When it comes to home design, DIY is often the way to go. Not only can you save a lot of money but you maintain full control over the look of your home. Those are luxuries you often don’t have when you hire an interior designer.
That being said, DIY often involves a lot of risks. A job done well will fill you with pride as you gaze upon the space you always dreamed of. A bad job will leave you in tears as you wonder how you could ever mess anything up so badly.
To help you avoid disaster, and craft the perfect look for the home you’ve been dreaming about, here are six DIY do’s and don’ts you should bear in mind.
1. DO – Coordinate Your Paint Colors
Painting your home is an easy, even fun DIY project that anyone can do. The hardest part is selecting the colors you want to use. In general, you should select your primary color first and then choose several others to support it. Using the color wheel is your best bet to find colors that match well.
Some example color schemes you can use include:
- Complimentary colors – colors on opposite sides of the wheel
- Triadic Colors – three colors that form a triangle on the wheel
- Analogous – colors beside each other on the wheel
- Monochromatic – Using one base color supported by different shades and tints of that color
2. DON’T – Tear Out the Walls
If you want to avoid bringing your roof down on your head, don’t attempt to tear out the walls on your own. Your walls are designed so that they support the weight of your home. One hole in the wrong place could have the ceiling collapsing around you. Even if you’re not hurt, you’re going to be spending thousands to fix it.
3. DO – Use a Centerpiece
Centerpieces are a great way to arrange and unify your furniture in a pleasing way and draw attention to a certain aspect of your room. Some great examples of centerpieces include:
Area Rugs
Joanna Gaines of Magnolia Home loves area rugs and usually begins her interior design projects with a rug in mind. Rugs can help contribute to your overall theme, enhance your color scheme, and protect your floor.
Wall Art
Wall art makes for a fantastic centerpiece because there are so many ways you can vary it. You can have your art stand on its own or tie it in with other decor elements. You could put it between two potted plants or directly the path of the sun’s rays.
A Coffee Table
The advantage you have in using a coffee table as a centerpiece is that it’s both visually appealing and functional. You can arrange your furniture around it to foster conversation and provide ample space for drinks and snacks.
4. DON’T – Install Tacky Shutters
When it comes to your exterior, one of the first things that will jump out at people are the shutters. If you’ve done a shoddy DIY job, they’re going to look tacky, and your vision will be ruined. What’s worse, your home value could plummet. Invest in some professional assistance for your shutters to help realize your vision for a perfect home.
5. DO – Seek Inspiration
Even the most experienced designers need inspiration. When you watch your favorite home decorators on HGTV, what you see is them quickly transforming a house into a beautiful space. What you don’t see is them pouring through photos looking for ideas. When you’re planning a DIY project, look at other people’s projects to get some great ideas for your own.
6. DON’T – Set an Unrealistic Budget
When you first start to plan your DIY home project, be realistic about expenses. Home Advisor reported that the average home renovation project costs between $18,000 and $36,000. If you haven’t set aside enough money, you’ll be left with a half-finished project that looks downright awful.
