When scrolling through social media the beautiful design projects accomplished by DIYers, always trigger two thoughts: 1. Look at these amazing things you can do with your home! and 2. How the !@#$%^&*! do they find time to get it all done?
We went straight to the influencers themselves for the answers. And it turns out: DIYers, they're just like us! They can't get all this done in a day (or two, or three) either!
"What you see on social media is usually days' or even weeks' worth of work shortened to a 15-second reel," Lisa Chun (@ourhome.becoming on Instagram) admits.
Many (though not all) are full-time content creators, and that means finishing these projects is part of their job. Though that's not to say it's easy! "I find it challenging to create the time, and it's my actual job—so the first thing I'll say is that people shouldn't feel bad if they feel overwhelmed by the prospect of a project," says Anne Sage (@citysage on Instagram).
Of course, that doesn't mean that DIY tasks are impossible for people with other jobs or families to care for!
"I started DIY projects in my home while working full-time and raising three young children," Chun says. Because DIY is her passion, she found ways to fit her projects into her schedule. "Sometimes this meant very late nights after the kids went to bed. Other times, this meant being a weekend warrior and including my kids on shopping trips to Home Depot or showing them how to paint or use a drill—safely, of course," she says.
In order to help you stay on track with your own home decor or renovation projects, Chun and Sage have shared their seven best tips for project management.
Beginner DIYers Should Start Small
"I always recommend that people start small to build up that skill and confidence, slowly invest in tools, and gain a stronger understanding of what a project will actually take to complete," Chun says.
For a first project, she suggests something that's low-effort but high-impact, like painting a room or devising an organization system for your pantry. "These are things that have big visual impact, improve the daily functionality of a space, and can be completed in one weekend with minimal 'DIY skill,'" Chun says. Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to bigger, more complex projects like installing wall trim or shiplap on a ceiling. "That one in particular was definitely an arm and back workout!"
Tackle One Home Project at a Time
Both Chun and Sage tend to do one project at a time rather than spread themselves too thin between multiple. "I try to focus on only one large project at a time because it's such a disruption to our home!" Sage says. "But I might slip in a couple smaller ones simultaneously... I try to remember that I'm not the only one who lives in the house, and my husband has less patience for chaos than I do!"
Make Time for DIY Projects in Advance
It's important to have a plan of action, and the more specific you make it, the easier it will be the finish the project "We have a lot of competing priorities and scheduling complexities in our family life so empty blocks of time are easily filled with chores and other non-project tasks," Chun says. "I block out time on my calendar and coordinate with my husband on childcare for even more capacity to focus and get DIY projects done."
Buffer Your Project With Extra Time—And Cash
Just as you should always pad your renovation budget with a little extra cash as a buffer, you should also give yourself extra time when planning a DIY project.
"There is a lot of invisible time required for learning (i.e. watching YouTube tutorials and reading articles and blog tutorials); practice (i.e. messing up, undoing, and redoing); unexpected trips to the hardware store for the parts you inevitably forget; and just life," Chun says. "That's all part of the process. When estimating a timeline, make sure you build this in so that you don't get frustrated that the project is taking so much longer than expected."
Break Down Big Projects into Smaller Tasks
"I try to focus on one project at a time, but if it's a major renovation, I break them up into phases or sub-projects to make it more manageable," says Sage. From a practical standpoint, breaking down even a small project allows you to fit little tasks into shorter blocks of time. Even a 15-minute window can make a difference! "If you use your time strategically—buying materials needed on the weekend, using a quick break to add a new layer of stain and letting it dry for the hours you have meetings—you will be amazed at how much you can get done when you add up all of those micro-moments," Chun says.
Hire a Building Professional or Ask for Help
Even though DIY stands for "do it yourself," it doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself. "I usually plan my large projects when friends or family members are available to help with the heavy lifting—for example when my in-laws visited one summer, we demo'd and painted my daughter's room," Sage says.
And if you're truly overwhelmed, DIY some parts of a project and hire professional help with others. "On a recent office makeover, I paid a contractor to demo the carpet and wallpaper, as well as paint, and then we're doing the wallpapering and floors ourselves," Sage adds.
Don't Give Up at the End of a Project!
"The hardest part is always the tail end. The novelty has worn off, you're tired, you just want it done—and the finishing tasks require the most focus and patience when you have the least!" Sage says. "The most common pattern I see in myself in others is that projects get 90 percent done and then the last 10 percent lingers for weeks or months!"
That being said, persevering is almost always worth it in the end. "Projects take time. I've always found that it's better to go slowly and do things carefully—and redo things on the spot if I need to—versus rushing just to complete it or doing it only to 95 percent," Chun says. "We have a saying in our home: Don't stop until you're proud."
