DIY: Tips for Starting Your First DIY PROJECT

So, you’ve been staring at a space in your home that’s been bothering you for a while. Maybe it’s an awkward or empty nook that needs a little razzle dazzle or function, perhaps it’s outdated wallpaper you can’t stand to look at for one more second, or maybe it’s a dated kitchen with solid wood cabinets and loads of DIY makeover potential. Maybe it’s not a space at all, but rather an expensive piece of furniture you’ve been eyeing that you believe you can clone in your garage at a fraction of the cost.  

No matter how big or small the project might be, your first DIY is an exciting and empowering venture that can also feel daunting. I am here to help you make that leap into the addictive world of power tools and paint-stained tees so it feels far more approachable.  

What to Expect: The 3 Rules of DIY

There are so many things at play when it comes to any project and the list of projects you may have on your mind is virtually endless. However, there are 3 things you can always count on when embarking on a new project: 

1. You will make a mess;  

2. You will make mistakes and that’s OK; and 

3. You will learn something new.  

You Will Make a Mess

This is something that might surprise you during your first project, but much like cooking or gardening, it’s just part of the process. You and your garage, you and your floor, or you and your yard will probably be sprinkled with something – sawdust, paint, glue, grout powder – the list goes on. You will enjoy the world of DIY much more if you learn early on to make cleanup as quick and easy as possible. Here are a couple of ideas to help achieve this: 

• Get organized before you even start. Whether you are storing your supplies, tools, and refuse in your garage, the future project space, or your kitchen table, there will be stuff and lots of it! Try to get at least a general sense of what you need, the order in which you’ll need it, and what to do with it when you’re done. Then organize it in such a way that works for you.  Where will you clean your used paintbrushes? Where will you throw away the debris from that wall you just tore down like the DIY pro you are? Where or how will you secure your tools in a way that still makes them easy to find and access? What will work best for you will change and be adapted with every project you take on, so your first time planning a project might not be the smoothest, but over time you’ll start feeling like you’re getting kind of good at this thing. 

• Prep, prep, and more prep. If you’re tackling a notoriously messy project like painting, tiling, or mudding use painter’s tape and plastic sheets, paper rolls, or drop cloths everywhere it makes sense to do so. If you find yourself thinking “Meh, I’ll just keep my paint on the brush and be extra careful.” you’re probably wrong. It can feel like it takes forever to cover everything you need to protect, but the time you invest in prepping before your project starts will spare you hours of cleanup after you’re project is complete and you’re already tired.  

• Wear clothes you don’t care about. Even though DIY influencers have made it appear as though wearing your favorite $99 leggings to a paint party is a great idea… just wear something old and on its last leg or something cheap. You will get them dirty, stained, or torn – it’s just the name of the game. After you are invested in the DIY game, feel free to buy a cheap outfit or two to dedicate as DIY clothes (this is what I do), if it makes you feel good.

You Will Make Mistakes and That’s OK 

In fact, they will make you better! Making mistakes in real-world DIY is better than taking an expensive, accelerated course in whatever craft you’re wanting to learn. You can watch hours of YouTube videos to learn how to make a two-tone checkered cutting board, but most of your learning is going to happen at your workbench. As with learning anything new, you are bound to make mistakes. As long as you prioritize safety in everything you do, your mistakes will have remedies and they will make you a better DIYer in the process.  

You Will Learn Something New

There is something so beautiful about wondering how something is made, researching it, attempting it, and then saying “Look, I made this, and I can tell you exactly how,” every time someone visits you. Is it annoying for them? Maybe, but only if they aren’t fellow DIYers.  

Learning is our favorite part of the DIY lifestyle. Surprising yourself with how much you can accomplish on your own is a close second.   

Tools of the Trade

Even though pretty much every project will require its own particular set of tools and materials, there are a few tools every DIYer will find a use for at some point in time and if you continue on this DIY journey, you will never regret owning them. Here’s my comprehensive DIYer supply list of my favs to start as a one stop shop if you are brand new to the world of tools and projects (affiliate links are included) and if you are just missing a few, I’ve linked below: 

• Safety Glasses 
• Work Gloves 
• Dust Mask 
• Marker, Crayon, or Pencil 

• Measuring Tape 
• Square/Straight Edge 
• Paint Rollers 
• Large Paint Brush 
• Small Angled Paint Brush 

• Paint Pan 
• Painter’s Tape 
• Flathead Screwdriver 
• Phillips Head Screwdriver 
• Hammer 

• Drill 
• Miter Saw 
• Circular Sander 
• Sanding Disks (multi-grit variety packs are great for beginners) 

This set of tools is a perfect place to start most beginner DIY projects. Don’t believe me? I’ve put a comprehensive list together of all of my favorite Easy DIY Projects for Beginners to Try just so that you can put this list to the test!