Design Dilemmas
Episode 52: Can I do it myself? Yes, yes, you CAN. Most of the time, anyway. How to tackle a home project when you're not sure what you're doing. Plus when to get someone else in instead.
Embarking on a DIY or decorating project can be a daunting task. How to get past the initial apprehension of doing something for the first time in your home is one of the most popular questions that I’m asked both on my Instagram feed and on my Substack. Let’s face it, any new activity that we approach in life can seem like a massively big deal. The first time that we drive a car after passing the test (particularly if, like me, it’s the third attempt), the first day in a new job, the first time talking to an audience, the first time you go on a date. Joe and I’s first proper date took place at an Italian called Topo Gigio in Reading back in 1999, a mere 26 years ago. He had booked the restaurant himself after being advised by work colleagues that it was the perfect romantic destination to impress. We drank wine, ate fillet steak and returned home to the house that Joe shared with his cousin Kathryn, where he had (preemptively, in my opinion but, in fairness, his confidence paid off) invested hard cash in our relationship by purchasing a brand new duvet set from John Lewis. The next morning, he took me to breakfast at Big Tesco around the corner. Ah yes, Joe knew how to woo.
When it comes to decorating, there have been many firsts in the various houses that we’ve lived in. The first time that I painted a wall, the first time I updated the kitchen cupboards, the first time I upcycled furniture, the first time that I made Roman blinds for the windows. Yes, impossible as it may sound, I made my own blinds. I’d been shocking at Textiles at school but was going through an early shabby chic phase - I couldn’t afford to have them made to measure so decided to give it a go myself. What did I have to lose?
I bought a sewing machine and fabric from eBay, a book on how to do it from Amazon and within two weeks my house was top to toe in folded blind loveliness. They weren’t professional - I was an amateur when it came to the skills of the cloth - but they looked great to me, were certainly good enough and had cost a fraction of the price. Sometimes you just need to give it a go. Quick note here - the book that I used was called Sew Easy by the utterly fabulous Jane Cumberbatch and I would thoroughly recommend it if you are a beginner and want to give sewing a go. It’s full of really simple projects - I made cushion covers, PE bags, even draught excluders (yes, once I get my head around something I find it hard to stop). It’s still available both new and second hand so do check it out. And one final note - if you’re looking for decent quality fabrics then Haines Collection is a great place to start - Jules rescues surplus fabric with the aim of reducing interior waste and has some absolutely gorgeous prints and textures.
So what do you do if you want to attempt a DIY task for the first time but there’s more procrastination than action going on? Here’s my five step plan to getting you out of the rut of indecision and on to the Yellow Brick Road of decorating project success.
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