Avoid A Major DIY Fail

Avoid A Major DIY Fail

If you are trying to decide what DIY means, go ahead and stop reading. This article isn’t for you. Same thing for the person who has no idea what Pinterest is, has never wandered through a craft store and walked out with $100 in an assortment of paints, fabrics and rubber stamps, doesn’t own a hot glue gun and thinks “Why do it yourself when you could pay someone else to do it for you?”. Go ahead and find something else to do with your time for a bit – this won’t help you at all. For the rest of you -the brave souls who thing calling a repair man is for sissies, who look at a Martha Stewart magazine and think “Piece of cake!” – keep reading.

We’ve all been there – the DIY fail. You know, like the time you wanted to add texture to the walls by gently running a broom down freshly painted walls, which resulted in flecks of green paint all over the ceiling, the china hutch and the hard wood floors? Or the time you super glued candlesticks to the dining room table when you accidentally left the cap off of the glue and it leaked? Yes, those times.

Trying to decorate a home in South Florida is prime DIY project time – and the failure opportunities are colossal. Sometimes it can be enough to make you want to hang up your hot glue gun forever. Don’t lose hope – here are a few tips to help you avoid the DIY Fail bloopers tape and add personal touches to your home that would make Martha proud.

Do a trial run. Have you ever watched a baseball game? Before the player gets up to bat, he takes a few practice swings – making sure he is swinging level and smooth. Use the same approach to your DIY projects. Before stenciling your monogram on the bathroom mirror, do a trial run on another surface. Check for sizing and spacing issues, layout changes or other areas that you don’t like on your trial. It will save you time and aggravation later if you test it out first.

Winging it is for birds. Make a template and sketch out the project before you start. Try out new pieces of equipment before jumping in to a project, and ask for help in using any unfamiliar tools. (If, for example, you borrow your dad’s circular saw, ask him what that switch in the front does before you start cutting 4×4 posts. Or better yet, ask him to cut them for you so you won’t have to do a finger count if things go a little awry. Thanks again, Dad!)

Buy more than you need. Chances are good that you’ll mess up, or miscalculate how much paint, fabric, wood, etc that you need for a project. Calculate carefully, then add some extra and buy it before you start. That way you’re not running out in the middle of the project, or trying to explain to someone else what you need them to pick up. (Who knew ‘Christmas Red’ came in so many shades? Hopefully no one noticed the two different shades of red noses on Rudolph…)

DIY projects are a fun and (sometimes) easy way to add personality to your home – don’t get discouraged by your DIY failures – laugh them off and try again. Give away your ‘fails’ as white elephant gifts this holiday season – waste not, want not, right?

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