What to Do with Furniture After a Home Renovation: Move or Store?
Home renovation can be a thrilling but chaotic process. You may be finally redoing that outdated kitchen, turning your basement into a cozy living space, or rebuilding your whole home. The transformation can be thrilling. But when the renovation begins, one question always arises: what do I do with my furniture? After all, your favorite couches, tables, and chairs aren’t exactly ideal to leave in the middle of a construction zone. The dust, debris, and heavy traffic that come with renovations can damage your furniture or even make your living space temporarily uninhabitable. So, what’s the best option—move it out temporarily or store it somewhere safe? Let’s look at both options so that you can decide what will suit your furniture and home right now.
Why Moving Furniture Might Be a Good Idea
In most situations, just temporarily relocating your furniture is the way to go, particularly if the renovation will only take place in one or two rooms or is a quick procedure. Taking your furniture out of the way of the renovation zone will keep it protected from dust, paint smudges, or even the risk of being inadvertently destroyed by tools or supplies. These are a few reasons why relocating your furniture on a temporary basis is the way to go:
Protecting Furniture from Dust and Damage
The work of restoration is messy. Even the best contractors will make a mess, and this becomes even worse if demolition is in progress. The dust, dirt, and debris will not destroy your expensive sofa, wooden tables, or your delicate artworks. Remove your furniture out of the rooms that will be restored and keep it in another clean part of your house for protection from dust, dirt, and debris. For instance, in the case of a kitchen renovation, moving your dining furniture and chairs temporarily will save them from stains caused by cooking odors or demolition dust. Clearing Space for Contractors
Renovations occupy space, and your renovation workers have space to maneuver. Furniture in the way can make work progress slowly and even heighten the workplace safety risk. Removing furniture from the area makes it easy for the renovation crew so that they can enter the space and do their job efficiently and fast. You’ll also avoid opportunities for your furniture to be accidentally damaged, knocked over or bumped by the workers.
Living in Other Parts of Your House
If your renovation involves only a single room or area, moving your furniture to another room can allow you to continue living comfortably while the renovation process is underway. For example, if you’re remodeling your kitchen, it’s likely that you’ll be eating somewhere else in your house for a few weeks. By moving the dining table and chairs to a different space, you’ll have a temporary dining area to use while the work is being done. Moving your furniture makes it possible to still enjoy your home during the renovation without feeling cramped or inconvenienced.
When Storing Furniture Makes More Sense
For more prolonged renovations that can last weeks or even months, furniture storage can be the ideal solution. Having your belongings in storage keeps them secure and not in harm’s way during the period of time for the renovations to be conducted. If the renovation entails profound alterations, for instance, total reconstruction of some rooms or renovation work, consider this reason to opt for storage:
Protecting Furniture Long-Term
If your remodeling will be continuing for an extended period of time, temporary relocation might not be enough. Storing your furniture for weeks or months in a safe, climate-controlled warehouse can ensure that your belongings are protected from physical damage as well as from the elements. For example, if you’re renovating during a particularly humid season or live in an area with high humidity, a climate-controlled storage unit will keep your furniture safe from moisture, mold, or mildew, which can be damaging to wood and fabrics.
Decluttering Your Home
A full home renovation can often feel like chaos, with tools, supplies, and workers constantly moving around. In these situations, it’s ideal to simply stash your furniture rather than constantly rearranging it. Putting everything away in storage eliminates the issue of furniture getting in the way. Storing items also prevents cluttering up your home so that contractors can operate more efficiently and safely. And, to boot, it’ll make your room look neater and less messy, keeping you from having to suffer through living in a work area for months on end.
Not Making Multiple Moves
Another advantage of storing your furniture is that you won’t have to move it more than once. With a long renovation, it’s not uncommon to have to move furniture multiple times during the course of the job. For instance, your contractor might have to go into the living room one week and the bedroom the next. It is exhausting to keep rearranging furniture, and it also increases the chances of something getting broken along the way. Having your furniture stored for the whole duration of the renovation means you have to deal with only one huge move, which saves you time and stress.
How to Decide: Moving vs. Storing
Lastly, whether to move or keep your furniture depends on a number of factors:
Length of the Renovation: In case your renovation is short-term (a week or several days), moving your furniture temporarily would be enough. For longer renovations, especially ones that last weeks or months, keeping your furniture in storage would be ideal.
Type of Renovation: Consider the scope of your renovation. If you’re only updating a small area like a bathroom or kitchen, moving your furniture to another room might suffice. But for larger renovations or whole-home remodels, storing your furniture may be the safest bet.
Protection Needs: Consider how valuable or fragile your furniture is. If you’ve got costly or emotional items, you might consider paying for storage to keep them secure from the possibility of damage while the renovation is done.
Need Help Moving or Storing Your Furniture?
Wherever you decide to move, it doesn’t have to be hassle to relocate or store your furniture. Professional movers will lift the burden and offer protection for your belongings. Whether you need your furniture moved temporarily into another room or must move it into storage, trained movers can make the process easy and efficient.
As far as home remodeling is concerned, deciding what to do with your furniture is of primary concern during the process. If you’re going to set it aside for the interim or store it for the duration of the remodel, protecting your items and having them stored safely should be at the top of your list of concerns. Accordingly, take the appropriate amount of time to assess the scope and period for the renovation process and choose the solution that is most preferred. Do not hesitate if you need professional help or assistance to be provided by a trustworthy moving company. With your furniture in good hands, enjoy your newly renovated home!
