Welcome back to my first remodeling series, as you know, we are in the middle of a Master Bedroom Remodel. Here is an update on how things are going plus, a look at how we are surviving remodeling with kids. Did I mention that I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and planning a home birth? Will I make it? Hopefully.
Our one-year-old is enjoying seeing all the work getting done.
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Remodeling and Kids
I will start by saying that some days are easier than others. Also, it is not the kids that suffer the most but you. I can attest from first-hand experience you, as the parent, will be way more stressed out than your child during a remodel. The type of remodeling you are doing can also affect how well your family copes with it, as well as how big your living space is.
This was how my husband ended up remodeling the kitchen in our first house. Our one-year-old at the time had nowhere to play and ended up being worn around while dad worked.
I have been through a kitchen remodel with two children two and under, while pregnant with our third, and in ways that was much more stressful for our kids than our current bedroom remodel. Our house was very small and most of our living space was unusable for several months. We were living cooped up in a tiny bedroom most of the day.
Remodeling Bedrooms with Kids
Remodeling the bedrooms including, our master bedroom has been much easier in our current home. Here are a few reasons why.
- We have a much larger living space including a dedicated toy area for the kids to play.
- It’s a bedroom and not the main living area or a kitchen being remodeled.
- Some of my kids are older and can help with the little ones.
- There is enough room for all five kids to sleep in the living room while we finish the rooms.
Perhaps, the child taking it the hardest has been our three-year-old as he feels a little out of sorts with so many changes that do not include just new rooms and bathrooms but a new baby as well.
Stressful Factors About a Bedroom Remodel with Kids
Once again, the most stressful factor this time around for me has been the timeline. I am due within the next few weeks and so much is still left to be done. So for me, the child that has caused the most stress hasn’t been the toddler but the baby that is yet to be born. However, here are a few other more relatable factors that have been stressful in remodeling with kids this time around.
- Bathrooms! We have one working bathroom with no sink or door! We also have men working in our house most of the day so it is not the most comfortable situation at least for me.
- No doors, and not only does the bathroom have no door but also our one useable bedroom has no door. This project can’t get done soon enough!
- The mess, all of our bathroom stuff plus, the boys’ clothes and mattresses are taking up space in awkward places all over the house.
- This one is very individual to me because I’m itching to get ready for this birth but I can’t until the project is done. It has made this process a lot more stressful than I thought it would be had I not been very close to my due date.
Our current bathroom situation I constantly have to remind myself is just temporary and will soon be over.
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Quick Master Bedroom Update
Now, to the actual update. I am glad to report that the room is looking more and more like a master suite every day. We’ve had a few set back and lost a couple of day’s work because of bad weather. However, I am hoping things will move a little faster now.
Soon this will be painted and we’ll have our bed set up on this wall. For now, I’m happy most of the scrap is now cleared up and gone.
One thing I have learned is that everything must be done in a certain order. I am thankful we hired a professional for a remodel of this scope. While I know my husband is very handy and can do a lot. I also know he would have had a hard time knowing which step in the project had to be done next.
Steps of a Master Bedroom Remodel
These are some quick tips on remodeling timelines that might help you decide how to best approach remodeling especially with kids.
- Tare out Phase – This happens rather quickly and it is the first thing done. That being said you do not want to take out too much as I’ve shared in What I’ve Learned About Remodeling
- Framing- It is important to have a floor plan already in mind to make framing the space fast.
- Electrical and plumbing- It is easier to run the electrical and plumbing before hanging the sheetrock.
- Hanging drywall- This is when you finally have walls back up.
- Finishing Drywall- This is the step where you make all the walls look nice and add the texture you want to the walls. I like a smooth wall but because we have to work with what we got I compromised for an “orange peel” texture on the walls.
- Shower Tile- I cannot wait to finally have a shower!
- Flooring, Doors, and Baseboards in that order.
- Furniture- This includes your vanity and toilet as well as finally moving into your new room.
The shower area is almost ready for tile, I can almost see it.
The future home of our very own porcelain throne.
I love that our new bathroom will have all this natural light right by our vanity.
The one thing we had to compromise on was the size of the closet, thankfully I am a bit of a minimalist when it comes to clothes.
Some Remodeling Must Haves
- Level, I have a new respect for square spaces now, if you have an older home you will know what I am talking about. Apparently, even if your room looks even it is not.
- Hammer, I will say if you are a homeowner you need a hammer.
- Measuring Tape is another handy tool to have even if you are just buying furniture.
- Construction Pencils, there are a lot of measurements written everywhere.
- Drill, everyone needs a good drill whether you are in the middle of a remodel or not.
- Woven Contractor Bags, I am telling you these are a game changer when it comes to clean up.
- Electrical connectors like these, I can tell you you can get the regular wire nuts but my husband has been loving these because they keep everything neat.
- Shark Bite Plumbing Tools, essentially plumbing for dummies, you’re welcome.
What do the kids do when remodeling?
For the most part, all my five boys have been able to go on with their lives as normal. I have been trying to stay on top of homeschooling and making sure they do whatever chores make sense for the time being.
The older boys getting some school done while drills go on in the background.
What little boy doesn’t love a trip to the hardware store?
Remodeling with Kids Provides Learning Opportunities
Lastly, I think the best thing about remodeling with kids is that you can use the project as a learning opportunity. I have five boys and not only do they love to physically help, but we are teaching them about planning, budgeting, and communication.
Our boys have been learning so much about electricity, plumbing, and how to use basic tools.
Involve your kids in age-appropriate ways in the remodel projects you do. I have been surprised at how much they learn and enjoy helping!
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