Let’s be real for a sec—working from home is its own thing, but throw in the sounds of hammering, random contractor chatter, or a surprise power outage and, suddenly, you’re trapped in a home office circus. I’ve been there, hunched at my desk while a roofing crew sounds like they’re reenacting a stampede over my head. It’s not for the faint of heart, but you absolutely can get your work done (mostly) and keep your cool—or at least hold onto your sense of humour.

Noise Is No Joke—Tame the Chaos

First, let’s talk about the noise. If your house is echoing with thuds, drills, and the eternal whine of saws, you’ll need to get creative. Noise-cancelling headphones are gold. Seriously, even some basic foam earplugs will help if you’re in a pinch. Personally, I keep a playlist of ambient sounds or jazz handy just to mute all the banging—though sometimes, you just have to embrace the chaos and crank up something with a heavy beat.

If you’ve got a call or meeting you can’t reschedule, a quick heads up is smart. Clients are usually way more understanding if you say, “Hey, if you hear a crash, that’s just my new kitchen cabinets getting installed.”

Stake Out a Quieter Corner (It Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy)

I once took Zoom calls from a closet. No shame. For real, moving your workstation—even if only for an hour—can be a lifesaver. Scout around for the furthest possible room from the action. If you need to escape the house altogether, pop over to a library or coffee shop if you can swing it. Even sitting in your car for a meeting isn’t as wild as it sounds (that trick saved my bacon with a roofing contractor drumming overhead).

Plan Your Day Around the Noisy Bits

Don’t fight the schedule. Chat with your contractors ahead of time so you know when the worst noise is coming. If demo starts at 9 a.m., maybe block off the morning for email catch-up or anything that doesn’t need your entire brain. Save the deep-focus stuff for quieter windows in the afternoon. Trust me—yes, you’ll have to juggle a bit, but a little planning saves a ton of stress.

Be Upfront and Stay Flexible (People Get It, I Swear)

Nobody expects perfection these days. Still, a quick heads-up email to your boss or team that you’ve got housework going on makes a difference. Most folks have been through it or know someone who has. I once apologized to a client for the “din,” and she cracked up and told me about the time her kids dumped spaghetti on the dog in the middle of a call. Life happens.

Take Breaks, Laugh It Off, and Escape When You Can

Honestly, if you try to power through every single racket and hiccup, you’ll lose your mind. Take little breathers outside or hit the park for lunch. On the upside, you might end up with a home that’s not only quieter, but way cooler than before.

The main thing is, don’t sweat the mess. Make a plan, be honest, and give yourself a little grace. Working from home during renovations is chaotic, but hey, at least you’ll have great stories (and probably a new closet office setup, if you’re anything like me).