What I Bought During My Remodel That Was Actually Worth It

Remodeling while you’re still living in the house is its own kind of challenge. Beyond the obvious things like paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware, there are a surprising number of small purchases that can make the experience feel much more manageable. These are the things that helped me keep construction dust under control, protect against water leaks, put together a functional makeshift kitchen, and generally make the parts of the house I was still living in feel as peaceful and normal as possible. This isn’t a list of construction supplies. It’s what I’d buy again if I had to live through another remodel.

Levoit Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

If your contractor puts down protective paper over the floors, a cordless vacuum becomes surprisingly useful. That paper collects an incredible amount of dust, drywall debris, sawdust, screws, and random construction grit, and sweeping it tends to just move the dust around or tear up the floor protection. I kept a cordless vacuum nearby so I could quickly run it over the paper at the end of the day without dragging out a full-size vacuum. It made the parts of the house I was still living in feel significantly less like a construction site, and it helped keep all that grit from getting tracked into the rooms that weren't being remodeled.

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Levoit Home Air Purifier

Construction dust gets absolutely everywhere during a remodel, even when your contractor is using plastic barriers and trying to contain it. I kept a Levoit air purifier running because it helped capture the fine dust that inevitably made its way into the parts of the house we were still living in. I especially like that it’s simple, relatively quiet, and easy to move wherever I need it most. I wouldn’t pretend an air purifier can replace proper construction dust containment, but as an extra layer of defense while you’re living through a remodel, I was very glad to have one.

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Extension Cord

During a kitchen remodel, the spot where you set up your temporary kitchen probably won’t have outlets exactly where you need them. An extension cord gives you more flexibility to plug in essentials like a mini fridge, kettle, coffee maker or air fryer without rearranging your whole makeshift setup.

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Electric Kettle

When your kitchen is out of commission, an electric kettle is one of those simple things that makes the temporary setup much more functional. I used mine for coffee and tea, but also anytime I needed hot water without having access to a stove. It takes up almost no space, works anywhere you have an outlet, and is one of the few temporary-kitchen purchases you'll almost certainly keep using after the remodel is over.

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Ninja Air Fryer

If you’re living without a kitchen during a remodel, an air fryer can handle a surprising amount of what you’d normally use an oven for. I used mine to make actual meals without needing a full temporary kitchen setup, and it was especially useful on days when takeout for the third night in a row sounded terrible. It’s compact enough to set up on a folding table or temporary counter, heats up quickly, and requires very little cleanup. Unlike a lot of things you buy just to survive a remodel, it’s also something you’ll probably continue using once your real kitchen is back.

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Yale Smart Lock

During a remodel, there are constantly contractors, deliveries, cleaners, and other people who need access to your house. A Yale smart lock let me give people their own codes instead of handing out keys or trying to be home every time someone needed to get in. I could change or delete codes whenever I wanted, and I could check that the door was actually locked after everyone left. One of those purchases that made the daily logistics of a remodel noticeably easier.

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Govee Leak Detector

A remodel means people are constantly touching things that normally stay put: supply lines get disconnected, sinks move, appliances get installed, and plumbing gets opened up and put back together. I put Govee leak detectors under my sinks and near anything with a water connection because they’re a cheap extra layer of protection during a time when the risk of something going wrong is unusually high. What I like most is that they don’t just sound an alarm in the house. I can get an alert on my phone if they detect water, which matters when contractors are working and I’m not home. After spending this much money on a remodel, a small sensor that could potentially catch a leak before it damages new cabinets, floors, or drywall feels like an extremely easy yes.

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