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How To Avoid Costly Mistakes On Your DIY Home Project

How To Avoid Costly Mistakes On Your DIY Home Project

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Most of us love to tackle a DIY home project every once in a while.  Maybe we do it to save money or to feel that sense of accomplishment that comes from a job well done.  Maybe we do it because design TV makes it look so easy.  Even though it can be fun (and sometimes stressful), there may come a time when you’ve messed it up and want to know how to avoid costly mistakes on your next DIY project.

As an interior designer, I often get the SOS call to fix it.  You know what I mean.  The sofa from an online store that looked great in the photograph, but feels like a rock when you sit on it.  Or the window shades you ordered without help that don’t fit the window.  These mistakes can be costly, both in money and the time it takes to fix them.

I know because it’s happened to me when I wasn’t paying attention, and then waited to long to examine my purchase.  What started out in my mind as a fun window treatment sewing project soon became an energy vampire, sucking my time.

Because I know how to avoid costly mistakes that can happen on a DIY home project, my ego was more than a little bit battered.  I was embarrassed to admit that I messed up.  And now my goal is to help you prevent it. 

time. price, quality

Rule #1: Have a plan in place before you start…and follow your plan. 

  • Know what you’re goal is and write out all the steps in the process before your begin. 
  • Do your research. What will it cost?  What quality of product are you looking for?  How long will it take?
  • Check all the dimensions before you order anything online.

Rule #2:  Measure twice, cut/buy once

  • Double check all dimensions before you cut/order the wood, fabric, or blinds.
  • Custom orders can not be returned
  • Will the piece of furniture fit through your doorways?  Will it fit in the room?

Rule #3:  Pay attention when making your purchases. 

  • Watch as fabric is unrolled
  • Read the sales receipt before you commit to the sale.  Don’t assume that the sales associate has written exactly what you asked for.
  • Read the fine print, and be sure everything you’re expecting has been included
  • In the image below, I hate to admit that I was so excited about getting a great price on this normally expensive fabric, that I didn’t follow my own rule.  Notice how the design is printed crooked on the fabric.  Fortunately there was just enough fabric to make the window treatments so the pattern matches all across the windows.

fabric printed crooked

valance progress

finished DIY window treatments

Rule #4:  Have a Designer On Your Team to help you avoid costly mistakes.

  • gives you advice before you make your purchases
  • validates your choices…or guides you in a better direction
  • tells you how much fabric, paint, etc. you need to order, as well as all the parts and pieces
  • can place the orders for you
  • connect you with trusted trade partners

 Costly mistakes seem to be broken down into two categories.  I like to call them the “Oh no! What was I thinking!!!” mistakes.  Let’s take a look…

 Purchases you regret later because you realize you don’t like them:

  •       You had a “love at first site” moment and just HAD to own it
  •       You didn’t really love it, but had a “hole” to fill and thought it would work.  You were in a hurry to just be done with it!
  •       Oops!  You forgot to measure.

  Purchases and decisions you made because you didn’t know better or didn’t think it through:

  • Appliances that will be placed against a wall and the impact that will have on opening and closing doors and drawers.
  • Adding expensive new counter tops and then realizing you should have purchased new cabinets too.
  • Not checking the specifications of appliances to see how they will affect the cabinet.
  • Buying on line,which we all do, and realizing you don’t have all the parts and pieces to finish the job correctly.

Here are just a few examples of DIY home project mistakes (sources unknown):

bathtub at the top of the stairs       

Bathtub at the top of the stairs?

mantle over a sink

                   A mantle over a pedestal sink, complete with a towel ring

door hung upside down

Exterior door hung upside down

off center chandelier

A chandelier not installed in the center of the medallion or tray ceiling.

 

Your Design Action Steps:

1.  If you’re in the “information gathering” phase of your project, remember to study everything.  That means look over the plans when you have them.

2.  Review the specifications and dimensions of each item you hope to purchase.

3.  Hire an interior designer to be a part of your team.  The peace of mind you’ll get from relying on someone you trust will be well worth the investment.

 

 

Your Space Matters: 3 Secrets To Design A Calmer Life At Home

Your Space Matters: 3 Secrets To Design A Calmer Life At Home

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Is your space dragging you down?  Imagine, just for a minute, that you’re visiting someone’s home when there’s clutter and craziness everywhere?  Dishes are piled in the sink and on the counter, and the desk is filled with unorganized stacks of papers.  How did it make you feel? 

Now picture this.  You visit another friend, a friend who’s home is organized with a place for everything.  It has colors you love, and makes you feel instantly calm and peaceful?  Has this ever happened to you?  Your Space Matters.  Our environment has a significant impact on our well-being and our mental focus.  I can relate because I’ve been there too many times!  As we go about our day, following our crazy schedules, it’s so easy to get caught up in life and ignore this place we call home.

Then one day we wake up and notice that things around us are looking a bit worn and tired. There are rooms we avoid because we don’t feel comfortable there, but we can’t figure out why.  Sometimes we’re unorganized and often late for work or carpool because we can’t find the car keys.  Maybe, like me, your desk gets piled with papers and “stuff” to the point where focusing on work is a waste of time.  Does this sound a little bit familiar?

And worst of all, because we feel this way, it starts to impact the way we act around other people and how we respond to them…even if we don’t realize it.  You know what I mean.  The kitchen counter is piled with a PTA project that needs to be finished, so you’re stressed.  Then the kids start clamoring for your attention…and you snap at them.  Or you’re embarrassed to have friends over because your kitchen “doesn’t look as good as their kitchen.”

We’ve all been there at one time or another, and it’s not a fun place to be.  Now’s the time to sit back, take a deep breath, and make a plan to design a calmer life at home.  Here are my    3 secrets to make it happen:

Secret #1:  Define your values and priorities

Start by making a list of everything that HOME means to you. Do you want it to be a retreat to come home to at the end of a long hectic day?  Do you love to welcome family and friends?  Next make a list of your priorities in order of importance.  But be sure that they fit what you value most about home.  A good example of this would be loving to cook but dreading it because your kitchen is always a mess.  Or you love bright colors and your walls are painted dark green.

Secret #2:  Discover what works for you and your lifestyle

How do you want to live in your home?  If you love to be relaxed and casual, then choose furniture styles that reflect that.  When low maintenance is something you value, a clean and simple style with few accessories might be the way to go.

How do you want to feel when you’re at home?  Do you want to feel relaxed, unhurried, and stress free?  What about energetic, organized, and carefree?  Think about the lifestyle you have now, or even the one that you’d like to have, and create your home makeover to compliment that.

What do you want more of?  For me it’s more creative time.  If I don’t make an uncluttered space for that to happen, I won’t plan creativity into my day.

What do you want less of?  Maybe you want to spend less time cleaning or staying on top of the clutter.  Less accessories and better storage solutions would be the answer.

Secret #3:  Just do it!

Too often we make excuses….
I don’t have the time.
We can’t afford it.
I can’t live through construction.
I don’t know where to start.

So many times these excuses are just us getting in our own way because we’re afraid to take that first step.  Start with something simple and begin the process with what you already have.  Get rid of the outdated floral arrangements, move lamps and pillows to another room, or re-purpose a table for another use. 

One client realized she was spending less and less time in her home office, and instead working later and later at meetings and other busy work.  Her Ah-Ha moment came the day she admitted to herself that she really hated the way her office made her feel.  She was finally ready to make a change.  And guess what?  A new paint color was enough to soothe her feelings of uneasiness, and she’s now using her office again!

Make a habit out of getting rid of the excess and simplifying your life.  De-cluttering is liberating!