Temporary Kitchen Setup Ideas: How We Survived Our Kitchen Renovation
If you're planning a kitchen renovation, creating a temporary kitchen setup before demo day is one of the best things you can do for your sanity.
When we renovated our kitchen, we spent months without a functioning kitchen. No oven. No stove. No dishwasher. No access to running water. Very limited access to a sink. We spent months in our basement with very little natural light during the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy (not for the weak!). And with a toddler and newborn, takeout every night for dinner simply wasn't realistic.
While the renovation was absolutely worth it in the end (check out our new kitchen!), there were a handful of temporary kitchen essentials that made everyday life easier. If you're getting ready for a kitchen remodel, these are the products I would recommend having on hand before your renovation begins.
Throw back to doing dishes in our laundry room slop sink! What a time. I wish I had just invested in this countertop dishwasher.
How We Set Up a Temporary Kitchen During Our Renovation
Before construction started, we created a simple temporary kitchen in our basement since we had access to plenty of outlets and a place to sit (our basement bar!).
Our goal wasn't to recreate a full kitchen—it was simply to make breakfast, lunches, snacks, and simple dinners as easy as possible. We focused on a few key appliances, basic food prep space, and easy access to refrigerated items.
Looking back, we were so lucky to have a dedicated temporary kitchen and dining space. And I’m glad we spent some time carving out the necessary space and products to get us through that time.
Below are the temporary kitchen products that helped us survive our renovation, along with a few items I wish we had purchased sooner.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The products featured above are items we personally used and loved during our kitchen renovation, along with a few products I wish we had purchased sooner.
1. Large Countertop Toaster Oven + Toaster Oven
If I could only recommend one appliance for a temporary kitchen setup, it would be a large countertop toaster oven.
We used ours almost every day during our kitchen renovation. It handled everything from frozen foods and leftovers to roasting vegetables and simple weeknight dinners when we didn't have access to a traditional oven.
Shop the Toaster Oven + Air Fryer
2. Slow Cooker
This slow cooker / crock pot became one of the hardest-working appliances in our temporary kitchen.
We used it for rice, vegetables, soups, and quick meals that required very little cleanup. When counter space is limited, appliances that can perform multiple functions are worth their weight in gold.
3. Waffle Maker
This might sound random, but fellow toddler parents will understand.
Our daughter loves waffles, and this became one of our most-used appliances during the renovation. Having a quick breakfast option that required minimal cleanup was a lifesaver on busy mornings.
4. Temporary Microwave
A microwave was absolutely non-negotiable during our kitchen remodel.
Whether we were reheating leftovers, warming up toddler meals, or making quick meals, we used it constantly throughout the renovation.
5. Garage Refrigerator & Freezer
Our kitchen refrigerator wasn't installed until the very end of the renovation, so having a secondary refrigerator and freezer setup was incredibly helpful.
Even now, it's one of those purchases we're glad we made because we continue to use the extra storage space.
6. Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
This wasn't a necessity, but it was one of those little luxuries that made life feel more normal during the renovation.
Since we didn't have a connected water line to our refrigerator, having ice available for iced coffee and drinks every day was a huge morale boost. I still use ours all the time, especially now with our hidden pantry.
7. Countertop Dishwasher (Wish We Had Purchased This!)
Looking back, this is the product I wish we had purchased from day one.
We spent months washing dishes in the utility sink downstairs, and a portable dishwasher would have saved so much time and frustration. If your renovation is expected to last longer than a few weeks, I would seriously consider adding one to your temporary kitchen setup.
My Best Kitchen Renovation Tip
If you’re about to dive into your kitchen remodel or facelift, pend some time thinking through your temporary kitchen setup before demo and reno begins.
Having a designated space with a microwave, toaster oven, refrigerator access, coffee station, and a few key appliances made our renovation so much more manageable. It wasn't perfect, but it allowed us to maintain a sense of normalcy while our kitchen was being transformed.
A kitchen renovation is temporary, but your family still needs to eat every day. A little planning upfront can make the entire experience much easier.
