How to survive your kitchen renovation

If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen, you probably have a few questions. We’ve put together a survival guide, covering the basics such as how to prepare for incoming trades and how long you can expect the process to take.

Organise your belongings

We cannot stress enough how important planning is during the renovation process. The kitchen is the heart of any home and it’s vital that everything goes according to schedule.

Before you hire trades to start the work, it’s important that you have everything organised. For example, if you have special ornaments in your home that are within the trades peoples’ walkway, we suggest you secure them right away to avoid any accidents.

Our smarterBATHROOMS+ design expert Hannah Kidd says, “Everything needs to be cleared out of the kitchen, it’s a great time for a big spring clean! Take any precious frames and pictures off of the wall so they won’t get covered in dust, and lay protective sheets over the floor. Cabinets and big appliances will need to be removed, to create as much access to the kitchen as possible.”

When it comes to removing art work, laying protection and relocating heavy appliances, this is a service that an all-inclusive renovation company like smarterBATHROOMS+ will take care of for you. Make sure you ask about this service at the beginning of the renovation process to ensure time can be set aside as required.

Have a schedule — and stick to it

Yes, creating a plan in advance can seem like a chore, but to achieve your ideal kitchen to suit you and your family’s needs it’s important you plan and organise in detail at the very beginning of the renovation process.

“Having everything locked away 4-6 weeks before demolition day means none of the trades will be on site waiting around twiddling their thumbs,” says Kidd.

Living next to your renovation

Have you decided to live in your home while it’s being renovated? If you have, Kidd has some sound advice for you.

“Life without a kitchen is difficult,” she says. “It’s always a good idea to invest in a hot plate or slow cooker so you can still make most of your meals and live as normally as possible during the renovation.”

Renovation timeframe

“If you decided to stay during your renovation, it’s important to create a temporary kitchen space somewhere else in the house with essentials, in order to avoid dust and noise, plus it means you avoid eating out every night!” says Kidd.

A kitchen renovation takes time and is an important investment, so it is vital you make sure everything is done correctly. The kitchen size, required building works, and the selected materials and finishes can all impact the renovation time frame, but usually, you can expect the process to take around 4-6 weeks. You should always allow for more time, rather than less, as when renovating an existing space, unexpected surprises can crop up.

To streamline your kitchen renovation, call 1300 662 838 to speak to one of our award-winning designers or book an in-home consultation online.