I used to think it was just me losing my mind, but honestly, I started tying a bright ribbon to my tape measure and it’s helped a bit. As for the lists, I tried apps, but somehow a messy notebook still feels more satisfying. Maybe chaos is just part of the charm?
Maybe chaos is just part of the charm?
Honestly, I think you’re onto something there. Renovations are never as neat and tidy as those TV shows make them look. I swear, half my time is spent wandering around looking for the pencil I just had in my ear. The bright ribbon trick is genius—I’ve started using neon duct tape on my utility knife for the same reason.
As for lists, I get what you mean about the messy notebook. There’s something about physically crossing stuff off that feels more real than tapping a checkbox on a screen. Have you ever tried using sticky notes all over the wall? It turns your chaos into a kind of colorful roadmap. Sure, it looks wild, but it actually helps me see progress.
Do you ever go back through your old notebooks? Sometimes I find random sketches or ideas I totally forgot about... and it’s like rediscovering a little piece of inspiration in the middle of the mess. Maybe embracing a bit of chaos is just how creative minds work best.
Sticky notes everywhere definitely look wild, but I’ve found they’re a lifesaver when things get hectic. I used to be all about digital lists, but there’s just something satisfying about peeling off a note when you finish a task. Old notebooks are fun too—sometimes I cringe at my old sketches, but sometimes there’s a gem or two buried in there. Guess a little chaos is just part of the process, whether we like it or not.
Sticky notes are a classic for a reason—sometimes you just need to see everything right in front of your face, even if it looks like a tornado hit your desk. I get what you mean about digital lists, but for me, they always get buried under a million other tabs or apps. At least with paper, you can’t ignore the mess.
Honestly, a bit of chaos is part of any renovation. I’ve tried color-coding my sticky notes (yellow for urgent, pink for “if I ever get to it,” etc.), and it helped a bit. The trick is not to let the chaos take over—once a week, I gather up all the notes and stick them in an old notebook. That way, if I need to find something later, I’m not digging through piles.
And yeah, flipping through old notebooks is half cringe, half treasure hunt. Sometimes you find an old sketch or measurement that saves you hours. Embrace the mess, but give yourself some kind of routine to wrangle it now and then. It’s all part of keeping your sanity during renovations.
Color-coding sticky notes is a solid move, but I’ve had mixed results with it. I tried the whole rainbow system during our kitchen reno—yellow for electrical, blue for plumbing, green for “don’t forget to buy this”—but after a while, the colors just blended together. Maybe my brain’s not wired for color-coding, or maybe I just had too many notes. Either way, I totally get what you mean about needing everything in your face. If it’s not physically blocking my coffee mug, I’ll forget about it.
One thing that saved me (and my wallet) was taping a big sheet of butcher paper to the wall. It became this evolving master list—sticky notes, sketches, receipts, even paint chips all ended up there. It looked ridiculous, but at least I didn’t lose track of which outlet was getting moved or how many boxes of tile I’d already bought. Plus, when we hit a snag (like the time I discovered the wall wasn’t remotely square), I could scribble measurements right on the paper and not lose them in the shuffle.
I do get the appeal of digital lists, but I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve made a spreadsheet, then never checked it again. Paper’s messy, but at least it’s honest about it. The weekly notebook routine is smart—I should probably start doing that instead of shoving old notes in a shoebox.
Honestly, a bit of organized chaos seems unavoidable. If you find a method that keeps you from buying the same plumbing parts three times, that’s a win in my book.
