Tips for Managing DIY Projects at Home

I've been DIY'ing Home Projects for several years and have a good rhythm down now. Depending on the phase of my life, sometimes I'm moving through them fast and other seasons I'm moving at a turtle's pace.

Now matter what phase you are in, there are fundamental aspects for completing DIY home projects successfully without causing more chaos in the house. If your house is like mine, it's already a little chaotic… in a, “We live hard in our home!” kind of way. So, just knowing a few of these tips to help you manage your DIY projects will save some sanity I promise.

Right now, my era is moving slowly through DIY projects. Which means we have to live in and around the “construction zone” much longer than usual.

Here are a few tips that help me manage DIY projects at home:

Communication

Inform everyone in the household what DIY projects you plan on working on. This will help avoid disruptions and misunderstandings as you get started. My husband has a little bit of cleaning and organization OCD. I've learned he is much calmer when he knows what projects are being worked on.

Protip: Get in the habit of spending at least 15 minutes writing and planning each DIY project. Here is a free planner I like to use.

Setting Goals and Due Dates

Completion dates help your household have an idea on when projects can be done. Just make sure you aren't over ambitious. Especially if you are a beginner, I say double your estimated time, trust me it always takes longer. 😉

Setting goals not only helps your family with their expectations, but it's a great habit to get into for yourself. It provides you with better direction and purpose during your DIY home projects. It helps you focus your efforts, work quickly and prioritize tasks.

You want to try to avoid disruptions and misunderstandings along the way, and these goals are a great process and visual for everyone – just post them up on the fridge.

Organization

Staying organized during home projects is e ssential. You task planner helps with keeping your to do list organized, but now you need to physically stay organized. I have a cheap basket I grabbed from TJMaxx and I just keep all my tools in it and tucked in a corner close to where I am working.

Take 10 minutes after each time you work on your DIY project to clean up and put your tools away. I can't tell you how much this has helped me with my projects as a person with slight ADD and has to focus on staying organized.

It's also important from a safety standpoint. Make sure all batteries are out of power tools, everything is unplugged and sharp pieces are in your basket. If you have smaller kids who would get into a basket, keep it tucked in a closet or high off the ground.

Balance

When I first started my DIY journey, I definitely let it consume more time than it should have. I mean, I was excited and wanted to see the end result.

Now it's important to be the best version of myself which means finding balance, especially as someone who gets wrapped up and passionate about my projects. I like to set “working hours” and I also like to make sure I have a plan for my kids during my working hours.

Once I am done with my tasks, I can go back to life, mumming and wifing!

Delegate Tasks

My kids might groan a little, but at the end of the day getting them involved is beneficial for everyone. It helps them learn something new,

Delegating DIY tasks to kids and family members fosters bonding by creating a shared experience and opportunities to get off electronics to hang out together.

My kids have been helping me for years, it's tasks that involve teamwork, problem-solving skills and instills a sense of responsibility for them. My son is 14 as I write this and things he does on his own just amaze me. He puts together furniture for us, he changed his own door knob, he hangs up wall decor and can fix things on his own.

Give them some options for rewards once they finish, like a game night or go out for fro-yo!

Budget Management

This is definitely an important part of the planning phase especially if you are tight on fund. Plan and track expenses carefully to avoid overspending and stay within budget for home improvement projects.

Ask for Help if Needed

Don't hesitate to ask for assistance from friends and family if needed. One time we invited some friends over for a BBQ and put together one of those jungle gyms in our backyards. It was a pain in the butt, but we had a good time doing it all together. DIY is more fun with friends who want to help.

Even if you need to seek experienced individuals if encountering challenges beyond your expertise, just know it's ok and happens every once in a while. Ask around in your neighborhood or send me a DM and I'll help anytime I can.

I also have a free community for DIY beginners that I help – constantly cheering them on with their projects and we have live DIY challenges we do together to learn and expand on your skills.

Celebrate Achievements

Especially as a DIY beginner, this is important. We all need small wins and pats on the backs. So, acknowledge and celebrate those goals you reach during DIY projects to boost morale and foster a sense of accomplishment.

It always gives you gets you motivated and excited to reach that next goal.

That's a Wrap!

For some additional ideas on how to start your DIY journey, here are my top 20 ways to learn DIY beginner skills

Keep in mind everyone will have their top priorities depending on what's important for your family during different times in life. Right now my top priorities are balance, communication and organization.

I hope you found these helpful. Leave a comment if there is something unique you do to find success at home with managing your DIY projects.