5 Reasons Why I DIY

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Have an old piece of furniture you can’t help but think to get rid of? Bring it back to life! It doesn’t quite match your style? Repaint it and add new hardware! There are so many items thrown away every day that could become something new. Most of the materials I use have already had a long life before I get them, and there is no better way to honor that life than to create something that you want to look at or use every day.

Lamp made from discarded Wine Barrel Rings.

Stress Reliever

Stress is hard to avoid, it is an emotion that people deal with every day. There are many ways to manage stress, outlets like exercise, reading, mediation, and many more. I choose to DIY. DIY helps me by focusing my energy on one thing at a time. I concentrate on what is in front of me rather than the events of the day or the 500 tasks that I need to do later. I will also add that taking a hammer to just about anything is a great way to relieve some pent-up stress.

Image of Myself as a Child with a Hammer.

Creative Outlet

I have always been creative- I loved art class but wasn’t particularity great at the classical side art- drawing, painting, etc. However, I excelled at design and working with my hands. When I started to DIY I realized art comes in many forms, any expression or application of creative skill and imagination is art. With DIY there is no limit to the color combination or types of materials you use. Everything is created by you in your own essence.

Barn Wood Framed Mirror with Light Blue. Grey and Red Paint.

Save Money

This one is tricky because it is very easy to overspend on DIY projects. Supplies like paint and tools add up quickly but you have to remember you can use these items on a few projects. As well as the quality of a project crafted by you in much higher! Most of the time I am able to save boatloads of money on a piece. There are many things that you can build and customize that will save you money versus buying a similar item at a store. Check out my blog post about a Side of the Road TV Stand to see the makeover of a FREE piece of furniture.

Learn Something New

There are so many trades to learn within DIY-ing. Woodworking, painting, remodeling a home, even welding, and sewing! Every time I complete a project I take a new skill or technique. There are mass amounts of resources to learn these skills. I often check Google, Pinterest, and YouTube for more information. There is nothing more satisfying than being able to do it yourself!