Renovations take time. It is difficult, if you don’t impossible, to renovate with children running around. You’re probably stressed at the idea of children running around your house, while construction materials and hazards are everywhere. Renovations with children are disruptive, stressful and messier than renovations themselves. You don’t need to be discouraged. You can do it too.
Renovating your home with children is a common topic on interior design discussion forums. Even though most people are unable to give recommendations, because every family is different and what works in one home may not work for another, everyone can benefit from some simple tips.
Here are the interior design tips and advice we’ve gathered from experts in the field as well as parents who have survived to share their stories.
Develop Strategies
You should plan your renovations strategically and renovate as many rooms as possible at the same time. Before you begin, consider which rooms you will use most. Let them last, because that’s where your kids spend the most time. Convert the rooms you don’t use into workspaces for your family to use while you renovate the rooms you do. Converting a room into a temporary cooking area is advisable when renovating the kitchen. If it’s not possible, you can update it in small steps to make the room more livable and to limit the hazards that your children are exposed to.
Be realistic about your expectations (for the house, renovation process, and for you family)
Interior designers suggest setting expectations about every aspect of the project. Renovations can be messy and disruptive. It takes time to put things back into their proper place. Expect the builders to not leave the house tidy at the end or meeting all deadlines. Unexpected situations can occur and they will only be able to deal with these as they happen.
Explain to your kids what renovations entail. You should tell them about the stages of the renovation process so that they know what to expect. Show them the finished house so that they are more interested in the changes rather than how long it will take.
Determine Your family’s needs
Before you renovate your home, identify the needs of your family and design solutions to meet them. Your home should be a place that you and your family can enjoy and feel comfortable. Let the contractors know your goals for each space after you have set them. Tell them where you live, the ages of your children, and how mobile they are so that they can plan. They can use several strategies to keep children away from dangers and out of areas they shouldn’t be in. If necessary, they can install complete barriers.
Safety first
Construction experts recommend that you turn off the electricity, gas, and power lines when renovating. When major renovations are being carried out, keep the kids away from the home. Ask a friend to house them for a few days, or send them away to a camp for a week. Ask them to tell you why they want to go. Allow them to choose from a variety of Queens day camp options.
Children can still sneak into the house and endanger themselves. You don’t want your children to be near heavy machinery or fumes. You should discuss with your contractor the fall hazards so that everyone is aware of their location and can restrict access.
You can stay sane by keeping organized during home renovations. Install barriers that prevent children from passing through the windows. To ensure that they are safe from any debris, use the crawl test. Crawl around the room like your child would to make sure there are no nails, staples or construction debris.
Include the whole family in the process
Make sure everyone is aware of the changes and their purpose. It will positively affect your family because they all understand the strategy and its outcome. You should allow everyone to voice their opinion because you all live in the same house and must make sure it meets your needs.
Designers advise parents to involve their children in the design and planning process to make it more fun. You can also ask them to assist you with certain tasks, so that they feel like they are part of the renovation. When they are busy around the home, they will be less likely to complain. Renovation is more than just tearing down walls and laying the floor. Ask your children to come with you when you go shopping for furniture and decorations. Let them choose the bedding and other decor for their bedroom to make your home feel more inviting.
Don’t rush the renovation.
A renovation process can take longer when there are children in the home. Contractors have less access and cleaning up after them takes more time because they need to be thorough. Even if your children slow down the renovation process, you’ll still be able to save money while creating a comfortable home for you and your family.
You may experience health problems if you rush to get your family back into a space that isn’t ready for living. Let your children’s bedroom air dry for a few days if you have just painted it. You may be tempted to bring your kids back to your friend’s home because you do not want to disturb them. However, it is better to wait a few days.