm

Carve out a space that isn't a disaster zone and think of how much more you'll appreciate the nice new house having suffered through the mess. And reframe the leaving the place a tip to go on holiday as escaping from the mess for a bit.

Thank you all @Clinicalwaste@Ilovemyshed@LittleLlama@LoremIpsumCici@Meadowfinch@Middlemarch123@MrsPositivity1@StrawberrySquash@january1244@mambojambodothetango

We haven't even started knocking the kitchen walls down yet, so we're hoping all other rooms will be done before that starts. Also doesn't help we are doing a lot ourselves! We would've had tradesman in everyday for nearly 4 months by the time we start the kitchen which is happening next month. I miss having a shit in peace 🤣

I am about to start a 4 month (?) renovation knocking down a load of walls, windows etc and totally relocating the kitchen, with a sensitive 7 year old, an autistic 4 year old, and 1.5 jobs to not get fired from. Mostly living in, happening over the summer hols 😅Wish me luck