Living at Home During Construction Projects

by Jennifer Johansen 05/18/2025

When it's time to begin a major home improvement project — such as a complete kitchen renovation or an upstairs addition — you may end up living in a construction zone for the next several weeks or months.

Fortunately, there are solutions out there that can help. These tips will help you live in your space even if your house is currently a construction zone.

Prepare for the Project by Getting Rid of the Clutter

When construction begins, your space is going to feel much smaller for a while. The best thing you can do to prepare for the oncoming mess is to purge unwanted and unnecessary items from your home.

Having an organized space will help ease both the physical and mental burden of the construction stage.

Clean Regularly

Taking a few moments each evening to surface clean the areas of your home that aren't under construction will help you feel more at ease. This also ensures that you have safe and comfortable spaces to retreat to when construction prevents you from using certain parts of your home.

It's not easy to live inside a construction zone, but the good news is most homeowners report that it is well worth the effort. When the going gets tough, think about the result.

Remind yourself that you will soon be cooking your favorite meal in your brand-new kitchen or resting your head in a lavish master bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The construction zone is only temporary, but your new and improved house will last a lifetime.

About the Author

Jennifer Johansen

Jennifer is passionate about the Real Estate business, and has been involved in related family businesses in construction, architectural millwork, and finance for 20 years. She and her husband relocated to Naples, from New York, 10 years ago, although her family has owned property on Marco Island since the 1980's. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Dual Master's Degree in Counseling and Education. She has acquired many necessary skills that are useful in Real Estate from being in the field of Counseling for many years. She holds the belief that building rapport is vital to helping her clients have a positive experience, while achieving their goals. She is very thorough and detail oriented, and has formed many close relationships with professionals in related fields, such as law, title insurance, home inspectors and other contractors. She aims to offer concierge- level service to her clients at every price point. When time permits, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Having grown up on the South Shore of Long Island, and enjoying her summers on Fire Island, she loves any activity related to salt water, boating and the beach. Additional hobbies include gardening, art, and studying nutrition, wellness and naturopathy. She is knowledgeable about Naples and Marco Island Real Estate, in estate areas, golf/gated communities, and waterfront properties. She is a member of The Naples Board of Realtors and Marco Island Area Association of Realtors.