Taking on do-it-yourself home improvement projects is a great way to personalize your living space while potentially adding value to your home. Best of all, many DIY projects don’t require expert-level renovation skills or a massive investment of time and money.
With a few simple tools and a little know-how, you can complete a variety of handyman projects on your own without breaking your budget. Read on to learn more about how to get started with DIY home improvement projects for beginners and what kinds of projects are best to try out first.
If you’ve never done home improvement projects on your own before, making changes to your house may seem a little intimidating at first. However, after learning a few fundamentals, you can begin to tackle many DIY jobs with ease and confidence.
Here are a few pointers for quickly bringing you up to speed on the basics of being a handyman.
Often, the easiest way to learn something new is to watch someone else do it first. YouTube contains thousands of handyman and do-it-yourself channels that can teach you the fundamentals of various home improvement or renovation projects in minutes. These educational videos let you carefully study all the nuances of your DIY projects long before you get started, including specialty tools you’ll need, pitfalls to avoid, and useful shortcuts to save valuable time.
Knowing the tools of the trade is essential to learning how to be a handyman. Some of these basic tools include a cordless drill, framing square, tape measure, stud finder, and miter saw.
If you haven’t already, purchase essential tools like these at a local hardware store and spend a little time getting familiar with how they work. Once you become more proficient with basic tools, you’ll see that many DIY projects are not as complex as they may first seem.
Sometimes, the best way to learn new skills is to take a hands-on approach. If you know of a neighbor, friend, or loved one working on a renovation project, consider reaching out to see if you can help. Working with someone more advanced in handyman jobs will allow you to learn new techniques, ask questions, and ultimately expand the scope of your DIY skillset.
When starting out with do-it-yourself projects at home, starting with relatively straightforward and inexpensive jobs is usually best. After gaining experience with simple projects, you’ll feel far less cautious about exploring more difficult jobs later on.
Here are five handyman projects that are perfect for beginners.
Mounting a flatscreen is a fantastic project for a novice handyman. Mount kits rarely cost more than $50 and come with comprehensive instructions. Some of the tools you’ll need include a level, stud finder, impact drill, and socket wrench.
Be aware that if you’re unable to locate studs in the area of a wall where you want the TV mounted, you’ll also need some toggle anchors to secure the mount to the drywall. Mounting a TV is a great way to conserve space since you’ll no longer need an entertainment center, giving you more options to explore other interior design ideas.
It can be surprising how a little paint can transform a room's feel. However, if you’ve never painted a bedroom or living room before, it’s probably best to start with something smaller, like the bathroom.
Start by cleaning the walls with a slightly damp cloth to ensure there are no particulates on the surface that can prevent the paint from curing properly. Next, you’ll want to lay down some plastic sheets to protect your flooring and wainscoting from any stray paint. Mix the paint well before using it and apply it in even strokes one wall at a time.
Be sure to provide plenty of ventilation as it dries. And if your bathroom contains old, peeling wallpaper, you’ll want to remove it before cleaning the walls and applying paint.
A window always looks better when accented by an elegant curtain. Closely follow the instructions provided in the curtain mount kit and have a stepladder ready if needed. The job shouldn’t require anything more than an impact drill or screwdriver, a level, screws, and anchors. The most important thing is to ensure all pilot holes are carefully measured before marking so the curtain doesn’t appear crooked over the window.
Another easy and affordable DIY project at home is improving your curb appeal by creating a cozy front porch garden that welcomes visitors. How your porch garden will look depends entirely on your taste, and not all front yard gardens need to feature flowers, herbs, or vegetables.
With hardscaping or xeriscaping, you can create a welcoming ambiance near your porch that doesn’t require constant watering and attention. For instance, if you live in the desert regions of the southwestern United States, you can consider planting a few cactus plants or succulents surrounded by volcanic rocks or river pebbles.
A new cabinet can breathe new life into an old kitchen. If you’re replacing a worn-out cabinet, you won’t have to worry as much about locating the studs, as you can simply refer to the placement of the previous cabinet on the wall. Just be sure to insert the mounting screens slightly higher or lower than the preexisting holes so the cabinet will remain securely fastened.
After you’re happy with the placement of your kitchen cabinets, go around the edge with a caulking gun to fill in any space between the walls. A measuring tape, level, impact drill, and drywall screws are often all you’ll need for this DIY project.
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