How to Prepare for a Live-in Kitchen Remodel and Outlive it

Tips to Be Ready When You Decide to Start the Project

You might be doubting about taking the leap and doing that kitchen remodel you have been wishing for. Mainly because, if you have nowhere else to go, surviving a live-in kitchen remodel seems daunting, a period of uncertainty.

When you analyze it carefully, thoughts and questions cascade in your head non stop. After all, without a place as vital in every home as the kitchen, how are you and your family going to eat? How are you going to cook? Where are you going to do the dishes? Where would you keep your ingredients and utensils? As other important questions that would pile up and make you ditch the idea of starting the project. 

🔨 Read more: Before and after: What transforms a great kitchen remodel.

Let’s imagine for a moment. Everything is in order for the beginning of the project, you already went through the essential steps for kitchen remodeling, your ideas are in order and you contacted a team of experts to bring it to reality, the space has been discussed, designed and planned, the team of professionals understands your vision and are ready to make it true. You said goodbye to the current state of your kitchen and can’t wait to have the new and improved version. Everything is ready, but what about you? Are you ready?

Since you have nowhere else to go, that bubble just popped, you’re not ready, but it doesn’t have to be like that. If you really wish to make that dreamed kitchen come true and wish to be prepared for when you decide to start the project and outlive it successfully, go through these tips and suggestions on how to survive a live-in kitchen remodel.

Reserve a Space

You probably already know that you won’t be having a kitchen for a while, of course that doesn’t mean that you would be without typical kitchen tasks, like cooking, doing the dishes, or managing your food inventory, to name a few. A makeshift space to replace your kitchen for the time being would be a life saver when you want to have all your kitchen supplies and ingredients in the same place. Save the kitchen utensils that won’t be used and set aside in this space those that you’ll be needing the most. Reserve the dining room, a corner of the living room, a spare room, or even the garage for this purpose, just be sure to be near a water supply, you’ll be grateful when you need it. 

Rely on Appliances

The stove is not the only home appliance you can use to cook, if you have a grill in your yard you can give it an extra use while you’re remodeling. When it comes to cooking there are many different appliances that can help you save time and make your life easier when you’re already out of your comfort zone, rely on typical appliances like:

•  Microwave
• Air fryer
• Rice cooker
• Toaster
• Slow cooker
• Electric oven

And any other appliance you have in your home. Maybe you don’t use them as frequently in your normal life, but who knows, these could be creative moments where you’ll discover new recipes and food variations. You might even stumble upon a new favorite improvised food! Let’s be positive, these are good changes after all.

Frozen Meals or Frozen Your Meals

If you have an extra freezer, or if you can move the one in your kitchen to the place you already reserved for the improvised kitchen, use it! Don’t waste the opportunity to fill it with frozen meals, or to even load it with your own version of them. After all, meal planning and prepping are great ways to save time and have access to different ingredients, half-prepared or already prepared meals that you just have to take out and cook, or heat, and are ready to eat.

Doing Your Dishes During a Kitchen Remodel

If you have a sink or bathtub that you can spare during the kitchen remodel process, you can go ahead and set that space to do the dishes there until the project is finished. A piece of advice, don’t use all your set of dishes, assign the necessary utensils to each member of your family and save the rest for when the project is done. If you don’t have an extra place to spare and do your dishes, disposable utensils and plates are always an option, don’t doubt about going for plastic utensils and paper plates if necessary.

💡 Looking for inspiration? Check these 7 tips for the ultimate kitchen island.