Alright, let’s get real for a minute. You’re finally doing it! That kitchen renovation you’ve been dreaming about for five years, or maybe you’re finally getting rid of that gross carpet in the living room. You’ve got the vision. You’ve saved the money (mostly). You’ve even picked a contractor (fingers crossed).
Then, you stand in the middle of the room you’re about to destroy and a cold wave of panic hits you. Where does all this stuff go?
I’ve been there. I once tried to live in my house while we redid the floors. For two weeks, my entire life—furniture, books, my kid’s toys, the cat’s tree—was shoved into our tiny, windowless guest room. It was a terrifying, dusty Jenga tower. We couldn’t find anything. I was convinced the whole pile would topple over and take out a wall. I vowed: never again.
So let me, as someone who’s learned the hard way, give you the best piece of renovation advice you’ll get: Get. It. Out. Not into the next room. Out of the house.
Why “The Next Room Over” is a Terrible Plan
Here’s why, without any fluff. A renovation site is a disaster zone. It’s not just about a little sawdust. It’s heavy tools getting dropped. It’s people constantly moving around your precious things. It’s doors being left open. It’s a 2×4 getting leaned against your great-grandma’s side table and leaving a dent you’ll see forever. It’s pure chaos. Your stuff isn’t just in the way; it’s actively at risk.
And dust? Oh, the dust. It’s not regular dust. It’s a super-fine, magical powder made of drywall and despair that finds its way into sealed Tupperware. It ruins electronics, turns upholstery gritty, and makes your whole house feel dirty no matter how much you clean.
So, what’s the escape plan? A temporary storage unit. I know, I know. It sounds like one more expense, one more thing to organize. But hear me out. It’s not a cost; it’s an investment in your sanity and the safety of everything you own.
What absolutely needs to evacuate? Let’s make a list:
- Everything in the actual room. I mean it. Every last bookshelf, rug, and weird vase you never liked but feel guilty getting rid of. An empty room is a happy room for contractors.
- Anything you breathe near. If the reno is near a bedroom or closet, pack up your clothes, your linens, your extra towels. Trust me. You do not want to sleep on sheets that smell like drywall compound.
- The delicate things. Art, mirrors, glass tabletops, your fancy stereo speakers. If it can be scratched, broken, or coated in a fine white film, it needs to go.
- The “heartbreak” items. That’s what I call the things you can’t replace. The family heirloom, your vinyl collection, your kid’s baby book. If its loss would make you cry, it shouldn’t be in the building.
Now, how do you actually do this without losing your mind? I’ve got a system.
First, call a storage place
I use I-10 MINI STORAGE because they’re local, the guy who runs it, Mike, is a saint who explains everything, and their units are clean and dry. I just told him, “Mike, I’m gutting a 12×15 living room,” and he said, “A 10×10 will do you perfect.” Done. No guesswork.
Then, pack smart
This isn’t like moving. You’re coming back! Use clear bins if you can, or label boxes like a maniac. “LIVING ROOM – COFFEE TABLE BOOKS & REMOTES” is a lifesaver label. Take pictures of the contents before you seal the box. You’ll thank me later.
When you load the unit, think like a librarian
Don’t just throw it all in. Put the stuff you might need (a folding table, a couple of chairs, that one specific pot) right up front. Create a little aisle so you can get to things. It makes you feel in control.
The difference this makes is night and day. Your contractors have space to work safely and efficiently. Your house feels less like a warzone and more like a project site. But most importantly, you get to relax. Well, as much as you can during a reno. You don’t have that low-level hum of anxiety about your things getting wrecked. You can focus on picking paint colors instead of worrying about paint splatters.
That’s what you’re really buying with a storage unit for a few weeks: peace of mind. It’s a clean, quiet, secure holding pen for your normal life while your home gets a little messy to become more beautiful.
So do yourself the biggest favor. Before the first cabinet gets ripped out, take a weekend, rent the unit, and move your stuff to safety. When you’re two weeks in and you can actually walk to your fridge without climbing over a sofa, you’ll turn to your partner and say, “This was the best idea we’ve ever had.” I promise.
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