Congratulations! Doing a project with your own two hands can be a rewarding experience that maybe even begins a lifelong hobby.

I have done many a DIY project in my time, ranging in quality from something a fourth grader would draw on a piece of paper to a slightly passable built-in shelf that probably wont fall apart.

In these various escapades I have picked up a thing or two regarding the process of how these things usually go, and i am here today to share these little nuggets of experience with you so that you can add a touch of realistic expectations before attempting that baseboard trim you’ve been thinking about for six months.

Nugget number one is: Be prepared to go to Home Depot (or Homie Deepot as I like to call it) at least three times, if not more!

There will always be something you need to return, or that drill bit you forgot to buy, or for fucks sake another piece of wood. Much like a toxic relationship Homie Deepot will keep you coming back time and time again until you know where every obscure screw size is and are on a first name basis with the guy in the lumber section (shout out to my man Mark).

Nugget Number Dos!: Pallet wood sucks.

we’ve all seen those YouTube videos of some guy building a log cabin out of pallet wood that just looks so dang cozy. I am here to dash those dreams you have of that bespoke bed-frame that wows the tinder date when you say it was all pallet wood.

Yes, you can achieve these things if you really really want too. But I have found that most pallet wood is gross from having been outside for a long time, and is usually the kind of wood you would pass up at the homie deepot from being warped or having satanic carvings all over it. And did I mention its a pain in the ass to process??? bare minimum we are looking at twenty minutes a pallet to rip those boards off and dig out all the nails, just so you can have some shitty wood to work with. I made the mistake of getting three pallets that took me so long to rip apart, just to throw away half the wood. I guess its a learning process.

The saving grace of pallets are that they are free ninety nine. Its for this reason that my broke ass will still be using them for projects despite the drawbacks. Ye hath been warned!

Nugget Number Three: Double… no triple the amount of time you think it will take to do the project.

I have made this mistake countless times when my roommates ask how long a project will take when the living room is a workspace and they just want peace. Shit always happens and mistakes will be made that extend the completion time. Plus i’m an optimistic lad who is way overconfident at his abilities which only makes matters worse when estimating time. So be prepared when you rip apart the kitchen cabinets or decide you need a new bathtub and tiling isn’t that hard right? It will take longer than a weekend I can assure you.

Nugget Number Four: You will always notice the mistakes other people gloss over.

Congratulations! you’ve finally completed that built-in/secret bookshelf door/ bar top in the man-cave and can kick back and show it off to any guests who make the mistake of coming over in the next six months. Your new most spoken phrase will be “hey did you see the thing I built?!” as you well up with childhood show-and-tell enthusiasm your guests cant help but ooh and aah and the rickety back porch deck they are afraid to stand on for too long.

But while most people may not be able to spot the slightly askew tile or the shelf bracket that’s just a little off center, you will always see these things. Forever. But hey! this is a part of the process, go easy on yourself. You are after all, an amateur. And as the good and wise Jake from adventure time says “sucking at something is the first step to getting sorta good at something”.

With that said though I cant help but notice where I could have done better on everything I have ever made. But that just means we care. These projects are our babies and we want them to be perfect, its only natural. But alas we must accept the imperfection of life, lest we go mad from staring at the coat rack you could swear isnt quite level.

Those are my little nuggets. Heed them or dont. I am not here to dissuade anyone from doing a project, quite the opposite really. I think that having a somewhat realistic take on how things will go will help you set your expectations and actually finish the damn thing rather than get all upset and leave that kitchen cabinet forever “in-progress”.

So go forth and build! I wish you luck.