by Shelly Cowan

Created on: November 03, 2008

Jumping feet first into do-it-yourself projects can be very scary and intimidating the first time out. I myself have encountered these feelings but they are easy to overcome once you get your feet wet. Getting past that first project successfully can dissolve those feelings of fear.

The first project I took on came about out of necessity. We needed a ceiling fan in our bedroom and my husband was too busy to get to it himself. The forecast the next week was for temperatures into the 100's. I realized it was time to bite the bullet and try my hand at electrical wiring and carpentry. I will admit that this is an intimidating realization. Not so intimidating though as walking out to the garage and coming face to face with what can only be described as a soon-to-be certified disaster area that slightly resembled my husbands work bench. Once over the initial shock of the mess, I fended off my natural feminine urges to clean and organize and grabbed the tools I thought I would need for installing a ceiling fan. I encountered a couple of small issues along the way, but in the end I was very satisfied with the finished project. I have since taken on many other projects, most recently finishing our basement and building a pergola off our back deck.

I now come at projects full steam. Each project still has its intimidating factors, but taking a few steps can help get past that. First, research the project you are wanting to take on. The more information you can gather, the better decisions you can make on how to best approach and complete your project. On-line resources and home improvement stores are a great place to start. Talking with other people who have done similar projects can give you an idea of some obstacles you may encounter as well as other routs you can take to make your project smooth. Getting a visual of similar projects can help as well. For my pergola, I drove past homes with them to get ideas for my own design. Next, you may consider finding a kit for the project you are taking on, especially if you are just starting with do-it-yourself projects. However, once you have a project or two under your belt, you may become comfortable enough to run with your own ideas by using all the information you have gathered so that you can do it successfully and safely. I also suggest paying close attention to details. Giving your project a nice finishing detail can do wonders to the finished project. I added a curved cut to the end of my slats with my pergola. This gave it the professional look I needed to make my friends ask who my handy-man was.

Following these few easy suggestions can help you feel more secure in the project you are taking on and give you the confidence you need to try new things that you may never have tried before.

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