Baby Steps to a Better Property: 7 Considerations When Upgrading Your Home With Children Around
Making home upgrades is not the easiest thing in the world. You might be at the point where you need to make some changes to your space so it’s a home that’s kid-friendly and your children can benefit from the space. But when we are undertaking such a major task like renovating a home, we’ve got to give consideration to how it’s going to affect our children. What are the things that we can all do to ensure that we (and our children) don’t get overly stressed throughout the process?
Think About the Time of Year
There will be times when you may want to save money on contractors and builders by hiring them in the winter but the fact is when it comes to renovations, the spring and the summer are the best seasons by a country mile. It’s not just because your children’s routines are shaken up and vacations are easier to take, but it’s also far better for the sake of your home. For example, if you have a contractor installing a bend window and it takes longer than expected, in the middle of summer you’re not going to freeze to death if you don’t have a window replaced right away. Additionally, it’s far beneficial for you to spend time outside of the property while the builders are doing the work.
Consider What the Kids Will Need in the Future
One of the biggest oversights we have is thinking only in terms of the next five years. Your children may be toddlers now, but what will they need in ten years’ time? When you are renovating spaces, you’ve got to think about the future and make sure that you don’t design them to be too small. Because when you upgrade a toddler bedroom to a tween bedroom and then to a teenage bedroom, the changes are monumental. So you are better off making the renovations for space right now. Space is something we all want more of, but your teenager will require much more space than you think, so make sure you look at the big picture.
Give Them Small Jobs
Your children will no doubt want to help or get involved in some way, and if you want to make it more interesting for them but also give some valuable input, you can give them some small jobs and let them make some small decisions. Of course, your children are going to change, and this means that their attitudes and tastes will change. Giving them some simple decor decisions can make a big difference in terms of how they view the room and it can also bring you both closer together. The best way for you to do it is to give them a number of options to choose from, rather than giving them free rein. For example, you can narrow it down to a handful of wall colors and let them pick their favorite.
Try To Make It Fun
It’s always something that we try to do, but it’s not so easy. If there are jobs you can do yourself, no doubt your children will want to help. And it can be a very stressful thing if you’re trying to get the renovation done as quickly as possible. And while you might spend a lot of time telling your children where they can’t go, it’s a good idea to create an area just for them. Something as simple as a bean bag chair and their favorite toys mean that they could just stay in the corner of the room and observe what is going on. Keeping one space that’s friendly for your kid will, at the very least, make them feel like they are part of the process, even if you secretly don’t want them to be!
Think About Storage
With all of the expenses you are already undertaking, you might not like the idea of storage but the fact is that when you have builders in, they are likely going to damage things. And also it’s important to remember; dust gets everywhere, even if the work is being done in another room, dust can get into every little nook and cranny. What you can do is roll up rugs and pack away clothes before all of the work is done, but you can also invest in lots of sheets. However, if you are concerned you will be doing the laundry for months after the builders have vacated, storage is a good idea.
Make Mealtimes Easy
One of the most stressful parts of renovation work is actually living in the property itself. Something as simple as trying to get a glass of water with the plumbing off could make you feel the intensity of the situation. When it comes to mealtimes, as much as your kids would like to have fast food every night, this is going to weigh heavily on your bank balance. Before the builders come by, you can prepare by batch cooking meals and finding some meals you can freeze. Mealtimes should be easy, and it is very likely going to be the only time there you will all get together as a family. If you are staying in the home during the kitchen renovation, you will need a place to make some meals. You can always microwave meals but it’s also amazing to have anything you can actually cook in the microwave. This might be your opportunity to get creative!
Take Time Away
Sometimes it all gets too much. You will come to the realization that it won’t ever be all done and everything is “perfect.” There are always going to be loose ends for you to clean up, and this is why sometimes you need to step away from the situation. Ensuring that you find opportunities to spend a week away with relatives doesn’t just give you a break from the renovations but also gives you the opportunity to spend time with your children. The fact is that when you are upgrading your property it’s not easy when children are in tow, but if you want to save your sanity, prepare yourself and remember… it’s all about baby steps!
