The Perfect Kitchen Remodel, Part 2

Embarking on a kitchen remodel is more than just figuring out the perfect design and paying for the work. It also entails living in a construction zone without a place to prepare food throughout the duration of the project.

Follow these tips for ensuring a better experience while remodeling the space:

Eliminate Clutter

Just because your kitchen looks like a disaster zone doesn't mean your whole house needs to stay cluttered. Consider renting a storage unit to keep extra cookbooks, dishes or other accessories that would normally be kept in the kitchen. Keeping everything as neat and clean as you can may help with overall stress. It won't be neccesary to shuffle through a ton of clutter to find the items you need.

Create a Psuedo-Kitchen

?During the renovation you will essentially be kitchen-less. However, that doesn't mean you'll have to order pizza every night. Houzz suggested creating a designated kitchen area to serve as a spot to prepare small meals, make coffee and store food.

You may want to invest in or ensure you have some of the following features:

• Microwave
• Toaster Oven
• Miniature Fridge
• Slow Cooker

The garage, basement or an extra room can serve this function if necessary. If the space has a sink, this is a great feature that will make washing dishes much easier.

According to HGTV, you may want to invest in paper plates and cups to cut down on the number of times you need to wash dishes in the bathtub if you don't have a sink to use.

Plan Your Meals

Before the first day of construction, spend a weekend preparing a number of meals you can easily freeze and thaw out later. You'll be grateful for a home-cooked meal after a few weeks of cereal and ramen noodles.

Consider writing out a schedule to plan meal preparation as well as days when you and the family can just relax and head to a local restaurant. Remember to incorporate these extra expenses into your budget for the kitchen remodel.

Get Creative

In addition to planning meals out ahead of time, you may want to get a little creative with your options. Consider going on a few picnics and enjoy the weather or bust out the grill for a cookout with the family.

Having a contest where everyone in the family competes to make the tastiest dish without an oven or stove is another interesting way you can make meals without access to your kitchen during the remodel.

Control Stress and Frustrations

Kitchen renovations don't always go as planned. Sometimes you will hit bumps in the road and these can cause a great deal of stress. In addition, living in an area that's constantly noisy and dusty can get frustrating quickly. Kitchens.com indicated even the most calm individuals can become upset during the process.

"I would recommend that the owner ask as many questions and clarify issues as much as possible as things occur, even if the contractor appears dismissive and annoyed with the questions," noted Erin Johnston, a therapist, licensed clinical social worker and meditation specialist. "Addressing your concerns and assessing your options along the way is going to reduce the stress and frustration you experience during the remodel. Issues not addressed, but noticed by the owner during the process, are likely going to become the focal points in living with the space, resulting in a feeling that things are not complete or done poorly."

In addition, you may want to consider incorporating activities into your day that help you alleviate stress. Whether you like running, reading, doing yoga or taking long walks, find something you enjoy and carve out time in your day to do these activities.

Be Prepared for Dust and Noise

During a major kitchen remodel there will likely be a great deal of dust circulating in your home. While you can vacuum and your contractors can close off certain areas of the home, excessive dust is inevitable, according to Houzz.

You may want to ask a heating, ventilation and air conditioning company to come to your house and block off certain ducts to ensure you don't circulate more dust in your home. In addition, if you or any of your family members suffer from allergies or asthma, make sure you're sensitive to these conditions. If it turns out the dust is too much to handle, don't be afraid to check into a hotel room for a few nights or ask to stay at a friend or family member's house.

Another issue that you'll need to be ready for is the excessive noise. Between nail guns and constant sawing, it will be difficult to sneak away for a nap or concentrate on anything while the workers are in the building. Adjust your schedule so you aren't at home when the work is being done.

Previous: The Perfect Kitchen Remodel, Part 1