Although there is no “ideal” time to remodel your kitchen, doing it right before the holidays can put some extra pressure on you and your family. Sometimes, remodels run a little longer than we expect or setbacks push the project back an entire season. When this happens, you have to adjust your plans and way of life around the remodel. With the holiday season right around the corner, it can be hard to balance a kitchen remodel and entertaining guests in your home. Here are a few tips for how to plan a kitchen remodel during the holiday season.
Find the right contractor. You should be upfront about your plans during the holidays and how the remodel may affect them. The contractor can try to work around your schedule or plan certain projects for certain days and weeks to avoid any catastrophes. Make sure you compare plans and prices as well, since you’ll be paying for the remodel during the holidays- which is typically when people spend the most money on gifts.
Plan ahead. Create a list of the projects you want done and when each should be completed. For example, if you are cooking the holiday dinner, make sure that all the appliances will be able to be reached and used in the midst of the chaos. Relocate any kitchen seating to another room for guests to relax, since the kitchen will be under construction. Keep track of the remodel’s progress on a calendar so you can see if the goals are being met on time.
Double-check your timing. Figure out which parts of the kitchen you want to be done with before guests come over for the holidays. For example, if you can live without your new floor tiles, save that project for after. However, if the cabinets are in terrible shape and you want them fixed before guests arrive, have that completed on time. You’ll have to make some sacrifices in terms of what gets done before and after the guests come. Prioritize what can be updated or changed easily to look better for the holidays, and then do the full remodel after they are over. Always allow time for mishaps and delays, since they are bound to happen.
Create a makeshift kitchen. If your kitchen remodel is so large that you won’t be able to use much of it, you’ll need to create a makeshift kitchen station in another room in your home. Move must-have items like the microwave, some type of refrigerator/freezer/cooler and commonly used tools to another room with an empty table or counter space. Take some of the stress off of yourself and ask others to cook dishes that will be difficult for you to do. If at all possible, make some food ahead of time and freeze or appropriately store it away until the holidays. This makes for one or two fewer things you have to do while your kitchen is under construction. Lastly, use paper goods instead of dishes- it will save you a lot of dish washing, especially if your sink is temporarily out of commission.