If you’re getting ready to begin a renovation you’re likely experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. It starts as excitement which leads to endless hours of daydreaming, research and planning. As the start date approaches the options have become more confusing than when you began to experience sleepless nights as you mull over the myriad of options available. By the time the date arrives you’re feeling overwhelmed, irritated and confused.

Yes, this is normal and you’ll survive. Every homeowner goes through a multitude of emotions, emotional outbursts and many feelings of overwhelm. And things can definitely get worse from there. If you’re working without a designer, each and every decision to be made is yours and yours alone.

Overwhelm can come from too many options and too many questions. Once the renovation gets moving into full steam you’re being asked questions daily by multiple tradespeople. Instead of succumbing to this feeling it’s possible to reduce the noise and focus on what’s perfect for your space. One of the best ways to reduce overwhelm is to know what you’re going to be facing and make quick and decisive decisions. The more you plan, the better prepared to double down on the planning and be aware of what to expect during the renovation process.

Why Too Many Choices Can Overwhelm You

Analysis paralysis is an expression that refers to being overwhelmed with decisions which leaves you unable to make any decision. I see this all the time because renovations are stressful. We’re juggling a moving target and it’s hard to ever feel like you’re on top. These are the reasons you’re feeling overwhelmed.

1/ Decision Fatigue

Of course I always advocate for having a designer by your side and decision fatigue is the main reason. There are hundreds of decisions that need to be made throughout a renovation. Designers understand the order of operations and we know when trades will expect answers. We’re experts at space planning and detailed design work but we also know what is expected, the timelines for making decisions and the flow of a project.

When a homeowner tackles the management on their own they’ll become inundated with questions they’re not prepared to answer. This will continue to happen daily until you’ve reached the breaking point, the overwhelm.

2/ Planning Out of Sequence

As I mentioned, there’s a specific order that needs to be adhered to throughout a renovation. Most homeowners are unaware of the sequence and will often shop for things in reverse order which can create delays and job site confusion.

For instance, shopping for countertops and backsplash tile before the working drawings are complete means you may be purchasing too much or too little tile. It also means you could end up with a marble countertop slab that doesn’t fit because the drawings weren’t finalized before you ordered.

3/ Financial Uncertainty

When a designer is hired to manage a renovation we also manage the budget (along with the contractor). Our job is to reverse engineer the amount you’ve committed to spend so that there’s no overdraft.

The issue becomes challenging when there are too many items with high price tags and not enough on the low side to balance the final budget. Many homeowners keep some accounting but aren’t religious about updating the budget. It can suddenly balloon to heights that feel unsustainable and panic starts to set in.

4/ Hidden Structural Issues

One of the most disappointing issues that occurs in a renovation project is when a wall or flooring has been removed and exposes a myriad of hidden issues. This often relates to electrical or plumbing issues but there are many factors that can’t be assessed while they’re hidden.

Ultimately the homeowners will have to find extra funds to fix the issue. These need to be addressed before moving forward because unsafe conditions that are exposed must be remedied. Unexpected bills can impact some of our design decisions and ultimately lead to feeling like we have to sacrifice aesthetics for structural integrity. This can be both overwhelming and disappointing.

5/ The Pressure to Get It Right

For many of us, we only renovate our home once or twice during the decades we may live there. When the opportunity to renovate comes along we initially revel in the excitement. That can slowly lead to overwhelm when we feel the pressure to commit to a design.

There are often several styles that we love and we now need to filter through and make a decision that can impact the next 20 years in our home. That can definitely feel like too much pressure. It’s a balancing act to get it right while knowing what’s on trend, what’s dated and what will last a lifetime. That’s a lot of pressure and eventually we feel the pressure.

6/ Disruption to Routine

If you’re a creature of habit you will be pushed to your maximum when the renovation begins. If you’re living in the home throughout the renovation process you’ll likely feel the daily inconveniences of the reno. If you have kids and pets there will be an added pressure to keep everyone’s life moving during this time.

A lot of us who remain at home during a kitchen or bathroom renovation have tales to tell about our makeshift kitchen that looks more like a camping site. We may be washing dishes in a bucket and taking turns showering in a single bathroom for months.

It can be a really tiring experience so the more prepared you can be to survive, the better you’ll feel. Try to recreate the comforts of your daily life in whatever small way you can and you may save just a bit of your sanity.

7/ Ongoing Mess

This is a sister complaint to the one above. Along with routine disruptions we also have to deal with ongoing mess. Even when the trades clean up daily at the end of each workday you’re still being exposed to endless dust, dirt and debris. Most trades will seal off a room that is going to be messy but even that thick plastic sheet isn’t enough to contain those tiny particles. They end up everywhere throughout your home and for anyone who considers themselves a neat freak, this is your worst nightmare.

Knowing that it will only be for a few months doesn’t help but it’s the reality of this type of project. If leaving your home isn’t an option try to embrace the experience and not stress about messes. It truly will be over soon.

8/ Communication Failures

For the trades and the design team, we all walk into the project with a thorough understanding of what will be expected when and we work together to get things completed quickly. Often, the homeowners are the last to know about the stage of progress, challenges and delays.

Trades aren’t always on top of their administrative tasks and answering calls and emails is included in that. While the designer is usually the middle man who relays information to the homeowners, when there isn’t a designer the homeowners can be left in the dark.

9/ Logistical Nightmares

Project management can vary but generally the logistical work falls to the contractor and/or the designer. When a client wants to be part of the process they will often take over the logistical side of things. This includes sourcing, ordering, following up on orders, managing delays and cancellations. It can also include coordinating trade schedules and obtaining permits. All of these tasks sound like they can reasonably be done in the evenings but homeowners often discover this can feel like a second full time job.

If you are entering a renovation project with a full-time job and a family, you may be biting off more than you can chew by taking on these tasks. Instead, focus on supporting the team but leave the work to those with experience in order to reduce your overwhelm.

10/ Burnout

There’s only so much we can endure before we start to feel burned out. There’s an arc that occurs in almost every project. It starts with excitement and joy but quickly moves to frustration and even anger as the inevitable series of issues start to arise. This middle area is where we begin to feel the burnout. It isn’t until we can see the end in sight that we begin to feel the positive excitement again.

Renovations can be extremely stressful and it’s important to always consider what you already have to deal with on a daily basis before entertaining the idea of a reno. If you’re a busy home then don’t take on more than necessary. And always remember that while it seems like it’ll last forever, it truly will end at some point.

Creating a peaceful home office environment takes some planning but if you do your research and find the products that best suit your needs you’ll have a space that functions effectively for many years to come.

If you need help designing a home office or any other space in your home, reach out to me. I’d love to discuss your upcoming project.

Warm regards,

Adrienne