Know Thy Limits
Let’s paint… peachy please!
According to AI, Do-it-yourself or DIY refers to the practice of constructing, repairing, or improving items or personal property, often home improvement, rather than hiring a professional. I’ve also seen DIY substituted with
Curated. Artisanal. Custom Crafted. Homemade.
Words, in my mind, connected to expectation. Professionally built. Top-notch. Prepared by an expert. Executed with practiced skill and knowledge.
We all have the DIY moments. Sub-conscience dreams of tackling a home improvement project. We think, “Won’t it be fun to (fill in the blank with an outlandish domestic upgrade) this weekend? The whole family can help. It will be amazing. We’ll save so much money!”
Really? Is it amazing? Can you stash enough Benjamins to purchase a new handbag?
DIYing is one of the easiest ways to pinch pennies and, potentially, one of the quickest ways to cheapen your home. Results run the gamut; “Dang, It’s Yucky!” to “Damn, I’m Yoked!”
As a designer, I love a good challenge. Moving walls, creating functional floor plans, thinking of color combinations, pattern mixing. I want to do it all. To be an expert in a myriad of areas. But, the trades? I am definitely not an expert. I admit I have limitations. Serious limitations.
My sister-in-law is a world class wallpaper-er. She can put up just about anything. Straight lines, matching patterns, climbing ladders, pasting paper. She does it all. She also knows when to hire a professional; ceiling’s too high, weird angles, super expensive product? One mistake and she’s spending her own dime to replace the good stuff.
A true DIYer that knows when to say no.
I tried my hand at painting. The commercials make it look so easy. Romantic. A care-free, stress-free one day project. I tried it. It’s hard. Really hard. Painting wasn’t even the most challenging part. Prep work was extremely time consuming; about 90% of the painting project. Properly covering the unpaintable. Removing obstacles such as towel bars, art, window coverings. Setting up supplies. Mental and physical demands to get paint on walls sans spilling the bucket. Frankly, painting equals exhausting.
News flash…
I am much better at hiring a painter than doing it myself. When I look closely, I see ALL of my mistakes. I’m not an exceptional painter. I’m an okay painter. I don’t want my projects to just be okay. I want them to be exceptional!
Self-awareness means I’ve tried and I realized painting is a skill I will not master. The risk reward is simply not there. So, I hire the best painter I know and pay for a job well done.
Decide to take the DIY (Dangerous In Yoga-Pants route)? Take heed. Know thy limits.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate your patience. Grade your ability to learn and then execute. Allow yourself to humbly concede when you lack the necessary skills. Grant yourself permission to call in a true expert.
Reality. It’s impossible to be good at everything. Solution. Let’s help each other!