DIY or ‘Do It Yourself’ is a phrase that often conjures images of painting, hammering, and cutting. However, it doesn’t just mean working with your hands. DIY means to do it yourself, so this can mean anything you do instead of hiring a contractor or specialist. Because of the massive benefits of DIY projects, more and more people are learning how to implement them in their homes. Building your own home can seem daunting, but the process can be much more straightforward than you think with the right tips. We’ll walk you through the top 6 secrets that will make you a DIY master, whether your project is as small as a scrapbook or as big as a renovation.
By Team Savant
Image: Jagoda Kondratiuk
Go digital
There’s no need to go back to the days of cutting and pasting articles into a scrapbook. With sites like Pinterest, you can find all the inspirational images you need for your DIY project. It also makes it easy to save them to come back later if you want to make changes. If you take any notes of important things for your project, be sure to write them down.
For more significant projects, the internet has brought about many valuable tools. There is lots of software available for you at each stage, whether blocking your furniture placements or creating blueprints.
Measure twice, cut once
The first rule of DIY is to measure twice and cut once. This means you have to measure the space where you want to create your DIY project before buying any materials. Before you go out and purchase any materials, take measurements and make sure the measurements are accurate. The last thing you want to do is buy the wrong size or shape for a DIY project because it will just get thrown away.
The phrase is ‘measure twice’ because you can easily make small mistakes–but these mistakes can be super disruptive, so ensure your measurements are all definitely accurate before you cut.
Get a helper
A DIY project is much easier when you have someone to help you. You can consider a friend or family member or hire a professional (just make sure your first DIY project isn’t a major one). With a helper, the process will go a lot quicker, and the project will look better.
Install molding before you hang your art
One of the most common mistakes when hanging artwork is adding molding too late. The best time to add molding is before you hang your art. This ensures that you have enough space to fit the molding behind your art. You also don’t have to worry about the weight of the artwork pulling down on your walls and loosening plaster, which can lead to cracks in your wall or ceiling.
Don’t over paint
One of the most common DIY mistakes is overpainting. It’s crucial that you paint with a light hand and don’t go overboard. Of course, you can always come back and re-paint if you need to, but it will be much harder to remove an overly thick layer of paint.
Keep your space safe
The first step to becoming a DIY master is to make sure your space is safe. This means clearing clutter and keeping anything that could be damaging out of the way. The last thing you want is to install something by mistake, only for it to fall on your foot or cause a fire. So keep your space safe by clearing clutter and keeping any potential dangers away from the area where you are working.
If you are painting or plastering, hiring temporary floor protection products from Trio Plus will allow you to keep your carpets safe from damage and mess. Thinking about the areas of your house you want to keep protected is just as important as figuring out which you want to change.