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February 21-23, 2025

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DIY Tips for the beginner DIYer

Aug 20, 2024

DIY Do it Yourself graphic

DIY Tips for the Beginner DIYer

With demand outweighing supply and North Americans investing in fixer-upper homes (which is what they can afford), interest in beginner DIY and DIY tips has been consistently growing since the start of the pandemic in 2020. HGTV has over 5.5 million followers on Instagram and 9.5 million followers on Facebook, not to mention the steady rise of DIY Influencers in the home renovation, interior design and flipping space.

12 periods in the last 90 days, globally, we saw peaking interest in the search term “beginner DIY”, according to Google Trends, with the United States, Canada, and Australia as the top three performing regions showing interest in this topic.

If that wasn’t enough to convince you of the desire to learn to DIY, the use of specific hashtags on Instagram also yields impressive results.

#DIY has more than 90 million IG posts.
#DIYProjects has almost 3 million IG posts.
#DIYIdeas has over 1.6 million IG Posts.
#DIYHacks has over 100,000 IG posts.

Young happy woman wearing jeans and plaid shirt and work gloves using tools to build wooden basket or storage container in home workshop

What does all this mean for you, the homeowner? It could mean that you have joined in on the trend and are hoping to pick up on some DIY tips yourself, or maybe you just like to watch the before/after transformations online, or on TV, for inspiration. Whether you’re ready to pick up a hammer and jigsaw, or just lightly contemplating the idea of starting a small home project, here are some DIY tips for the beginner DIYer.

To DIY or not to DIY?

Fixing something done incorrectly can sometimes cost more than having someone do it right from the start. It’s important to know when to hire a professional.

Safety above all.

DIy man with frizzy hair that was just electrocuted by DIYing important electrical work improperly with qualified professional looking at him in the background

When you are a beginner DIYer, it’s vital to put safety first. Don’t deal with complicated electrical tasks and make sure you have some basic safety gear, like drop cloths, to reduce slips and falls, safety goggles, dust masks, and proper lighting.

Do your research.

YouTube is your best friend. Use it to search for videos made by other amateurs, who like to share DIY tips, before you decide if you think it’s a project you can take on yourself.

There’s often more than meets the D{eye}Y.

Remember pipes and wires exist, and though your project might not directly be tacking something related to them, they might be a determining factor in whether you can safety do it yourself.

Take it slow with your beginner DIY.

DIY young woman wearing overalls gently screwing in nails into small pieces of wood while sitting on floor next to cutting table

Start small with recaulking, sanding, painting, hanging photos, building furniture or fixing cracks, before you tackle larger DIY projects, like bathroom renovations or building and installing new kitchen cabinets.

Get some basic, quality equipment.

Invest in your DIY Toolkit and take care of it! You don’t have to invest thousands and buy everything all at once, but it’s better to pay for certain higher-quality things, especially when safety is concerned.

DIY image of makeshift blue prints surrounded by tools on wooden floor

There are many reasons people choose to become beginner DIYers, such as economic implications, and being able to spend more on the product and less on the labour; learning something new and getting to be truly hands on; that sense of accomplishment and being proud to show off that final product that you created; allowing you to disconnect from the Internet and other devices; and boosting your brain power while also distracting yourself from whatever is stressing you out in your daily life.

Are you an amateur DIYer? Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get started with beginner DIY? Drop us a line on social media and share any DIY tips you have!

Marketplace Events produces some of the longest-running home, garden and renovation shows across North America, connecting enthusiasts with experts, products, and services in dynamic face-to-face environments. Whether you’re looking to hire a professional to turn your house into your dream home, or to pick up some tools, tips or inspiration to DIY, check out a nearby show.