5 DIY Design Mistakes to Avoid
1. Picking paint colours first.
I find A LOT of people do this… pick their wall colour before anything else for their renovation! When in fact, it’s the very last thing you should be deciding. Here’s why… there are many many different paint colours out there. It is much easier to select a wall colour that compliments the carpet you have chosen, than it is to select a carpet to the wall color that you have chosen.
2. Using poor quality materials.
Investing in good quality materials is vital in renovating your home. Why? Quality materials are much more durable, they are more aesthetically pleasing and will increase the resale value of your home. Plus, nothing worse that installing a poor quality flooring material to have to replace it all in less then 5 years due to peeling or fading, costing you more in the end. Has this happened to you? You want materials that at least 10-15 years.
3. Ordering products or materials online without seeing or sampling it first.
This one is a hit-and-miss. Sometimes is a hit, though usually it’s a miss. Why? It’s really hard to see the true color and texture in just a photograph. Sure, you can just return the product if it’s not quite right, though that adds more time to your project, and sometimes there are return/restocking fees, costing you more money in the end. Have you done this? I definitely have for my own home.
4. Following the trends.
Following a design trend can be excellent, but too much of it can mess up the feel of your home as that would lack your personal touch. Remember, trends quickly come and quickly go, but your roots don’t change. A design that reflects your personality and lifestyle, may need tweaking every now and then, but not a full redo! You may quickly get bored with your space when following the current design trends, creating the desire to redo it. Costing you more money in the end.
5. Lack of planning -
winging it.
I have a friend who DIY’ed their fireplace feature wall 3 times within 9 months! What?! The desire for a new look hits before you know it. Your Pinterest boards are bursting and that online shopping cart is full. Start with the end result in mind. Take some time to plan the layout of the space and how you want it to fit in your space, and function for your life. It will save you time and money!
