Logistics of Renovating with Kids

We are ready to go!  Bids from all of our contractors are in, financing is through, and we are just about ready to start moving all the things around to make some big changes happen.  But how do we do that with kids?  We've been through the ringer with projects already, and we have built a pretty decent process for getting things done while keeping things safe for everyone.  Whenever we renovate a room, we designate three spaces to focus on: 1) The Renovation Space, 2) The Chaos Space, and 3) The Sanity Space.

The Renovation Space

This designation is pretty obvious.  It's the space you're renovating.  With kids, it's really big to be able to show them what is happening, and I love being able to involve them in the process.  But for safety purposes, it's also essential to be able to cut that area off from other areas.  

When we renovate, we do try to involve the kids in any area that has low long-term risk (basically, no lead or asbestos exposure), and we make sure they are using PPE as much -if not more- than we are.  Sometimes that means the final product has more flaws, but that also makes it ours.  

It has been an incredible experience having the kids help!  I love that I've been able to teach the kids how to use tools, jigs, and equipment.  They have been part of the design process watching build plans come together, talking to contractors about their processes, and learn about how to work through problems.  They've helped with a little bit of everything, from framing to electrical and plumbing, and even a little cabinet making.  If you're doing construction with kids, it makes the process slower, but it is so rewarding to get them involved.

The Chaos Space

The Chaos Space is another essential part of renovating with kids. It's super important to not let construction debris and small projects leak everywhere in the house, and the temptation to let that happen is high! The chaos space offers a centralized location to keep tools in use, extension cords, and extra tape measures.

Our chaos space is often our kitchen: it has a lot of floor space, it is central to all the different areas in the house, has newer wiring with higher amperage and GFCI protection, and it is really easy to cut off from the rest of the house.  Since we don't have an attached garage, this works really well.  Although, we do have to keep things a little more under control than a garage since it is still a full-service kitchen.  

The Sanity Space

The last essential space when renovating with kids is really needed when renovating at all: it's the sanity space.  Any time a renovation is happening, it is really important to have one place to go just to get away from all the dust, debris, and chaos that comes from renovating.  

When we first bought the house, one of the first things I did was set up space in my bedroom.  It had a working ceiling fan that stayed for a while, carpet that we ripped out immediately, and the smell of cigarettes.  So, we tackled it right away.  When I was working in other rooms, this was my sanity space.  

Now, we try to keep bedrooms under control, but mostly we keep the living and dining rooms as collective sanity space as well.

These are the rooms where we gather as a family and do just about everything besides sleep, so having that area consistently organized and available for family activities is really important through the process.  It's the space I really make sure is picked up and vacuumed, and mid-reno, I can close doors and ignore if things are getting out of control elsewhere.  Once work is done, I take at least a week to really get things cleaned, but having a neat landing space really does keep everyone else from falling apart too. 

Renovations can be really stressful!  Keeping these three areas designated in my mind takes the pressure off of keeping up with everything at once (Let the Lego room descend into chaos!  The laundry can wait! Really.). Mostly, it helps to keep us all safe, happy, and functioning as a family who renovates together.