Is it possible to paint your home with kids running around? Yes. Are there things I should know before I do? Definitely. You really need to approach renovating with kids in a way that works for you, your circumstances and your timeline. We worked in stages over many years. When we decided we wanted to homestead something lit a fire under my husband & next thing you know we’ve got professionals running around the place.
We’ve been in our home for ten years. When we bought it, the lounge had blue-grey walls and a peeling ceiling, the bathroom had strange sea creatures glued to every surface (doors and cabinet included) and a lovely hand painted underwater scene on the door. The bedrooms were purple, pink, and blue. Not to mention the downstairs area was a mixture of brown brick, wood paneling and blue and green walls with electrics going in all kinds of wrong directions. I’ve learned a lot, including that my husband is an incredibly patient man. In saying that, here’s my top 5 tips for painting your house when you’ve got kids at home.
Step 1: Involve the kids
This has been a great learning experience for our lot, one that has taught them to appreciate what they have. Once my husband let our then 9 year-old swing a pick ax over his shoulder and smash it into a concrete pond under the front stairs (why there was a pond under our front stairs is anybody’s guess, maybe they were going along with the overall fishbowl theme our home seemed to have.) After her brothers removed a brick bar with a sledge hammer, our 18 year-old removed tiles, walls and the surrounding area to prepare for redecorating. Another time hub and one of the boys sawed down palm trees under my paranoid/watchful eye. In preparation for selling up, the 11 year-old prepped the walls for painting with me. In working as a team, the kids get to see mum and dad overcome challenges, and when they’re older they’ll understand what it takes to improve and care for their own homes. Also, you want to make sure they are wearing masks, goggles and appropriate safety gear so they’re not breathing in dust or other nasties, and that you’re always instructing them and watching them carefully in case you need to step in.
Step 2: Work within your budget
Work with what you’ve got: having a family business, we’ve experienced times of growth as well as “fiscal tightening.” During each period, we were able to work according to the budget we had. To keep costs down, my husband did as much as he could little by little, piece by piece, kids in tow. Then when we were shorter on time than money, it was time to step aside and let the professionals handle it. Which brings me to my next tip:
Step 3: Declutter
If you haven’t used it in the last six to twelve months, get rid of it! Thankfully we are particularly minimalist, so even though it could’ve been worse, we didn’t have too much to get rid of. Years ago we paid the kids 5c for every item they disposed of, which worked fabulously for one of our children who has hoarding tendencies. She came out with over 200 items! (mismatched Barbie parts included.) For everything else, read the next tip.
Step 4: Pack what you don’t need
Pack everything you won’t need and get it out of the way. Label those boxes clearly and pack them into an out of the way space. This will also help you if you are moving house later. Side note, when you’re replacing furniture back into the living spaces, the reduced clutter will help the room seem more airy!
Step 5: Work in stages
Years ago we painted the whole interior ourselves, now since we’re preparing to sell we had a professional come in and go over the entire place, inside and out, upstairs as well as down. Firstly we took everything out of the bedrooms, prepped the rooms and windows for painting (this helped keep the cost down too), and we slept in the lounge room on mattresses. The day the painter finished the bedrooms we took everything out of the common areas and packed it back into the bedrooms, but this time we added furniture from the lounge room etc (with having decluttered and packed away unnecessary items, there’s more space to fit things in the bedrooms, and less from the living areas.) We prepped the next set of walls for painting (kids included) and then stepped out for the day while the painter worked his magic. Once the living room and hall-way were touch dry we moved furniture back in and put the blinds back up. Bedrooms were reassembled and we got to sleep back in real beds! It’s the little things that bring you joy in times like this. When it came to the painter painting the house exterior, we prepped the front end the day before he planned on starting. Then while he was working on the front we prepped the back end and downstairs.
Bonus tip: Get out for the day
If you’re not needed, take the kids out for the day. Go to the park, visit friends or relatives, have a picnic! Either way, it’ll make your life feel a lot less stressful if you and the kids can breathe some fresh air and get out in the outdoors for a little more vitamin D and a little less paint fumes.
Yes, it can be a big job, and you’ll be glad once it’s finished! But it can be manageable if you’re organized and lower your standards of living for several days or so. Don’t be afraid of trying new take out places you’ve never tried, or keep meals super simple. All in all, I think the most important piece of information is to be patient, and work as a team. You can do it!
