If you are planning a new kitchen installation you may be concerned about the things you need to do to keep disruption and discomfort to a minimum while the contractor is installing your new kitchen.

Just keep reminding yourself that even though they will be some discomfort for a relatively short period of time your new kitchen will not only look wonderful but it will be a pleasure to use too.

While you may experience some degree of discomfort there is plenty you can do to keep this disruption to a minimum. Here are 4 key steps to preparing for a new kitchen installation that will make the whole process much easier.

Step 1: find out when exactly the contractors are arriving

It’s not enough to know that your contractors are going to turn up on, say, Monday morning. Are they going to arrive at 7 a.m. or at 10 a.m. obviously you need to know because a 7 a.m. start probably means you need to be ready the night before, whereas with a 10 a.m. start can probably use your kitchen in a limited way right up until they arrive. You should also move your vehicles so that they do not block the entrances to your property and if you have pets, you want to make appropriate provision for them to ensure that they are not disturbed by the work that is taking place and by the presence of contractors;

Step 2: remove the contents of your kitchen

Remove your possessions from kitchen cabinets, drawers, shelves, window sills and counter tops. This should be done in a planned and organised manner. Boxes which you plan to store until the kitchen is completed should be labelled appropriately so that you can find your kitchen utensils more easily, once the renovation is completed. If you plan to create a temporary kitchen in another part of the house set aside sufficient cutlery, crockery and kitchen utensils to meet the needs of the whole family, until your new kitchen has been set up. Also remove decorative items such as pictures, mirrors and blinds. Your contractor may be able to assist with moving larger items from your kitchen such as free standing cabinets, your cooker and fridge freezer. However, it is worth checking in advance if they will provide this service;

Step 3: create a temporary kitchen

This step is advisable even if you plan to eat your main meals elsewhere. Setting up a temporary kitchen area will allow you to prepare hot beverages and light snacks easily. Your temporary kitchen should have cutlery, crockery (or purchase disposable plastic cutlery, paper plates and cups) a toaster, microwave cooker and a kettle. This will be suitable for making light but perfectly adequate meals snacks and drinks so that even if you are eating in, it will not be too hard to create nutritious meals and many people prepare and freeze food in advance to eat when the kitchen is inaccessible. If you have pets don’t forget to make adequate provision for them as well;

Step 4: protect your floor and floor coverings

There’s no way around it. A full kitchen renovation will create dust and debris. This can be a problem if your contractor has to walk through your house frequently to get to the kitchen for any reason. If they do, and you have not taken adequate precautions, there is a danger that dust and debris will find it’s way into the carpets, furniture and damage hardwood flooring. This means that you really do need to protect your floors adequately. Perhaps the best option is to use specially designed plastic sheeting which provides a waterproof and hard-wearing protective covering for floors and carpets;