So you’ve bought or rented your first home and you have a list of home renovation projects that need to get done. They seemed to be easy enough when you made the list, but now it’s time to get started and that list is looking more and more daunting.
Where do you start?
How do you know when you’re finished with a project?
And how many times will you have to go back to the hardware store?
Maybe you’ve tried a home renovation project before and it didn’t go as planned. Or maybe you’re stuck in the planning stages and can’t quite get started. Home renovation isn’t easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard.
Like with anything in life, it takes time and practice.
But don’t worry, these five tips below can help make your home renovation projects go smoothly!
1. Start with a plan
Some of my most frustrating home renovation projects have been started by going to the store and buying something that I thought would be a fun project. Like those peg wall boards I bought at Ikea one time and thought I’d organize my entire garage.
Take some time to think about how you’ll execute the project you thought of this morning. Research how other people have done it, write down the supplies you’ll need, and make a realistic timeline of when you want to get it done. Realistic is the most important word for a timeline; think about what you have going on and how much time you’ll actually be able to commit to a project.
My fiancé loves to give me a hard time about my poor time management skills. I tell him that I’m just overeager and want to get a lot done. When I’m excited about something I want it done now, but that can’t always happen with life getting in the way.
It’s best to take a look at your schedule and plan out home renovation projects by how long they’ll take and how much time you have to dedicate to them. This will cut down on frustration when a project takes longer than you thought it would.
2. Don’t reinvent the wheel
I’ll admit that I hate that corporate phrase, but it really is true. I mentioned it in the previous tip, but look at how others have completed the same project you want to do.
Watch videos if you’re a visual learner or read about them if that’s your thing. Just make sure that someway, you’re learning from other people to help your home renovation project go smoother.
Many people will happily share the mistakes they made and how to avoid them. This helps to avoid problems before they even start in your home renovation project! You can also get inspiration for your own projects if you don’t have it completely mapped out yet.
3. Start small and work your way up
As I said earlier, it takes time to improve at something. Don’t make an entire kitchen makeover your first home renovation project if you have no experience.
Start small with something like a paint refresh in a bedroom, or a living decor makeover, and work your way up. Maybe you change out a light fixture next, then add new flooring to a room.
These easier projects also give you instant gratification – seeing a room with an entirely new color makes it feel like a new space. And makes you feel good about the work that you did! Larger projects take more time and the results are more difficult to see.
Get your feet wet with smaller projects and slowly start to build your home renovation skills.
4. Don’t do it alone
Chances are, you have some friends who have some home renovation experience. Or at the very least, some friends who are willing to help you out with projects.
Two minds really are better than one, as are an extra set of hands. Home renovation projects are a lot easier when there are other people to help, even if you think it’s not necessary. It’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of, or offer an idea when you feel stuck.
It’s also fun to have more people around when you’re doing hard work! Offer your friends a free meal in exchange for help and I bet you’ll have willing volunteers.
5. Get quality tools
Having the right tools for home renovation projects is essential. You wouldn’t start running as a new hobby with sandals, so treat your projects with the same care.
Quality tools don’t have to break the bank – try to get a few tools that will help you with multiple projects (this is also where planning comes in handy!). There are also many sales throughout the year, so do some pricing research before buying.
I like to purchase electric tools, so I try and buy the same brand so I can use the one battery for different tools. This helps cut down on battery costs and helps projects run smoothly, so I always have a charged tool.
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You’ll be a home renovation project pro in no time with these tips! It doesn’t have to be hard, and hopefully, these tips make your projects feel less daunting. Let me know what projects you’re getting up to in the comments, or tag me on Instagram or Twitter!
Since graduating college and starting my full time gig almost two years ago, I’ve struggled with finding time to be creative. While I don’t have assignments to do in my spare time, work is exhausting in other ways, and it’s difficult to motivate myself to work on projects.
After a couple of months of this, though, I definitely started to feel the lack of creativity in my life wear on me. I decided to purposefully and mindfully make time for creative tasks. Just by changing up a few things in my routine enabled me to fit in time for creativity, and helped provide an outlet from the stress that comes from a typical 9-5.
Make it easy to get to your DIY supplies
Most of my DIY supplies were put away in boxes under my bed or closet to save space in my apartment. My boyfriend and I re-organized our space about six months ago and I made sure I could easily get to my supplies, which helped tremendously.
I can now see my most used supplies just by walking in my room, and it motivates me to create more. We also got a lot of cool shelving to help organize my supplies, which double as decor. My boyfriend is a huge fan of functionality so it was a good compromise!
Use things like Pinterest or Instagram to stay inspired
I constantly look at Pinterest for new ideas, and it’s great at giving me ideas for projects. Not only can you get inspiration, but you can also learn new techniques. You can have just one board dedicated to projects, or different ones depending on the mediums you like to use.
