Home renovations create a problem that is easy to overlook: where does everything go while the work is being done?
Furniture needs moving, cupboards have to be emptied and space has to be found for boxes, tools and building materials. On larger projects, whole rooms may be unusable for weeks.
For homeowners in Swindon and across Wiltshire, sorting this out before work starts will make the house easier to live in while the renovation is under way.
Decide What You Still Need
Start by separating the things you use regularly from those you can put away until the work is finished.
Everyday clothes, work equipment, important paperwork and household essentials should stay within easy reach. Books, ornaments, spare furniture, seasonal items and anything else you are unlikely to use can be packed away.
Moving everything into a spare bedroom may solve the problem for a day or two, but it soon creates another overcrowded room.
Keep the essentials close by and move the rest out of the way.
Avoid Moving Furniture From Room to Room
Large furniture often causes the biggest headache before building work begins.
Moving a sofa, wardrobe or dining table into another room may seem easier than taking it elsewhere, but builders still need space to carry tools and materials through the property.
Repeatedly shifting furniture also increases the risk of scratches, knocks and damage.
If something will not be used for several weeks, removing it from the main living area may be easier.
If furniture can be dismantled, keep screws and fittings together in a labelled bag. Taking a photograph beforehand can also help when it needs to be put back together.
Keep Belongings Away From Building Work
Dust from drilling, sanding, plastering and demolition spreads quickly through a house.
Closing doors and covering furniture will help, but they will not always keep everything clean during a longer project.
Some homeowners use garages or spare rooms. Others leave belongings with friends or family. Temporary storage is another option when there is not enough room at home.
For people in and around Chippenham, self storage in Chippenham can provide somewhere to keep furniture, boxes and household belongings away from the work until they are needed again.
You do not need to empty the whole property. Moving out the things you will not use is often enough to free up useful space.
Have a Clear-Out Before You Pack
If cupboards, shelves and wardrobes need emptying anyway, decide what is actually worth keeping before putting everything into boxes.
Separate belongings into things to keep, sell, donate, recycle or throw away.
Old furniture, duplicate kitchen equipment, unworn clothes and items that have spent years at the back of cupboards are obvious places to start.
There is no point packing, moving and storing things you already know you do not want.
Label Boxes Properly
Poor labelling creates extra work later.
Instead of writing only the room name on each box, add a short description of what is inside. Label more than one side so you can still identify it when boxes are stacked.
Keep anything you may need during the renovation separate from belongings that can stay packed until the work is finished.
Use smaller boxes for heavy items such as books. Fragile possessions should also be wrapped properly before they are moved.
Pack in the Order You Will Need Things
Larger renovations are often completed one room at a time.
If one part of the house will be finished before another, organise your belongings in the same order.
Keep the boxes and furniture you will need first somewhere accessible. Items for rooms that will remain under construction can go further back.
Think about new furniture and appliances too. Ordering everything early may leave you with another large item sitting around the house before there is anywhere to put it.
Where possible, arrange deliveries close to the point when the room will be ready.
Keep One Part of the House Usable
Empty corners tend to fill up quickly once boxes start appearing.
Try to keep at least one area of the house clear enough for normal everyday use.
You still need somewhere to sit, eat and get away from the building work. Tradespeople will also need clear routes through the property for tools, materials and equipment.
If every spare room becomes storage, the renovation will feel much more intrusive.
Sort the House Before the Work Starts
Before builders arrive, decide what needs to stay, what can be moved elsewhere and what you no longer want.
Move unnecessary furniture out of the working areas, label boxes clearly and keep everyday belongings somewhere accessible.
It is much easier to deal with this before the work begins than once the house is already full of dust, tools and materials.
