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I have been DIYing for all my life. My dad loves to do projects around the house. But back in his day there was no YouTube tutorials or bloggers to learn from. I remember many visits to Home Depot alongside him as a little girl. He would ask the associates for advice and help. Most of them were retired contractors. So I grew up around tools.
My first memory
I was 4 years old when my dad decided to build me my own bed. It was made out of plywood. I remember sitting in the garage with him, under our fluorescent lights with the smell of sawdust all around me. The bed that he made was sturdy, but it wasn’t very design forward. I still loved it anyways!
How my dad gave me confidence
My dad always encouraged me to use tools just as he encouraged my brother. He really believes in women empowerment and that a woman can do anything a man can do. I am forever grateful for my father who empowered me. I had always worked under the supervision of my father. The two main tools I remember using with him are a drill and a saw. We built our own fence, a shed in the backyard, and even finished our basement when our contractor left us high and dry. I learned to tile, install plumbing [which still scares me today] and use power tools as well as screwdrivers, pliers etc.
Why I love DIY
- Budget- My dad did his own DIY because he didn’t have the budget to hire out for a lot of projects. He was always very economical with his money and preferred to learn to do some thing himself in case he needed that skill again. I have been able to create beautiful spaces in my home I just a fraction of the cost that it would if I had hired out for help
- Creativity- I have always been drawing, painting, crafting ever since I was a little girl. My parents encourage this creativity by buying the art supplies from Michael’s whenever I need it. As an adult my DIY is an extension of my creativity.
- Continuous learning- I am a lifelong learner. I like trying new things and in DIY there are so many opportunities to learn a new tool, a new way of building, a new material etc. I love spending the time to do research on projects and learning what has worked for some people and not for others
- Accomplishment- The sense of accomplishment that you get when you can look at some thing that you build yourself is indescribable. It feels so good to know that I can create beautiful spaces, but also very functional spaces that help my kids and my family get organized. I cannot express to you how much joy our coat closet has brought me!
How can you get started with DIY?
I’ve built this guide with 5 main tips in mind to help you get started on your DIY journey.
I can’t wait to see what you build so make sure you share it with me on Instagram!