Instagram is also great for quick inspiration, but it’s not as easy to save ideas for projects. I also look at Etsy or other online stores for inspiration! There’s really no limits with finding inspiration for projects on the internet.
Take classes to learn new creative techniques
I touched on this a little bit earlier, but it can be great to learn with hands-on experience. This is a great way to learn more about different mediums and get inspired by other people! I got my boyfriend a glass blowing class for Christmas (that I joined in on), and it was so cool learning how to work with a completely new material. Especially since it’s not something you work with everyday!
Just search for art classes in your area, and you’ll find tons to choose from. Groupon is also a great website to look at because you can find great deals on there!
There are also a ton of online classes to take, and YouTube is a great resource to learn virtually any creative technique. You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to learn new ways to be creative!
Write down new project ideas immediately
I have a bullet journal that I use to keep track of my schedule and also my ideas. Anytime I have a remotely good idea, I write it down so I can come back to it later. Once you start writing ideas down, it’s a lot easier to get the ball rolling. Ideas often come in pairs, trios, or groups, so get them all down on paper!
You can also just keep a running note on your phone if you don’t have a planner, or don’t have it with you. I do this all the time if I’m out without my bullet journal, and just add to it when I get home. If you’re anything like me, it’s really easy to forget ideas, so make sure you have them down somewhere!
Plan time to be creative
I know this doesn’t sound very glamorous, but sometimes you just have to plan the time for projects. Dedicate a certain time of the day, week, or month to being creative! Don’t move that time for anything else, and use it to focus on making something that you love. Once you start to consistently schedule in time to be creative, it quickly becomes a habit.
Planning time for creativity also helps you plan for what you want to do, so you aren’t stuck without the supplies you actually need for a project. I’ve been in that situation and it’s extremely frustrating!
Most importantly…
….stay creative! It sounds like simple advice, but try and be creative as much as possible. Once you start making things, it’s easier to keep the ideas flowing and your motivation up. It’s natural to get into a creative rut, but don’t stay there.
What are your favorite ways to be creative?
Sometimes it’s not always possible to go out and take photos in front of pretty walls or cute cafes for Instagram. Things like weather, time, or sickness (read: the Coronavirus) keep people inside. In all seriousness, it’s really important to stay inside right now and away from populated places. Make sure you are keeping yourself and loved ones safe!
Staying inside doesn’t mean you can’t get great photos for Instagram, though! Take your mind off of what’s going on in the world right now and get creative. Here are some ways to take cute photos for Instagram!
Get creative with angles
Taking photos from above is a great way to switch up your Instagram feed.
Taking photos from above is also really flattering! It’s a great way to switch up your Instagram feed and also make photos at home look great. There are also so many ways to switch up angles! Instead of straight on, try putting the camera lower to the ground looking up at you. Just play around to find what will look good!
Play around with plants
If you have plants (real or fake) try using them for photos! You can look through them, or if you have a cool plant pot try using that too.
I have a giant fiddle leaf fig that was perfect to do some looking-through-the-leaves photos. Originally I wanted only the leaves surrounding my face, but I actually liked my living room wall peaking through.
It’s also fun to use smaller plants to take a cute shot with, too. In this case I used my baby fiddle leaf fig since I love the pot that’s it in. Leafy plants make for really fun photos!
Do a fun makeup look against a blank wall
This is an easy way to get a really dramatic shot and also play around with makeup! I used to do crazy makeup looks when I was younger before I started wearing makeup everyday, so this was so much fun to remember how much I used to enjoy doing this.
I put on a sparkly romper to complete this galaxy look, and taking the photo in from of a blank wall really allowed the makeup to pop.
Try taking a photo behind a window
My photos are technically behind a door, but it’s the same idea. This switches up a traditional headshot and adds a cool layer to photos!
You can also play around with what’s reflected in the photos – the options are endless with the window shots!
Use your favorite nooks to get fun shots
We have bay windows in our bedroom that both Alex and I love to sit in and read or go on our laptops, and also found that photos look really cute there!
Try using different props (or in my case, my dog!) and poses to get a dynamic photo. I also put on my over the top slippers for some different poses and used studio lighting to make everything look more crisp. Chairs can be your best friend for photos since there are so many ways to change up your pose!
Add doodles to your Instagram photos
Since getting my iPad last year, I’ve had lots of fun adding doodles to my photos. It can add interest to blank walls, or pull in a really fun element if you feel like your photo needs it.
This photo was taken in one of my apartment’s courtyards, and I didn’t like how blank and bland everything looked, so I added some flowers to make the wall look more fun! I use Procreate on my iPad to add in doodles, but there are tons of (free!) apps that let you do the same thing. Download them and have some fun with your photos!
Those are some of my favorite ways to get fun Instagram photos all while staying home. If you use any of these, make sure to tag me and let me know! I’d love to see what you create 🙂
Stay safe and make sure to wash your hands!