Before You DIY

“He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.” --Samuel Taylor Coleridge

This quote from Samuel Taylor Coleridge  might be more than a century old, but it still holds true--especially for do it yourself-ers. So how can you make YOUR vision come true in a spectacular, fabulous way?  Here are a few tips to consider BEFORE you DIY:

• Consider your skill set.  Before launching a new DIY project. realistically assess the skills you're bringing to the task.  If you aren't comfortable with sewing, creating curtain panels from bed sheets might not be the best idea for you.  If you run into a project that you really want to tackle that requires skills you don't have, recruit a buddy to help you.  You can return the favor sometime.

• Make time for design.  Make sure you work design into your project schedule.  It’s easy to get so excited about starting a new DIY project that our first step is a trip to the hardware store to stock up on paint, appliances, fixtures—only to find out later that we've gathered the wrong materials, or forgotten something crucial.  
  
  Save yourself time and money, and...the next time you get that “Can’t wait to get started” feeling, take a step back—and breathe.  Remind yourself that a good design plan will not only help you save time (and ultimately speed up the DIY process)—it will help you avoid mistakes, including using the wrong color of paint, purchasing the wrong fixtures, etc.—and therefore save moolah (ALWAYS a good thing!).

• And our last tip?  Grit your teeth and read the instructions--that's right... Read...the...instructions.  Do this no matter how much you'd rather avoid it, and you won't regret it.  If you Really aren't in the mood for reading, check out youtube for a video tutorial-- and be sure to watch it in its entirety before getting started.  That way you know exactly what  you are getting into and how long each step will take!  

And remember:  All Out of the Box Room Design packages include a design board with a space plan, samples of fabrics and other materials, step by step instructions--and more!