The kitchen is the heart of the home and a place where many families spend their time. This is the reason great kitchens can sell houses and why people remodel their kitchens as a top priority. While the end result of a remodel can make your life simpler, the process of a remodel can be stressful, even when you have an awesome team in your designer and installers.
Prepping For Success
Your preparation will make all the difference in your experience during your kitchen remodel. We've remodeled many kitchens and we have compiled the best strategies for packing and preparation. These tasks will get you ready for your remodel and make unpacking simple.
Step One: Packing-Supplies
To pack away your kitchen items, you will need boxes or storage totes and wrapping material. Think: bubble wrap, newspapers and pieces of cardboard. Smaller boxes are best for ease of use - you will need to get into some these boxes during your remodel to access your everyday supplies.
Step Two: Meal Supplies
Your refrigerator will likely be moved out of the kitchen and plugged-in elsewhere so that you may continue to use it. However, your stove may be inaccessible for a period of time. During this time, most people will eat out for dinners, so having reusable containers for left over take out is a good idea. You will also need resealable plastic bags for storing smaller items from drawers (such as utensils), as well as food. Disposable plates, cups and utensils may also be useful. For some period of time your sink will be disconnected, so may want to set up a bathroom with dish towels and dish soap.
Step Three: Everyday Items
Everyday items are the kinds of things that you just can't live without. These are the things you want to move into other rooms or pack thoughtfully (and first). Everyday items could be your cups, mugs, plates, utensils (if you don't plan to use disposable products), cooking utensils, pans, pots, foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags, etc. You will also want to pack food items that you eat on a regular basis in boxes where you can easily see them. Sorting the items by meal can be very helpful - cereal and oatmeal in the breakfast box, bread and peanut butter in the lunch box, etc.
Step Four: Everyday Small Appliances
If you're a coffee drinker, you know that you can't go through a 6-week remodel without your coffee maker! Moving everyday small appliances into your dining room or family room will allow you to continue to use them. You'll also want to move your microwave or toaster oven.
Step Five: Specialty Items
Now you're going to start packing the items you use very infrequently. These items can be moved completely out of your main living area to the attic, basement, garage or a closet; items like, holiday platters, ice-cream makers, silver, crystal, champagne flutes, etc. You probably will not need these items during your kitchen renovation and you may not need them any time soon, either.
Step Six: Packing Cabinets & Like Items Together
With the most and least important items packed away, you are ready to pack the rest of the items in your kitchen. The easiest way to pack these items in preparation for unpacking them in your new kitchen is to pack them by the cabinet they will go into or type of thing they are. All of your glassware can go into the same box because it will likely go into the same cabinet in your new kitchen. Likewise, all of the plates can be packed together, and so on.
Unpacking (woohoo!)
With a little bit of planning, living and eating in your home during your kitchen remodel will be simple. And when the remodel is complete, you will be so glad you took the time to organize your kitchen supplies. Each box you packed will easily fill your brand new cabinets.