Congratulations on your upcoming renovation! As someone who went through a major home renovation and was without a kitchen for nearly 5 months (with a 7 month old at the start - we finished right before her first birthday!), I can confirm that being without a kitchen is no fun. However, with some smart planning and preparation, you can make this time period less stressful - and trust me, it will be stressful at times, whether you are without a kitchen for 1 week or 1 month (or 5 months). This blog post provides practical tips for creating a temporary kitchen that will help you manage this time without a fully functional kitchen and keep your eyes on the prize: a beautiful, functional kitchen you will love.

Preparation Makes Perfect

Before the renovation kicks off, spend time gathering essential materials and planning/prepping meals. Consider setting up a temporary table to act as a makeshift kitchen space. This will serve as a central hub for meal preparation and ensure you have all necessary ingredients and utensils within arm's reach. If you have cabinets in place, a large piece of wood or plastic can be placed over the cabinets to serve as a workspace.

Designate an area for pantry storage, and a separate space for any materials you will need to prepare/cook/serve food - and ideally set these up fairly close to your work space. Speaking of pantry storage, you will also need a spot for cold storage (your refrigerator). Many people undergoing a renovation and replacing appliances keep their current refrigerator but move it to a new location in their home (i.e. the garage). However, if you can, consider moving your fridge to a spot that is closer to your work space. The goal is to make food preparation as seamless as possible.

Clean-up to Dream-Up

Maintaining cleanliness is crucial in a temporary kitchen. Create a clean-up zone by setting up a temporary sink – this could be in a bathroom, tub, or a utility sink. Additionally, designate a specific area for dishes to dry, ensuring a seamless workflow in your makeshift culinary space.

Going without running water and a sink for even a short period of time is tough - be sure to think through other areas in your home that can accommodate your running water needs. I can’t stress this enough - a lot of this post is tips to make clean up easy. I found in my own renovation that clean up is bar far the hardest part about the temporary kitchen processes.

Small Appliance Salvation

Set up a specific spot for your absolutely necessary small appliances. I normally recommend a microwave, toaster oven, and Instapot/Crockpot combo, as well as a coffee maker. You may find that an air fryer is a must have for your food preparation. During our renovation, we planned to grill a majority of our dinners, and decided as part of our renovation to invest in a quality grill with a sideburner.

Your family’s dietary and lifestyle habits should dictate this list: if you cannot function at 6:30am without a cup of coffee, make your coffee pot a priority (during our renovation, we set up a small table in our primary bedroom for coffee so that we had easy access to running water from our bathroom sink). Similarly, if you only use your blender once a week, it probably can be packed away during this time. Focus on the appliances that are going to give you the most bang for your buck.

No-Cook = (Mostly) No Clean Up

Simplify your mornings with easy, no-cook breakfast options. Instant oatmeal, yogurt and granola, and pre-cut fruit are convenient and nutritious choices to fuel your mornings without the need for elaborate cooking. Consider preparing some hard boiled eggs to keep in your fridge. And if all else fails, you can always opt for cereal.

For lunch, focus on no-cook options to save time and effort. Sandwiches, salads, and wraps are versatile choices that can be prepared with minimal fuss. Utilize pre-packaged deli meats, cheeses, and pre-washed greens for a quick and satisfying midday meal. A grocery store rotisserie chicken has tons of potential - shred for on top of salads, mix with mayo and curry for a tasty chicken salad, or add to tortillas with salsa for a quick taco.

During our renovation, I found that chopping a few veggies and throwing them on some lettuce with a protien was one of the easiest, tastiest, most versatile meals I could make - with very little clean up. I could add drained canned chickpeas or other beans, jarred condiments such as pesto/salsa/olive mixes/chuneys, grill the meat, and throw on crunchy nuts/seeds/croutons and have basically have just a knife and cutting board for clean up.

Easy-Peasy Dinner Meals

Dinner can still be a delightful affair with easy-to-prepare options. Consider using a Crockpot or Instapot for effortless cooking and minimal clean up. Opt for few-ingredient recipes that reduce prep time. Purchase pre-prepped fresh veggies and fruits to add nutritional value without the hassle of extensive chopping. Keep it simple yet delicious during the renovation period.

Spend a couple hours prior to your renovation making a few freezer slowcooker meals that can be started in the morning and ready to enjoy at the end of the day. Before you start any meal preparation, remember that you most likely will be handwashing everything you use - think to yourself “how can I reduce the number of ingredients/utensils/pots/pans/dishes/etc in this meal?”

Paper Plates can be a lifesaver - but know that they might not be the answer for all of your meals. If you will be without your kitchen for longer than a week or two, you may want to consider purchasing some lightweight, plastic plates and bowls for easy clean up.

By setting yourself up for success in your temporary kitchen, you can make the renovation phase as smooth as possible. Remember, when all else fails, enjoy the convenience of takeout to lighten the load. Embrace the process and look forward to the joy of a brand-new kitchen awaiting you at the end of the renovation journey.

Creating a Temporary Kitchen During a Home Renovation: Tips for Success