How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel: A Complete Guide

The kitchen is the heart of the home, where you make delicious meals and memories. When it’s time to renovate, you’ll have to rearrange your daily routine. However, there are many ways you can carve out a space to cook and survive a kitchen remodel—just follow these easy tips to set up a temporary kitchen. 

1. Understand Your Kitchen Remodel Timeline 

Ask your contractor about the logistics of the remodel so you can decide which space in your home is best for a temporary kitchen. You can keep your cooking space in place during the entire remodeling project by planning ahead. 

Sometimes, renovations can take extra time, depending on the scope of the job. Allow for some flexibility when putting away your temporary kitchen so you can continue to use it if needed. If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen but aren’t sure how long it will take, consider calling a local kitchen remodeling pro who can help you break it down.  

2. Designate a Space for Your Temporary Kitchen

Set aside a space to cook and prepare meals in your kitchen (depending on how extensive your remodel is) or another space like the dining room or yard. 

Since you'll need a space to wash dishes and produce, consider setting up shop in your laundry area, if there is a sink. If you don't have a space with an extra working sink, you may want to carve out space in your living room or a spare bedroom and use two wash basins to clean dishes. 

In warmer areas or during the spring and summer, you can take your temporary kitchen outside, setting it up on your deck or porch.  

If your home has an in-law suite, the kitchenette in that area can be the perfect stand-in while your main kitchen is under renovation.

3. Set Up an Alternative Dining Area

Balancing plates on your lap while sitting on the couch will get old, quickly. To enjoy your meals in comfort, find a place to eat if you don't already have a separate dining room. 

Since this is a temporary fix, think portable. Place a small folding table in your living room at meal times, surrounded by folding chairs. After you eat, you can tuck the table and chairs behind the couch or in another out-of-the-way area.

Another option is to head outdoors, eating on a picnic table on your deck or yard. An enclosed porch is another ideal dining area, as you'll be able to eat there rain or shine. If it's chilly, and the porch isn't heated, set up portable space heaters to keep warm. 

4. Take Advantage of Small Appliances

Since you’ll have limited space to cook, use small appliances to make cooking meals easier. 

You’ll know in advance whether you’ll be able to use your stove and refrigerator. You can always use a portable electric burner or countertop grill, or a mini-refrigerator if both of those appliances are out of commission.

Other countertop appliances, like microwaves, toaster ovens, blenders, and electric kettles, can even cut down your cook time. For example, you can make meals in bigger batches and reheat them using a microwave. If you’re a breakfast person, using an electric kettle to make instant oatmeal in the morning is easier than scrambling eggs. In place of your oven, you can use a toaster oven to toast bread and bake cookies—the possibilities are endless.

5. Create a Temporary Kitchen Tool Kit

Put together a temporary tool kit that includes everything you’ll need to prepare daily meals. When assembling your kitchen tool kit, set aside necessities for cooking and store them all in one place. It helps to keep your cooking setup light if you have to switch spaces during the remodel. 

Here are some items you might need for your kitchen tool kit:

• A plate, bowl, cup, and dining utensils for each person

• Cooking utensils (a spatula, cutting board, and knife)

• Paper towels

• Pots and pans

• Cooking oil, salt, and spices

• Airtight food storage containers

• Dish rack and drying mat

6. Have Paper Plates and Utensils On Hand For Emergencies

You may reach a point during the remodel when you can't face washing another dish by hand or in a temporary sink. Have a stash of paper plates and cups on hand in case that situation comes up. If you're concerned about waste, choose plates made from recycled materials that are biodegradable or compostable. 

To keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed by dishes, give yourself permission to get take-out or to go out to eat more than you usually do. Think of it as a treat while you wait for your kitchen to be ready.

7. Pack What You Don’t Need

Make space for your temporary cooking space and store all of your appliances, extra dishware, and supplies in the garage, a guest bedroom, or anywhere in your home with additional space. Only keep out what you’ll need for everyday meals, including utensils, cutting boards, and basic pots and pans. 

You’ll also want to keep your kitchen supplies packed away from dust and debris during the renovation, so label everything you store away to make it easier to organize your kitchen after a remodel. 

8. Put Together Meal Prep Ideas

Take stock of the appliances and basic supplies you’ve set aside for your temporary kitchen and plan out the meals you’ll make. It’s an important step that makes using your makeshift kitchen much easier. 

You can cut down on extra steps by using frozen veggies and picking up pre-marinated meats at the market that are ready to cook. If you have a working refrigerator with lots of freezer space during the remodel, prep, freeze, and label your favorite meals. To save even more time, include foods that don’t need to be cooked, including cereal, sandwiches, and other cold foods. 

9. Get to Grilling

If you’re remodeling your kitchen during the warmer seasons, you can take advantage of it and turn your backyard into your culinary headquarters. All you need is a barbeque and a spot for all of your ingredients. You can place some shelves next to the grill to create a short-term outdoor pantry. Barbeque grills also provide enough heat to act as a stove, so place pots and pans over the flame and use the grill to heat your food. 

10. Dedicate a Space to Clean Dishes

Carve out a place to clean and dry dishes after meals. If your kitchen sink isn’t available, you can use the sink in a guest bathroom, basement, or garage as a temporary kitchen sink. Make space for a dish rack where it makes the most sense, whether that’s next to a sink you’re using or on a temporary shelf lined with a drying mat. If there isn’t space for a dish rack, immediately dry your dishes with some towels after cleaning.

This may be the perfect time to buy or rent a portable dishwasher, which ranges in size from tiny countertop models to nearly full-size. Instead of connecting to your plumbing system, the dishwasher connects to a standard sink faucet with an adapter. You can hook it up when it's time to clean dishes, then disconnect it and put it out of the way so you can use the sink for other things. 

Jacqueline Quach contributed to this piece.