So you’ve decided to turn your kitchen into the culinary wonderland that you’ve always dreamed of. While this is indeed a thrilling time, the anticipation of having a brand new kitchen in your home may be causing you to forget one important thing: as you embark on this project, you’re not going to have a kitchen from start to finish. This is going to affect your ability to cook meals, refrigerate food, do dishes, etc.. You’ve got to develop a plan in advance as for how to cope with this situation. We’ve outlined all of the significant details you should consider and have a game plan for when this kitchen-less time in your life comes around.

Prepare Your Kitchen For Demolition

The chances are that you, dear reader, are a very busy person. You’ve got your career, your family, and a million other tasks to worry about in your day-to-day life. If you’re a busy person who is planning on having your kitchen remodeled, it’s entirely possible that the days leading up to the demolition of your current kitchen will fly by. That’s why it’s essential to take time out of your schedule to plan on removing all the things you’ll want to keep out of your kitchen and store them away until the renovation is complete. This is usually a pretty time consuming and exhausting endeavor, so be sure to schedule yourself plenty of time to ensure you can get everything out in time.

Most kitchen renovations involve installing a new refrigerator. If this applies to you, you also need to think about what you are going to do with all of the food that is in your refrigerator. If you don’t have a second refrigerator in the garage, you might want to consider putting off any grocery shopping in the days leading up to the renovation and try to use up as much of the groceries that are in there as possible. If you’re the type who has a lot of valuable items in the freezer that you don’t want to go to waste, you might want to think about renting a small freezer to keep in the garage while you wait for the renovation process to be completed.

Plan Your Meals Accordingly

If you plan on getting takeout or going out to restaurants for the duration of your kitchen renovation project, it would be wise to factor in the estimated cost of those meals into your overall remodeling budget. Most kitchen renovation projects go on for a week or more, and so if every one of your meals is going to be paid for at a restaurant, the money will add up quickly.

If you plan on toughing it out and saving money by continuing to eat at home, realize that your options for what you can make are going to be severely restricted. Think ramen, canned foods, and sandwiches. Even with meals as simple as those, you’ll need a way to heat them up and also keep your food refrigerated. As mentioned before, having the solution to the refrigeration problem planned out can really help your meal situation. Also, consider that you’ll probably need some kind of hot plate and/or electric water heater to cook those canned/packaged meals.

Keep in mind the situation regarding dishwashing. If you plan on using your dishes, realize that you’ll probably be washing them in the bathroom sink or bathtub. This can get really old really fast, so keep in mind that you’ll want to find ways to manage your stress levels.

Find Somewhere to Be

Kitchen renovation projects are loud, and as we mentioned before, they can potentially go on for weeks. Many people elect to get out of town and go on vacation or stay in a hotel for the duration of the renovation project. While this is certainly a viable option for some, it isn’t always possible for everyone. If you’re planning on staying home during the course of your kitchen remodeling project, it’s really important that you plan on having somewhere to go during this noisy time in your home.

Consider registering for that woodworking class you’ve always wanted to take or make a plan to meet up with friends you haven’t seen in a while. You’ll need an excuse to get out of the house, and it helps to think of this as an opportunity to accomplish some of the things you’ve been wanting to do or have been putting off.

It’s essential to have a detailed plan on what you’re going to do with all the kitchen supplies you plan on keeping, what you’re going to eat, and what you’re going to do to keep yourself occupied during your kitchen renovation project. All of this details, if planned properly, will help reduce your stress levels and maintain your sanity while the kitchen of your dreams gets built.

You must be excited to be taking the plunge on finally having your kitchen remodeled. We are certainly excited for you as well. Remember, we offer free estimates on any and all kitchen remodeling projects, no matter how big or small. Check in with us before you start your remodeling project and ensure that you are getting the best deal there is to offer! We look forward to hearing from you and helping your culinary dreams come true!