I started this blog to share Tips and Tricks I have learned along the way and to give others the confidence to take on DIYs.
I am going to share with you my Top 5 Beginner DIY Tips:
1. Steal Design Ideas From Your Neighbors
If you are thinking about any kind of renovation and looking for design inspiration Pinterest is great but I have found that Zillow is a valuable resource. You can use Zillow to check out what upgrades your neighbors have done. In a lot of cases your neighbors or houses in the surrounding areas are going to have a similar layout to you. You can get an idea of what is even feasible in your space and what looks good in real life. The plumbing and electrical set up are most likely similar to yours so it makes it easier to compare rather than just a random inspo pic you find online. You can see what features are in high demand houses.
2. Always Draw Out Your Design
This is so important because It helps to organize your ideas and get a better understanding of the scope of work upfront. Having a drawing and plan prevents you from forgetting steps later in the project. It’s easy to get distracted while you are doing a project and forget things once you start diving into it. It’s also a great place to add all your notes and measurements as you go along. It allows you to visualize different options. If you are doing your project with anyone else it helps to keep everyone on the same page. You don’t have to buy any fancy software all you need is a pencil and paper to get started.
3. Dry fit your project
This means try out your space as you go. During each step of the project step into the space and make sure everything feels right. Pretend to utilize what you are building. This is important because you don’t want to end up with a bench or table that is the wrong height and it’s too late to fix. For example, if you are building a bench try sitting at the height you are planning to build it first.
4. Always label your cuts
This has been one of the most valuable things I have learned by doing so many wood working projects. Every time you make a cut with your saw you need to label what the piece is for and where it goes. You can come up with your own labeling system upfront and then use your drawing to help record. For example, when I was doing my office project I labeled each wall and then I recorded on each MDF I cut which wall it went to and what order from left to right it would go on the wall. I correlated it to my drawing. This saves so much head ache and time when you put your project together. This is a similar concept to assembling Ikea furniture.
5. Start Small
Doing just a few simple DIYs can save you 1000s of dollars a year. Easy projects such as painting, changing out a light fixture and a simple faucet swap out can raise your property value by 10s of 1000s. One of my favorite parts of DIY is that I learn so much from each project and apply it to the next one.
Home Improvement can also be self-improvement. Fixing or creating something is so satisfying. My self-confidence has skyrocketed since I have started.
I am able to accomplish things I never thought possible by just starting. I encourage you to start a project this weekend!
Amanda's Cozy Casa 