{design basics} When You Shouldn’t DIY

Last week I was reading an article on White Hot Truth (which is a brilliant daily read by they way. You can get started with this series in particular: parts one and two) when something resonated.

To quote Danielle: “Earn your money doing something you’re passionate about, and pay people to do what you’re not passionate about but needs to be done for you to fulfill your mission. D-I-Y is like, not part of my driving strategy.”

Can I get a hells yeah? I totally love this statement, especially as it relates to DIY and design. We have all been drinking the Martha Stewart juice long enough to believe that we are all perfectly capable of doing anything and everything to our homes. And sometimes we are. I am a lover of creativity, art and craft and I really do love making things myself. I can paint. I can hang pictures and I can assemble my Ikea furniture.

This isn’t about whether or not you can do something. It’s about whether or not you should.

There are a ton of bloggers out there doing it for themselves and I have nothing but the utmost respect for their talents, thriftiness and their hours spent at the grind (and that is exactly what I think gets lost in translation the most – the hours!). But do I recommend following in the same footsteps for you?

Nope.

Not everyone is a designer. Not everyone has a love of colour or even a gift for imagining the possibilities in a space. Similarly, not everyone is (or should be) a tiler, an electrician, a plumber, drywaller or mover. I am telling you that it is absolutely one hundred percent okay. Do not feel the pressure to do it yourself just because it seems like everyone else is doing it (or worse – that others will look down on you for not DIYing). Focus your time on what you do best (whether you are a nurse, accountant or full-time mom). It is absolutely one hundred percent okay to hire someone to part or all of a project for you. In a lot of cases you will save yourself the money of paying for something twice because of a mistake (there’s that pesky learning curve) – or the headache of looking at your handiwork for years to come and being able to see every little (or not so little) flaw. By all means, go on ahead and pay a professional or barter with friends or relatives for services.

So when should you attempt a DIY?

- when the money is absolutely too tight to hire someone else
- when you are sure that you feel the project is totally manageable or you have had experience with similar things
- when you are planning on doing multiple similar projects in the future
- when you are armed with a strong sense of adventure and willingness to learn

{All photos of the Fisher/McLaughlin renovation and addition done by Cottle and Khan Architects}

Just make sure you are realistic about how much time you have to devote to a project. Two hours a week of your time will make your bathroom renovation take months to complete. Are you willing to wait that long for results? Are you willing to endure the renovation chaos for that length of time? In the end, if you are totally honest with yourself about your skill level, confidence and pocketbook, you will be able to figure out if DIYing is the right thing for you. And then get back to doing whatever it is that you do best.

If you are looking to give your space a dose of fabulosity – whether you are splashing out or on a budget – drop me a line. Check out my Hire Me! page for more details.