3 Ways to Deal with Home Renovation Stress

by Lanny Ho

Do you have a home renovation coming up? Are you worried about how it could affect you mentally? Your worries are valid. The process of renovation usually (if not always) brings about a high level of stress and anxiety. And it is because it is a process that suddenly disrupts the everyday routine that you are used to. On top of that, your house is likely in a huge mess, you have a bunch of decisions that need to be made all at once and you have to experience the pain of seeing money fly out your pockets at every turn. If you are going through this process with your partner, you may also be worried about it putting a lot of stress on the relationship. You don’t want to go through all the tense arguments and let something that’s supposed to bring you more joy really test the limits of your relationship and your sanity instead. 

So then, how can one deal with this challenging obstacle in the way of your dream space. How can one properly compartmentalize the decisions that need to be made from most urgent to least urgent? How can you function normally with all the inconveniences that you have to face? 

First and foremost, you need to remember that the end result of all the stress you are dealing with is the joy of a reinvented home space that accommodates your tastes and lifestyle. A home space where it’s not only aesthetically pleasing to you and your family but also functions in a way that makes your life easier. The best part is also the renewed love and joy you will hold for your home once the renovation has been completed. So keep your mind focused on the great things you will gain after everything. But just in case you lose your mind during the process, here are some things you can do to help deal with it:

ACCEPT & ACKNOWLEDGE

We must always accept and acknowledge the problems we face as part of the process. 

It is important to recognise that the stress we face during the process of renovation is normal. It is completely fine to feel stressed out or overwhelmed by the experience when the time comes but remember that stress is just another part of life. We deal with it more than we like but it is something we are actually quite accustomed to. When we were young, we typically stressed about our studies, or perhaps, sometimes about a fight with a friend. As we grow older, we start to stress about our work and money. And when the time comes for us to do a home renovation, we also stress about it. We constantly seek reassurance. Is this the right colour? Am I getting the value I paid for? Will the material that was chosen give a nice finish to the look? But again, it’s normal. We stress about similarly structured questions on a daily basis. Think of the renovation process this time around as the stress you normally experience but packaged differently. It isn’t an extra burden on your life but rather something that you need to get through to achieve your goals. And in this case, your goal would be your dream home. 

ONE STEP AT A TIME

Take things one step at a time. We understand that it can be overwhelming while you’re getting through the renovation process because of all the decisions you have to make. The more renovations that have to be done, the more stress you have from the added amount of decisions you have to make. 

From the first consultation to the end of the project, how in the world will you be able to make all the decisions? Think back what’s the most important functionality or aspect in the design that you have envisioned and start from there. What is it that you absolutely must have in this particular space? How should it look? Which of the elements are not as important to you? If you’re renovating multiple rooms in your home, then start with the room that matters most to you then end with the least important. If you can’t decide which one is more important to you, try to think about which room you will most likely frequent the most. For example, if you work from home, it would be your home office. Try to break things down in a way that you can follow. If you’re unsure about something, you can always ask your interior designer or any consultant that you are working with. 

Once you complete making individual decisions, see how they look put together and make adjustments from there based on the 3D drawing your designer provides you with. Make as many changes as you need to prior to the design’s confirmation. There’s no rush. Remember, YOU are the one who decides, YOU are the one paying for it, and in the end, YOU will be the one living in this space. The designer is only there to help you bring your dream to life. Ultimately, the power is in your hands. So relax and take your time to decide what suits you best. One step at a time. 

(But do it BEFORE your final design has been decided)

BUDGETING THE BUDGET’S BUDGET

The headache gets bigger and tougher to endure when money is involved. All the calculations on costs and deliberations on whether you will be getting the value that you paid for. Trying to make the numbers make sense while making sure that you get what you want without spending more than you can afford to pay for. Deciding on what your budget is and how much you are going to spend is going to largely influence the quality of the experience you go through during the process. Budgeting can also be one of the worst parts of the renovation process for a couple to go through. 

The most important part of managing stress while you are budgeting is to be clear on what you want and how much you’re willing to put out for it since the very beginning. If you are renovating with a partner, then the clarity of what you want needs to be aligned and thoroughly discussed with your partner. Think about these questions. How much do you have saved up in the bank? How much of that amount will be used for other funds or commitments (for example, credit card payments, loans, other bills, etc)? How much have you saved up or put aside for the actual renovation itself? You must understand how much you have and where everything is going.

Also, consider setting up a contingency fund that could catch you if you fall when (and only when) renovation issues arise during the process.