How to Stay Organized During a Home Renovation
As I write this, I’m midway through our primary bath renovation. The home I live in now with my husband was built in 1914 and I’ve spent the last three years restoring and renovating it—we’re almost done! Prior to this home, I renovated a 1920s row home over the course of nearly a decade.
Home renovations are exciting, but often disrupt our regular routines and add layers of stress we aren’t used to managing. In this Minima Journal, I’ll share what I’ve learned firsthand about the renovation process so you can minimize stress and get the results you’re dreaming of.
Begin planning well in advance
I spent almost two years dreaming about and designing our current kitchen before I began the renovation at the end of 2023. Taking my time allowed me to be certain of what I wanted. It’s similar to the idea of adding a potential purchase to your shopping cart, then coming back a few days later to see if you still want it.
When I have a renovation on the horizon, I create a private Pinterest board and begin saving images and products that align with my vision. As I continue my research, I narrow down prospective options and see what the common threads are. I prefer “warm minimalist” spaces that merge form and function in the simplest way possible—there are less details to solve, but each detail carries more weight.
“Make every detail perfect and limit the number of details to perfect.” — Jack Dorsey
You can read more about my design ethos here: “5 Design Lessons I Learned as an Architect”
As a new renovation project begins to take shape, I stay organized with a to do list in Apple Notes for each contractor as well as a list of decisions I need to make. I also create a folder in Google Drive where I save all of the estimates and spec sheets until the project is complete.
Declutter before you renovate
Years ago, we worked with a client who owned a stunning mid-century modern home. She’d hired a local Richmond architect to design thoughtful updates that would respect the original design while accommodating the way she and her family would live in it. The proposed kitchen redesign gave her pause—the architect recommended a generous expansion, but she loved the original layout. Minima helped her declutter and rethink the organization of her existing kitchen to maximize function. As a result, she was able to to work with the architect to make smaller adjustments to the original design.
Decluttering your existing space will pinpoint any areas that won’t function the way you need without the kind of structural changes that a renovation can bring. By working with a professional organizer like Minima, you can get precise about your needs—you may even realize a renovation isn’t necessary at all!
During a renovation, items from the spaces you’re working on will need to be relocated. By decluttering other areas in your home ahead of time, you can open up space to put these displaced belongings, potentially avoiding the need for movers and storage unit fees. Decluttering can also give you a sense of peace and control while your home is under construction. Minima offers packing and unpacking services for renovations. If you’re planning a project soon, get in touch via the form below. We’d love to help!
Invest in the experts
I act as the “general contractor” on all of my renovations for three reasons: thanks to my prior career as an architect, I am knowledgable enough to manage and coordinate the different trades; my job as owner of Minima allows me the flexibility to take time off work for big renovations; and it saves a lot of money to do it myself.
If you don’t have experience working in construction or flexibility to take time away from work, I recommend hiring a designer and a general contractor. These professionals will pay for themselves tenfold by keeping your budget, timeline, and sanity as in-tact as possible while delivering the renovation you envision.
During the planning stage, I always conduct several interviews for each tradesperson. I look for three things: clear and kind communication; fair and transparent pricing; and high-quality work. Be upfront about your expectations. If you have aggressively high standards like I do, let the professionals know and gauge their reaction. Get things in writing—contracts help ensure everyone is on the same page and will help avoid any unwanted surprises or miscommunication.
See my list for the best local contractors and designers here: “Minima’s List of Preferred Home Service Professionals”
Keep other commitments minimal
Even when I’m not managing a renovation, I like to keep my calendar as clear as possible. Having strong boundaries when it comes to the things I commit to is essential to my well-being, especially as someone who identifies as a highly sensitive person and introvert. I say “no” to most things so that when I say “yes”, I can give one hundred percent. Completing projects to my high standards takes a lot of time; I’ve learned I function best without a lot of interruptions in my day.
When I have a home renovation planned, I say “yes” to even fewer things. I focus on the baseline needed to effectively run Minima, manage our home, and spend time with those I love—no extra speaking engagements, travel, or other big projects. Renovations will be disruptive to your routine, even if you aren’t living in the space while it’s renovated. Build a generous buffer into your schedule so you can keep your peace.
Learn more about my time management techniques here: “How These Two Productivity Tips Stopped My Procrastination”