How to Build Confidence With DIY Projects

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Follow these steps to boost skills, handiness, and confidence while improving your home.

On a recent rainy Saturday morning, three students and I sat at separate worktables waiting for our instructor to start the Beginning Woodworking class. A router, table saw, and myriad other power tools that I’d only ever seen on HGTV — and once in person when I walked down the wrong aisle at Home Depot — lined the walls of the classroom.

During our two-day session, we followed step-by-step instructions to build the type of wooden spice rack that my grandma would have hung in her kitchen in the 1970s. While I knew I’d never actually use the garish accessory, I was more interested in the actual process than the final product. At the end of the following day, I left with the desire to improve my skills and, more importantly, a sense of pride that I built something on my own.

You don’t have to star in a home-improvement show or be that person everyone calls when a toilet leaks. However, by following these simple steps, you can learn a new skill, potentially lower how much you pay for repairs, and simultaneously raise your self-esteem knowing you’ve created something with your hands.

Nearly a decade ago, I started investing in rental property. I wasn’t handy, but I called people who were. My skills are limited to changing out hardware, troubleshooting a garbage disposal, and hanging blinds. However, I learn something each time I watch one of the pros at work. I want to be ready to handle more challenging jobs, so I keep a toolbox filled with the basics stashed in my car.

You probably have most of the tools you’ll need most often on hand: a hammer, cordless drill with screwdriver bits, level, Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, measuring tape, pliers, and hex keys. The more projects you work on, the more you’ll add to your collection. The good news? You don’t have to spend a fortune.

“There’s no need to buy complicated power tools until you have a bit of DIY confidence and know-how behind you,” says Jo Behari, author of Beginner’s Guide to DIY & Home Repair. She recommends buying middle-of-the-range tools rather than the least or most expensive ones.

Depending on the project, you may require a tool you don’t own and aren’t interested in buying, especially if you’ll never use it again. In that case, consider renting. Big-box stores and equipment companies offer tools of all sizes at different price ranges. Tool-lending libraries around the country provide a selection at little to no charge. You can always ask a friend to lend you a tool. Remember: If you break it, you replace it.

Many people avoid building or repairing something because the project seems overwhelming. If you’re new to home improvement, Behari suggests starting with a small decorating project, such as painting walls, hanging wallpaper, or putting sealant around the bathtub. “It’s a job that people often put off because they are scared of the unknown and don’t know how to do those things properly,” she says. Behari suggests that doing simple jobs can build confidence and the ability to use different tools in exciting, new ways.

Chris Kasulke, who oversees the Facebook group DIY Home Projects, agrees that painting is an ideal first project because it’s simple. She advises peeling off the tape used to protect surfaces you don’t want painted immediately after painting. If not, expect the paint to peel along with the tape. “The idea is to go slow and steady,” she explains, “so that you’re not pulling off the fresh paint [that’s not] yet fully baked into the wall.”

The best part of a painting project? If you don’t like the color, you can pick a different one and try again. Don’t rely on tiny paint chips to make a big decision. Instead, invest in a small sample, apply the paint to a piece of foam core or cardboard, write the name on the back, then hold it up in various parts of the room to see how the lighting affects the color at different times of day.

Live-stream and recorded sessions provide instruction for many projects, from building a shelf to installing cabinets. But there’s one source the experts agree is the most helpful. “YouTube has all the information you need — and most of it is free,” Behari says. “There are other resources available, including DIY books.”

Online groups, like the one Kasulke moderates, often include seasoned DIYers like her along with other professionals who enjoy mentoring members of the group. If someone posts a picture of a project gone wrong, members will weigh in. Along with failures and mess-ups, successes are posted as well.

Rather than shying away from others willing to offer advice in person, embrace their expertise and experience. A good place to start is your local hardware store. At the one near my home, most of the same people have worked there for years. I usually take a picture of the issue or bring in a part that needs replacing and show it to an associate for advice. They always take the time to answer my questions and offer solutions.

“People don’t ask for help because it makes them feel vulnerable and like a failure,” says Heather Genovese, a licensed creative arts therapist and psychoanalyst. “Some think they’re supposed to magically know how to do everything, and they’ll look bad if they don’t.”

Find seasoned professionals who teach in-person courses at a specialty shop, such as where I learned basic woodworking. Big-box stores also offer instructional sessions, ranging from installing a backsplash to staining a deck. Classes around the country, like those offered through Fireweed Community Woodshop and Wild Abundance, provide a safe, welcoming community for learning and sharing new skills.

Woodworking spaces and clubs are other good options to learn from pros who can address concerns and provide guidance. If you don’t have a store in your area that offers educational DIY classes, reach out to a handy friend or neighbor for help.

Some people avoid building or repairing something because they fear making mistakes. A common one is rushing into a project without a plan. Kasulke keeps her phone nearby when she disassembles anything. “I’ll take pictures as I go along,” she says, “so I can do it quickly in reverse without being worried I’m going to forget a part or do it in the wrong order.”

Behari advises beginning early in the day because if something goes wrong, you don’t want to be pressed for time to make repairs. And pace yourself. “Preparation and pace are important for DIY projects,” she says, “so don’t rush into anything.”

Still, it’s difficult to admit when you’ve made a mistake and need to hire a pro. Behari has a solution: Pretend someone else made the error. You don’t have to tell the person you’re hiring that you’re to blame. Or consider it an opportunity to learn from a professional by asking what you did wrong so you know what to do next time.

Between the time I signed up for the woodworking class and the actual day of the lesson, I had six months to think of reasons I shouldn’t go. Even on my way to the store, I questioned my decision to take the course, doubt and fear clouding my mind. Then, I used a table saw. My confidence soared as I pushed the narrow board against the powerful spinning blade. I couldn’t wait to try another machine.

“I think there’s something about working with your hands that gives you a lot of satisfaction in life,” Behari says. “There’s the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve created something yourself, and every time you look at it, you know that you did it, that you achieved it.”

My husband and I are thinking about remodeling our laundry room. We’re also considering hiring the guy who works on my rentals to tackle the space. I know he would let me look over his shoulder and learn from him. In the meantime, I always smile when I take my dog for a walk. My spice rack is hanging in the garage. Now, it’s a dog-walking station with a place for her brushes, harness, leash, and treats. Not bad for my first woodworking project.

Lisa Kanarek is a Dallas-based writer who has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Wired, and The Independent.

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