There are many benefits associated with boosting your DIY skills and abilities. For example, it means that you can respond quickly to any maintenance issues that crop up in your home, preventing costly and lasting damage. It also means that you can carry out some renovation projects without having to enlist outside help. Not only that, but it’s also a lot of fun.
As such, it is hardly surprising that 74% of homeowners plan to embark on this kind of project in 2025. If you’re part of this figure, but are not sure where to start, don’t worry. Here are some top tips that every first-time DIY’er should know!
Make sure you have the right tools. In order to carry out any home DIY tasks to the necessary standard, you need to make sure that you have a full toolbox on hand. Otherwise, you’re making your work a lot harder for yourself. For example, if you’re going to be sanding anything down before working on it, you’ll be able to do this much quicker (and neater) with a oscillating tool.
Start small. While you may have a vision of designing the perfect family-friendly home, this is a task that you need to work yourself up toward. Otherwise, you’ll quickly find that you’re in over your head. As such, you should always start small when it comes to DIY. For example, you should focus first on repairing or restoring furniture before moving onto larger-scale projects. This will allow you to gather the necessary skills and insights before taking on bigger (and riskier) challenges. As confidence goes a long way in this regard, starting small is a great way to master your skills and ensure you succeed.
Watch online tutorials. Sometimes, the way in which you need to fix or repair something through DIY may seem like common sense. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. As such, you should always make sure that you do plenty of research ahead of time, so that you better understand the scope of the project, what you need to do, and how long it should take. One of the easiest ways to gather this information is to watch online tutorials. This is because they will talk you through every single step of the process, while also providing you with a visual guide to follow. In some cases, this is a lot easier to follow than written instructions alone, especially if you’re new to the world of DIY.
Put your safety first. No matter the scope of the project you are working on, you should always be sure to put your health and safety first. After all, no amount of money you can save is worth putting your health on the line. This means that you should invest in the necessary safety tools and equipment before starting on a new project, such as eye goggles, gloves and more. You should also make sure that your children are not running around or playing in the area you’ll be working on.
Stay focused. Sometimes, projects can take a lot longer to complete than we initially anticipate, especially if you are a beginner. However, if you were to attempt to rush or speed up the process, you are much more likely to make mistakes that you will regret in the long run. For example, they could become costly to resolve or put your family’s health and safety at risk. For this reason, you should be sure to remain focused and patient throughout. Keep your eye on the prize while being mindful of the fact that it may take you some time to get there.
You should also take regular breaks when you need one, especially when you consider the fact that the average adult has an attention span of 15-20 minutes. Taking a break can also prove useful if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, as attempting to push through these feelings can impact your ability to make rational decisions.
Ask for help when you need it. Though the concept of ‘doing-it-yourself’ implies that you have to do everything alone, this isn’t really the case. Be sure to ask those around you for help when needed, especially if they’re a little more experienced at DIY. After all, this means that you’ll be able to pick up a host of skills along the way, while also feeling a little more confident in the work you are carrying out.
On a similar note, you should also make sure that you’re able to recognise when DIY simply will not cut it and you need to bring in the experts. For example, this is often the case for scenarios in which you need to carry out electrical or plumbing work, unless you have an extensive background in this area. Try not to worry too much about this; the DIY work you are carrying out in other areas of your home will help you save money elsewhere.
Accept that you’re going to make mistakes. Before you can ‘master’ any skill, you need to make mistakes along the way. As such, you should be prepared to make some mistakes as you work on becoming a DIY pro. Otherwise, you may find that even the smallest of mistakes sends you off track, leaving you feeling as though you should give up.
Final thoughts. There are many benefits tied to DIY. For example, it allows you to become more self-sufficient, saving you a great deal of money when it comes to home repairs and maintenance. It can also be a lot of fun, especially if you like a challenge or problem-solving.
Fortunately, there are plenty of steps that you can take that will allow you to become the DIY expert among your friends, from investing in the right tools and equipment to following tutorials online. However, you should be sure to maintain a positive attitude throughout, as this can have a real difference on the overall outcome of the project!
