Remodeling your home is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Add the mess that typically comes with any remodeling project, and you may start looking at your upcoming projects with a sense of dread. Keeping your home clean can do wonders for your mindset, so it’s important to stay as organized as possible while your house is being remodeled. Here are four ways you can reduce messiness and ensure your remodeling project goes smoothly.
1. Have a Decluttering Plan
The first step to reducing mess is to pare down your possessions, eliminating any items that you no longer use. The easiest way to do this is to focus on one room at a time. Many people have found success using the three-pile method. To use this method, go through each of your items and decide whether you wish to keep, donate, or dispose of it and put it in its designated “pile.” It can be helpful to recruit some family members for this task, especially if you plan to remodel more than one room.
2. Pack Things Up
If there is any demolition involved in your remodeling plans, you should expect an uptick in the dust floating around your home. Some of your possessions will be more prone to attracting and collecting dust, such as curtains, houseplants, light fixtures, or bookshelves. Before demolition begins, walk around the room that’s being remodeled and remove any of the above items, along with any possessions that may be fragile or valuable. Doing this ensures your items stay clean, but it will also make it easier to sweep up any lingering dust after the job is finished.
3. Cover Furniture and Rugs
Protect your furniture and bulkier decor items with canvas, plastic sheeting, or dropcloths to protect them from dust, scratches, or paint splatters. You should also cover up your large area rugs, but small or medium rugs can be rolled up and put away. Along with focusing your efforts on the room being remodeled, don’t forget the route from that room to your home’s entrance or exit points. These routes can also collect dust and debris as you or your renovation team pass through during the remodeling process.
4. Rent a Dumpster
Between decluttering, demolishing, and rebuilding, your project will generate a lot more waste than your regular household trash bin can handle. Plan ahead by renting a dumpster for the duration of your project. That way, everybody in your home will know where to put waste and other unwanted items, eliminating the possibility of accumulating unnecessary clutter inside your house. Then, all you need to do is call the dumpster company to come and pick up the dumpster, hauling away all your trash when the job is finished.
Bonus: Embrace the Mess
No matter how much you time you spend preparing your house and yourself, remodeling rarely goes according to plan. Do your best to stay organized, but be ready to forgive yourself if something goes wrong. By keeping an open mind and positive attitude, you can survive the chaos of remodeling and enjoy the fruits of your hard labor.
