No matter how long your kitchen renovation takes, setting up a few systems will greatly ease the stress and chaos that construction inevitably brings.
First, box up the items in your old kitchen. If everything is being gutted and you will not have a stove then box, tape and label all cooking implements, pots, pans, etc. Box up all glassware, silverware, and small appliances. Regarding food, box up but leave open and available any easy to cook items: soup, canned vegetables, easy cook rice, etc. Remember to leave out:
- Zip lock bags
- Salt and pepper
- Can opener
- Plastic or glass pitchers
- Cutting boards
- Cleaning supplies
- Garbage bags
- Pet supplies
Next you will need to set up an interim kitchen. If you have an adjoining room, like a dining room, plan to use this as your temporary kitchen. Move your refrigerator to this room—you will be incredibly happy you did so. Fresh food, fruits and vegetables will be your salvation during the chaos. Move your dining table to one wall and relocate chairs to a spare room. Cover the table and set up the microwave, coffee station, and a prep / work area. Purchase microwave safe paper products: bowls, plates, coffee cups, regular cups, plastic silverware. Keeps these readily accessible near the prep area.
Also purchase lots of gallon bottles of water or fill pitchers and keep them nearby. You will need them for drinking, rinsing pet bowls, filling the coffee pot, etc.
Expect the worst! Keep in mind that any renovation, no matter how skillfully handled has problems. There are unexpected issues and delays that happen on every project. You are likely to be frustrated and the chaos in your home is very stressful. Having your basic food and prep area well organized will keep everyone’s stress in check and enable you to focus on the fun and excitement a renovation brings!
by: Susan Johnson
Organizing, Design and Home Staging Consultant at In Order To Succeed
Further Reading
Green Kitchen with Spaghetti Scrub by Goodbye Detergent (January 2010)
How To Successfully Organize A Kitchen (September 2009)
Image courtesy of The Kitchen Designer’s photostream.
Or check out holiday decorations in your nearby city or town, by foot. If you didn’t learn during the height of the pandemic that walking is good for stress and your soul, it’s not too late. You can even refer to this activity with a fancy name, 
In most dorms, the bed and desk will take up the bulk of the floor space, but you can bet there will still be plenty of room on the walls. Over-the-door shoe holders are great for storing your favorite footwear, and they can also double for storing other objects. 
Taking the time to put together organized drawers will save you so much room in the long run. Using acrylic bins is a great way to turn this idea into a reality! You’ll have a specific place for everything, which is the best way to keep your space clean. Make time at least once a week to tidy up your room so that you can ensure the space stays clean. 
Drawers are ideal for dealing with dorm room storage. They keep everything out of your way, but they don’t take up a ton of space. In fact, if you need to, you can even get separate storage cubes and stack them all up. Either way, using several drawers is a fantastic way to store everything. 
