5 Helpful DIY Tips for Beginners

DIY projects are not only a blast, but allow you to add a personal touch to your décor. So whether you are wanting to get into DIY crafts for the first time, or are an avid crafter looking to refresh your memory, I am here to offer some DIY tips. Happy Crafting!

Do Your Research

Before getting started, it is always a good idea to do some research on Google or at your local craft store. Necessary research includes safety tips, beginner dos and don’ts, and types of tools. For woodworking projects, knowing the types of wood is a good start as well.

Here’s a little cheat sheet of some inexpensive types of wood:

• Basswood
  • a common wood
• Beech
  • bends easily
  • easy to stain
  • difficult to use hand tools on
• Pine
  • the most basic wood
  • widely used in modern furniture
• Poplar
  • a moderately soft wood
  • stains well
  • lightweight
  • easy to use hand tools on
• Pallet wood
  • usually strewn with nails (make sure all of the nails are removed before cutting)

Start Off Slow

If you are a true beginner, a key DIY tip is to start with the smaller projects first and steadily improve your skills.  These projects could include painting some candle holders or installing some wall hangers. Small projects such as these allow you to learn a set of skills and then move up. And, most importantly, you will have fun and not get overwhelmed. Smaller accomplishments will give you the confidence to tackle more. Once you build a solid foundation of skills, you can venture out and start being more adventurous.

Remember, Safety First

It is important to take the necessary precautions during your projects. Ensure that you always have high quality gloves and safety goggles when necessary. After all, a trip to the emergency room is the last thing you want!

Follow Through

A house or apartment full of unfinished DIY projects is just a cluttered reminder of all your attempts. To avoid that reminder, give yourself plenty of time to follow through on projects and finish what you start. Make sure time is on your side! Let’s face it; you most likely won’t go to the hardware store to pick up last-minute supplies at 10pm on a Friday. Start a project earlier in the day to give yourself plenty of time.

Get The Right Tools

Investing in quality tools will make your DIY projects that much easier. Basic tools include a hammer, spanner, saw and screwdriver.  When working with wood, there are specific tools that you should get as well.

Here are some great woodworking tools to start with:

• Hand saw
  • good for quick, imperfect cuts
• Jigsaws
  • small, cheap, and it’s easy to swap out blades for different materials
  • also good for organic, curved cuts
• Sanding
  • sandpaper grit ranges from 20 to 1000 – 20 being super coarse and 1000 being extremely fine