As the holidays settle in and another year comes to a close, a lot of homeowners find themselves daydreaming about what they might finally tackle after the decorations come down. A new kitchen. An updated bathroom. Maybe even a whole-home refresh. And almost inevitably, one practical question rises to the top: Can we actually live here while this is happening?
The answer, like most things with remodeling, is that it depends.
Life During a Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen is where the day begins and ends. It is where coffee is brewed on sleepy mornings, where backpacks are dropped after school, and where friends seem to gather no matter how large the house. When that space goes offline during a remodel, daily routines feel the change immediately.
For many families, staying home through a kitchen renovation is still very doable with a little planning and flexibility. It usually means getting creative with meals, leaning on convenience foods, and setting up a temporary cooking space elsewhere in the house. A spare bedroom or laundry room can quickly turn into a makeshift kitchen with the basics: a microwave, countertop cooktop, or toaster oven. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps everyone fed and sane until the real kitchen is ready again.
Stocking the freezer ahead of time, using small appliances like air fryers or slow cookers, and keeping expectations realistic all help bridge the gap. It is a season of simple meals and a reminder that the disruption is temporary, even if it doesn’t always feel that way day to day.
Navigating a Bathroom Remodel
Bathrooms present a similar challenge. If your home has more than one, living through a renovation is generally manageable. It may mean slightly shifting routines, sharing the remaining bathroom more generously, or getting up a few minutes earlier to beat the morning rush.
When there’s only one bathroom in the house, though, the experience can quickly become stressful. Tile cutting, hammering, and dust are part of the process, and without another usable space, it can be more comfortable to make alternate arrangements for a short time until the work is complete.
When the Whole House Is Under Construction
Whole-home remodels are a different story altogether. With multiple rooms under construction at once, floors pulled up, walls opened, and major systems being updated, a home can start to feel more like a job site than a living space. Temporary power or water interruptions and the constant presence of crews make daily life tough to manage safely or comfortably.
In these cases, choosing to live elsewhere during construction often offers the most peace of mind. It gives the renovation team room to work efficiently and allows homeowners to avoid the noise, dust, and disruptions that come with such a large project.
In the end, living through a remodel is less about what is possible and more about what feels livable for your family and your routines. Every project is different, and every household has its own tolerance for temporary chaos. The key is knowing what to expect, planning ahead, and remembering that the mess leads to the moment everyone looks forward to most: stepping into a finished space that finally feels like home again.