10 Tips for Renovating With a Family

1. Talk

If they’re old enough to understand, talk them through everything. Explain that life at home will be a bit different for a short while, but to think of it as an adventure.

2. Keep a Journal

If your child/ren are old enough to stick, glue, doodle or write, encourage them to keep a renovation journal. It will keep them busy at those times when you just need them to stay in one place, and you will read back on it years later and remember the misery – I mean, memories – that you made.

3. Declutter

This is imperative before you start, so do not skip. Life will turn upside down, and you won’t always know immediately where to find things (mum, I need my socks now!). So the less you have to go hunting through to find a pair of socks without holes in, the better.

4. Pick Your Season Well

It goes without saying that renovating in winter will be wet, soggy and miserable. Not to mention rife with delays. So choose a start date wisely. We camped out in the garden for almost the entire summer while renovating. Schools out, so no homework deadlines to meet. If the kids are looking a bit grubby, take them to the beach for a nature bath, or fill a paddling pool with bubbles and warm water and let them wash alfresco. And can anyone say daily BBQ’s?

5. Creative Cooking

I could write an entire blog post about the meals I prepared whilst renovating (would you read that? Comment if you want it!) but it really came down to the tools I had. No traditional oven to hand, no microwave. Only a single plug-in hob and this life changing air fryer. I cooked an entire roast chicken in it, halloumi vegetable kebabs and sweet potato crisps, to name a few.

6. Safe Space

Yes, physical safety is important, but I don’t think I need to preach about safety on a building site (whether you’re DIYing or getting someone in). Setting somewhere up that the children feel mentally safe is equally important. Their home life – their safe space – will be turned upside down, so ensuring your children have somewhere they can go to read a book, do a jigsaw puzzle or just take a breather is crucial to their happiness. And yours.

7. Involve Them Mentally

It is easy to assume control because, well, hey parent, but involving your child in renovation decisions that are simple (but they feel are special) will lift their spirits and make them feel part of the team. When it comes to choosing wallpaper, carpets and paint colours for their own bedrooms or spaces, whittle it down to a few options – any of which you’d be happy with – and let them ‘choose.’

8. Keep Routine

We know this is just a parenting-must anyway; routine is key to a well structured child. They learn what comes next, they adapt to it, and they thrive. Whilst a renovation can blow all of that routine to smithereens, keep in mind the basics of their routine pre-reno, and try and stick to it. Bed times, wake up calls and meal times shouldn’t need to change too drastically, just be flexible; Jimmy might not be able to have his bedtime story in his bedroom if his bedroom has no floor. And listen, car naps are okay.

9. Involve Them Physically

For kids, a building site is the ultimate dream playground. Allow them to get out the paints and chalks on walls destined for demolition, and let older kids help move rubble, clear up or dig. As long as it’s safe and you supervise, use your parenting prowess! They’ll also sleep better than they’ve ever slept before…trust me.

10. Accept Help

Play dates? Sleepovers? Indulge it. If family or friends want to watch your children for an afternoon, let them. Don’t feel guilty about it.

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