How to live through a renovation with kids

We’ve lived on-site through all of our renovations, so I feel like an expert on the challenges that come with living amid a renovation with kids in tow.

In our most recent renovation, we set up the caravan against the house so that we could use it as our kitchen, dining and living room while those areas were under construction.

Our temporary laundry was made up of a washer and dryer that sat on our front porch. We were able to sleep in our bedrooms and use our bathrooms as normal, which felt like a total luxury compared to some of our previous experiences.

The kids didn’t blink an eye at our unorthodox living situation. Kids are typically incredibly adaptable, and ours have had to be, but there are a few ways to make the process more tolerable for everyone.

Employ new systems

Your way of living may be upside down but if you’re going to renovate and live effectively, you’ll need a system in place.

What adds to renovation stress is not being able to find things when you need them, for example, the car keys when you need to move your car for the truck driver who needs immediate access to your driveway for a timber delivery. It won’t be perfect but give everything a temporary new “home.”

Have a drop spot for your essentials: car keys, sunnies and handbag. The new linen cupboard might be a big plastic tub of six towels and the new home for clothes might be a basket above the refrigerator.

Once you know where everything will live, orientate your family to avoid that dreaded “Muuuuum where’s my (insert object).”

A family affair

I absolutely relate to not wanting to involve small kids in a renovation (or big kids for that matter) because, let’s be honest, it’s easier when they’re far, far away from a renovation.

However, a sure way to keep kids working as a team and not feeling resentful of their new living situation is to get them involved.

Take them to the hardware store and get them to help pick out some paint colours to sample for their bedroom walls (you might want to put some restrictions in place unless you love hot pink). Have them swatch them on the wall and discuss the options with them. They’ll love the sense of control.

Older kids might even be able to get on the tools. My kids liked the idea of getting on the painting, but you may want to show them the tricks of the trade before you let them loose with paint and a paintbrush.

Celebrate the wins

The beauty of living through a renovation is that you get to see progress at every step. The downside of that is that progress can become less impactful when you see it in tiny increments.

Try to celebrate the wins with the kids. When the framing is done show the kids through their newly framed up rooms. When their wardrobes are installed point out where they’ll store their clothes.

It will remind you all why you’re doing it and might even show your kids the value of hard work.

Sunday funday

I broke my phone screen one weekend after months of solo parenting a toddler and a baby while Michael worked on the house. I broke the phone because I threw it on the floor in uncharacteristic frustration because, simply, I needed a break from the relentlessness of parenting small children.

The issue was too many days/weeks/months renovating and solo parenting without reprieve.

We gave ourselves no off days. No days to have fun and regroup and recoup.

Renovations are not quick and it’s not sustainable or healthy to go full steam without pause.

One day of the week needs to be solely about rest and leisure and reconnection. If you don’t have these days, you’ll look back on your renovation experience with angst and some regret, and that’s just not worth it.

Have a safe room

When your home is turned on its head and in a complete state of construction chaos you need one space, no matter the size, in which to retreat.

It needs to be clean, orderly and clutter free, even if it’s a tent. It needs to be a space that gives your eyes rest from the chaos and a place that allows you to think clearly.

When you’re running a renovation, you’ve probably got tradies asking you to make big decisions and micro decisions on top of the heavy administrative load of life. When you’re living in a construction site it can be very hard to make decisions at all, let alone considered ones.

Having a space for the eyes to rest will calm the mind and help to remind you it’s all going to be OK.

Maybe, don’t do it

I know I’m supposed to be giving you ways to get through a renovation with your family successfully, but to be honest it’s just not for everyone.

Renovating is stressful. Living through one with your kids can tip you over.

You need to decide if you’re the type of person for which it’s just not worth it. Maybe you’re someone who is better off moving into something already perfectly liveable for the sake of your state of mind. That’s something only you can decide.