How to Renovate When You’re Busy
You’ve got a job, a life and about ten minutes a day to think about your house. And now you’re planning a renovation. It’s a lot, and being organised doesn’t mean you won’t still be covered in dust or answering texts from your builder on your lunch break. But you can make it less chaotic.
Here’s how to keep things moving when time is tight.
1. Make the big calls early
Some decisions shape everything else: layout, flooring, lighting, kitchen, bathrooms. Those are worth researching properly because they’re expensive to change later. The rest? Just decide and move on. Obsessing over door handles and grout colours isn’t a good use of your time when you’re juggling work and family.
2. Front-load the planning
Renovations stall when nobody knows what’s been agreed. Get your drawings, measurements and quotes sorted before the first wall comes down. You don’t need a perfect plan, but you do need enough detail that trades aren’t standing around waiting for answers (or making design decisions).
3. Keep one place for everything
Whether it’s a shared folder or a scruffy notebook, it doesn’t matter. Just stick to one. Keep all your quotes, product info and random notes together. When someone asks, “What height did you want the sockets?” you’ll know where to look. And if you don’t know, resources like Architect’s Pocket Book are your friend here.
4. Limit your options
You don’t have time to look at every tile on the internet. Decide on the overall style or colour palette that you like. Pick two or three options, compare them side by side, and commit. Too much choice kills progress.
5. Set boundaries for communication
Decide how you want updates: a weekly check-in or one WhatsApp thread for everything. Scattered messages are how mistakes happen. Keeping it simple saves everyone time.
6. Expect some chaos
Even the best-run projects hit snags. Deliveries get delayed, dust gets everywhere, and someone will always need an answer at the worst possible time. The mess is temporary, and most problems can be fixed. Stay calm and focused on the end result. It WILL be worth it (in the end).
7. Stay focused on what matters
It’s easy to get caught up in micro-decisions when you’re tired. Keep your focus on how you want the house to feel and function. The rest is detail.
Renovating when you’re busy isn’t about getting every choice perfect. It’s about keeping the momentum going. Decide what’s worth your energy, make the rest quick and painless, and don’t lose sight of the whole point: a home that works better for how you actually live. And if you need some inspiration, check out some of our past projects.