It always sounds simple at first. It’s usually a DIY project, and all you need is just a little fresh paint in the lounge. Maybe new tiles in the kitchen. Could even go wild and knock down a wall for that “open-plan feel.” And then suddenly, it’s week three, there’s a fine layer of dust on your pillow, the dining table’s become a storage shelf for power tools, and someone’s balancing a ladder against the sideboard like it’s part of the job.
Honestly, renovations have this way of taking over every part of your home, not just the bit you’re trying to improve. And in all the excitement of choosing paint colours and flooring samples, it’s easy to forget about the furniture, the décor, the sentimental bits… the stuff you’re not even touching. Until something gets scratched, stained, or covered in that special kind of dust that somehow makes everything feel permanently dirty.
So, before the chaos truly kicks off, it’s worth knowing what actually helps, and what definitely doesn’t.
Small Jobs Can Still Wreck the Place
Painting one wall sounds harmless. Quick weekend job, right? Except now there’s a splatter on the skirting board, roller spray on the curtains, and paint fingerprints on the back of a chair no one even touched.
But even switching out a light fixture can stir up more mess than expected. A bit of drilling, some sanding, maybe a wire or two. Cue: plaster crumbs in your tea and a fine layer of grit on your bookshelf. It doesn’t matter if it’s one wall or one cupboard, it spreads. It’s super gross. So yes, even the smallest reno needs a little prep. That sofa might not be the target, but it’ll still end up in the firing line if it’s sitting there looking too clean and inviting.
Bigger Projects? You’re in Survival Mode Now
If it’s a full-blown kitchen gut, a bathroom redo, or something involving demolition? Well, in those cases, things are about to get serious. You might still be trying to “live” in the house, but realistically, it’s a construction zone now, and your furniture didn’t sign up for this.
Dragging it into the next room and tossing a blanket over it sounds smart… well, until that blanket slides off, the floor gets scratched, or someone starts sanding five feet away and you can see the dust creeping in like it’s got legs. And anything fabric? Forget it. No, really, just forget about it! It’ll absorb smells, dirt, and regret like a sponge.
If the house is bursting at the seams, it might be time to get a few things out of the way completely. No, really, it might actually be for the best for you and for everything you own (because when it comes to renovations, bad things can happen, which can cause a lot of damage). So, storage rooms aren’t just for people in between houses. They’re a safe spot where your stuff won’t get dropped on, leaned against, or used as a ladder support. Plus, there are varied time periods too (of course, just do some research first).
Plastic Wrap Isn’t the Fix-All Everyone Thinks It Is
Okay, sure, it’s tempting to go full cling-film-on-everything mode. Feels like you’re doing something, doesn’t it? But not everything likes being wrapped in sweaty plastic for weeks on end.
Fabrics get funky. Wood can warp. And once you’ve sealed something up, you forget it exists until it re-emerges smelling like a DIY disaster. Besides, cotton sheets or breathable dust covers are a better bet for anything soft or precious. It protects without cooking your furniture like a bag of frozen peas left on a sunny counter.
Also: no, your old Halloween tablecloth is not a dust cover. Really, just don’t do that, it’s a bad idea.
Dust Travels Fast
One of the great mysteries of home renovations is how dust finds its way everywhere. Like, seriously, how? Close the door, tape the edges, put a blanket down, it doesn’t matter. That fine layer of grime will still end up in your sock drawer and inside your closed storage bins like it owns the place. Shelves you haven’t touched? Well, they’re covered. Curtains from the opposite end of the house? Somehow gritty. It floats through the air like it’s on a mission, and it always completes it.
Okay, sure, dust is inevitable at this point, but how can you beat it? It’s really going to help to just pack things up properly. Yeah, this includes books, photos, candles, throw cushions, all the little things that sit out looking pretty. Because once they’re covered in renovation fluff, they’ll never look quite the same again.
Floors are the Real Victims Here
Yep, it’s true, walls get attention, but floors take the beating. How? Well, tools get dropped. Heavy boots march through. Paint gets spilled and wiped up in a way that still leaves a stain. It’s brutal. If there’s a rug you like, even a little bit, roll it up and get it out of there. Ideally, cardboard, heavy-duty cloths, or sticky floor film can help protect whatever’s underneath from becoming part of the construction zone.
And just know this: the moment you think, “It’ll probably be fine,” is the exact moment someone wheels a ladder across your hardwood.
Temperature Swings are a Silent Menace
One day, the heater’s blasting to help paint dry. Next, the windows are wide open to get rid of the chemical smell. Meanwhile, your furniture is silently suffering in the background. But what else can happen? Well, wood starts to expand and contract. On top of that, leather dries out. Anything glued together starts to un-glue itself. And candles? They go soft, lopsided, and weirdly sticky.
If you’ve got anything sensitive to temperature or humidity, try not to leave it in the thick of it. Just move it somewhere with consistent airflow, or pack it up and put it somewhere safer until the house stops having mood swings.
Builders Will Use Anything as a Shelf
It’s not malicious. It’s just… instinct. No, really, just think about it; a flat surface is a place to set things down. That beautiful wooden bench? Now it’s holding a paint tin and someone’s half-drunk coffee. The side table with the marble top? They’ll be measuring something on it before the day’s over.
But it’s not just tools, either. You’ve got the sandwiches, extension cords, and sweaty gloves. If it’s nearby, it’s getting used. Oh, and maybe garbage too. In all seriousness, though, anything precious or delicate that can’t handle a surprise snack break or power tool nap should be moved far away from temptation. Out of sight, out of danger, right?
Small Décor Items are Always the First to Suffer
The little things, like the cute framed prints, the candle tray on the sideboard, the ceramic cat from the charity shop you didn’t mean to love this much, are the first to get knocked, broken, or lost. They’re small. They’re fragile. And no one remembers they exist until it’s too late.
You really need to just wrap them. Box them. Give them a time-out somewhere they won’t end up buried under a dust sheet or used to prop something up. Even if it feels a bit dramatic, it’s better than watching your favourite trinket roll across the floor mid-demo. Really, it’s worth it to do that extra layer of protection.
