A kitchen remodel can be an exciting part of homeownership, but they can certainly be stressful! Larger renovations often call for you to remove yourself from the home, or if you are still living in your house during renovations, you often cannot access the space being demo-ed. So, what are you to do when you renovate your kitchen?
You will likely not be able to cook in there for mealtime. Instead, you can plan ahead and set up your own kitchen survival kit, so to speak. This could simply be a few items to help you along, or it can be an entire temporary kitchen.
Read on for more information.
Kitchen Renovation Survival Kit Products
If you are planning a kitchen remodel, you will likely not have access to all of your appliances or things you may need in the space. Luckily, there are some things that you can get to prepare for your kitchen remodeling project.
Take a look at the below list for some different suggestions and ideas to get by without a kitchen!
Disposable Kitchenware
Since your kitchen will be a mess during construction, you will want to stay out of the way as much as possible. Plus, depending on the work being done, your appliances may have to be unplugged or moved, and will be difficult to access.
This is why it is best to stock up on some essentials such as plastic or preferably compostable silverware and paper plates. That way, you can still eat at home, even if you do not have a way to wash your dishes afterwards– it may be tough to get to your sink or dishwasher, and your dishwasher may not be installed properly while renovations are underway. It could be awhile before you get to clean your dirty dishes in the dishwasher or kitchen sink.
Mini Fridge
During your kitchen remodel, you will likely be unable to pop in and out of the kitchen space every time you want a snack, so you will want to find another way to store your ingredients and your leftovers.
A mini fridge is an easy way for you to still be able to refrigerate food items without interfering with the work that is happening in the kitchen. You can plug in the mini fridge just about anywhere in the house, as long as you have access to an outlet– even your bedroom, if you are so inclined.
Portable Appliances
There are plenty of different appliances that can be moved out of your kitchen during renovations so that you have some sort of cooking gear. Of course, you will not be able to get your stove into another room to cook on, but there are lots of other appliances you can try.
These include an electric kettle, a hot plate, a CrockPot, a rice cooker, a toaster or toaster oven, or a microwave. These will give you a wide variety of food or dishes that you are still able to make, rather than leave the house to eat or order takeout.
Storage Options
There are also plenty of things that you may want easy access to when you are working on redoing your kitchen– from snacks to ingredients to silverware. You should get some way to easily store things in your makeshift, temporary kitchen space.
For instance, you could get plastic bins to store plates and silverware in, or smaller jars and plastic containers for snacks or cooking ingredients. Of course, if you are going to be storing food, make sure to choose storage options that are airtight! You will want a way to keep things organized during the remodel.
Makeshift Kitchen
Depending on how much work is going into your kitchen remodel dream project, you might be out of a kitchen space for a while. It might be a good option to try to create a makeshift kitchen in the meantime.
A decent option is using a space in your basement that is near a utility sink or a bathroom sink so you have access to running water. Folding tables make great options to store some of your dry goods and pots and pans. You can even use a folding table as your dinner table and then put it away afterwards.
Or if you have a bar in the basement this would make a great spot to use as countertops for preparing meals and the sink for cleaning produce and washing your hands and dishes afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you survive a kitchen renovation?
Kitchen renovations can be tough when you are trying to cook in your home during the process. One of the things that you can do are to relocate the appliances that are not set into the walls, such as your microwave. That way, you have some access to appliances and can use these to prepare yourself food. You can also create a temporary kitchen space with the intention of using it during the renovation process. Last, but not least, familiarize yourself with the project timeline and process so that you know what to expect.
How do you set up a temporary kitchen when doing a kitchen remodel?
A temporary kitchen can be a great way for you to still be able to prepare some food and meals in your home while your kitchen remodel is underway. To do so, you should stock up on disposable plates and utensils, so that you do not need access to the sink or dishwasher after eating. Also, relocate whatever appliances you have– for instance, if you have a toaster or microwave that plugs into the wall, you can move that into your temporary kitchen space. Another tip is to figure out a storage situation for your snacks and any leftover food you might have– a mini fridge may be a good way that you can do this.
What do you need for a temporary kitchen?
If you do want to set up a temporary kitchen space during a kitchen remodel, you should try to get some common kitchen items like a mini fridge to store ingredients and leftovers, as well as plug in appliances to cook with. These appliances could be a rice cooker, CrockPot, toaster, microwave, or all of these! You will also likely want to get a table, folding table, or bar cart so that you have a prep surface. If you do not have a dining room, this can double as your eating space as well.
How do you make a temporary kitchen sink?
If you are still cooking and eating in your home, you will probably need to do dishes. One way you can do so without entering your kitchen space is to make a temporary kitchen sink. You can even do so by simply getting a plastic bucket or storage bin and filling it with water to wash your dishes in. This is certainly the easiest way to get your dishes washed and ready for eating on again, especially if you are unable to access your dishwasher!