For many people planning a kitchen remodel is an exciting time. Unfortunately, when reality sets in and the work starts, you need to think about how you will manage without a fully functional kitchen for days or even weeks. There is no avoiding this inconvenience, but with a little planning, you can make it easier for your whole family. So, here we have some top tips to help you to survive your kitchen remodel.
Create a Substitute Kitchen
Eating out can not only get tiresome after a few days, but it can also significantly increase the costs of your remodel. Even if you love your local take out joint, you’ll still need somewhere you can brew coffee, pack a lunch or just pour a bowl of cereal. So, it is a good idea to create a substitute, temporary kitchen.
Ideally, this should be somewhere away from the construction area, but you’ll need some kitchen basics. If you’re lucky enough to have a guesthouse, this should not be a problem, but if not, you’ll need to pick a spot. This could be a corner of your basement, a workroom or even part of your garage. You can set up a couple of folding tables, standalone shelves and a couple of chairs. You can even relocate your existing appliances, such as your refrigerator and microwave to this area.
Pare Down Your Kitchen
During your kitchen remodel, it is inevitable that there will be disruption to your cooking and eating routine. Regardless of how much you like to cook and whether you’re a Masterchef worthy home cook, it will be a challenge to tackle and ambitious menu.
So, you should look to simplify and pare down your kitchen. You should only move essentials into your temporary kitchen, to save stress and space. Think about whether you will actually need your waffle iron, stand mixer, or food processor? Put all non essentials into storage and just keep the things you really need close at hand.
Plan Small Appliance Meals
Since you’re not likely to have your full size oven and stovetop in your temporary kitchen, try to plan meals that can be made using your smaller appliances. Hotplates, microwaves, electric griddles, toaster ovens, and slow cookers can be crucial for coping with the disruption of a kitchen remodel.
Think about what meals you can make without your large kitchen appliances, and set your menu accordingly.
You can even think outside the box and fire up your grill. You can use your grill to roast meats or prepare veggies. Furthermore, a grill can be used to bake pizza, make skillet pies, and even pans of rolls or biscuits.
Stock Up on Disposables
Since your usual spot for washing dishes or even your dishwasher will be out of action, you’ll need to get a little creative. So, you can make your life a little easier with disposable items. There are biodegradable or recyclable cups, plates, utensils, and napkins. These will make clean up easier and reduce the stress of your kitchen displacement.
Stock Up On Non Perishable Snacks
In a temporary kitchen, even preparing a snack can be stressful. So, when you or your kids are hungry, it is a good idea to have a stock of non perishable snacks on hand. Crackers, peanut butter, fruit leather, trail mix, dried fruit, and more can offer a quick snack when you need it.
Keep Thinking About the Big Picture
When you’re tearing your hair out, and your family is complaining about your latest thrown together dinner, try to think about the big picture. While it seems like your new kitchen is taking forever, in a matter of days or weeks, you’ll be enjoying your brand new kitchen and cooking up a storm.
If you’re planning a kitchen remodel and need to upgrade your appliances, you can explore your options with our online collection. Alternatively, you can get further help and guidance from one of our home appliance experts.