Failed Reno, 2017 Camouflage, How?

Put rugs down where the floors aren't finished. Hang nice sheets that go with the décor to disguise where the walls aren't done. Just think of anything you can do to cover unfinished areas until the holidays are over and you can continue the reno at your leisure and you will be able to use the living room until you get to it.

One Christmas, in the parsonage where we were living, a water line to the washing machine broke. The flooring in the utility room, kitchen, and half the living room were completely flooded before we could get the pipe mended. To save money, the carpet was pulled up and spread out over these huge heater fans to dry the carpet. Well, the Christmas tree went on the front porch, lights and all, and I burned the lights on the tree for weeks after Christmas.

I told you that story to remind you, your friends will understand and others shouldn’t bother you. We had Christmas dinner at a friend’s house, and things I thought were essential to Christmas, Simply weren’t. This time will pass and your decorating can be perfect next year. Best wishes 😇

I would skip all the camoflage, and make finishing that room my Christmas present to myself and my family. Three years is too long to have your home ripped up, cluttered, and non-functioning. Time to ask for help.... church groups, Habitat for Humanity, a grant/cheap loan from HUD, a home improvement loan from the bank, friends, family.

I would drag everything out of that room into the garage, car port, a spare room. Make a plan for making the room liveable, and work day and night....get er done.

Take the curtains back and buy a few sheets of drywall and trim, paint and a cheap area carpet. Get on www.freecycle.org, join for your city and ask for free materials, I've gotten tons of stuff to help my clients on this site.

I like both answers that have been given. People who really love you do not care that everything is perfect. The time and money you are spending on a temporary fix is time and money that could be devoted to completing the project. I know it is hard to have an incomplete project at the holidays but this problem will go away.

Sharon is right. If there is money, go for it. Make it a family project or if family isn't close, have a "what can we do to get this done" party. Ask your friends for help and then show us what you finished!!!!!!

You will feel so much better.

If you could find strong double sided tape, perhaps that will stick to the brick wall if they are light weight enough.

I think that all the advice given is good and well meant. However you seem like one of those folks like me who just keeps falling between the cracks. I won’t go into any of my history but I will tell you what I’d do if it were my problem. I’d put up all the tools and supplies, clean as well as possible and set up the room as close to normal as possible then go ahead and decorate for Christmas. It won’t be as comfortable as you’d like but it seems like it would be a lot more comfortable than what you’re having to put up with right now. Then maybe after Christmas is over you can get a fresh outlook on/for your reno and get some much needed work done. Wishing you all the best and a very blessed Christmas!

Go to appliance stores. Ask for the cardboard from the refrigerators & large appliances, you can cover it with cheap, pretty sheets / even a bright, colorful comforter over that brick wall from the thrift store. Fake wall for the time being.

The raw wood? Eventually you’re going to cover anyway, so for now? Cover with cheap Christmas wrapping paper or paint.

The windows? Giant pieces of that same cardboard, wrapped like big Christmas gifts.

Not just camouflage, make it part of holiday decor. This will also force you to keep it temporary, and get back to work on finishing the project.

As far as everything in that room? Nice, neat, stacked in the corner or against a wall & cover it (Again, appliance store cardboard wrapped like a giant Christmas gift Or painted).

Take some cookies to whoever you are asking to call you from that appliance store, & get the cardboard from them immediately so it’s not in their way.

I had 5 boys, including twins, I am really good at camouflage cleaning, as I never had time to get everything done....

btw, I don’t understand why you have to cover the brick wall at all. If you don’t like it, just paint it for the time being.

And never overlook thrift stores.

Maybe even go to a carpet store, leave several cards with the ppl, so when someone comes in for new carpet they can call you, maybe a customer would be happy to have you haul away their old one.... even go on Facebook, in the groups, ask if anyone is getting rid of an old rug, will keep your floor warm for the winter, then go back to Facebook, offer it to someone to use it in a dog house after, (things should be used twice before we throw them away anyway when possible.)

I just love this site, a lot of good ideas and concerns posted... thank you guys, I will be implementing all the ideas and I will post a pic of the results... getting started while grandsons in school. I had already sort the help of some family and friends who are going to pitch in to make it happen...before posting pics... I needed the Veteran Hometalk ideas and you guys did that... Super Cool... can't wait to get started....

I owned a home that was built in the 1920s (Alaska).... nothing was cheap, we do what we can. And sounds like you need temporary fixes until the summer when you can get done what you want to.

Decided No Rug it's out, Mop Original floor up in and done... Now all I need is a suggestion for the ceiling, was going to stream some garland but need something that will remain past the holidays, Any suggestion