I can’t tell you how many things I’ve done in my home, only to stand back and look at it and think “wow this looked A LOT better in that magazine.”  The truth is, it’s hard for a rookie DIYer to get a job perfect on the first try.  Honestly, with as much photo editing software circulating, you can’t believe everything you see in those home and garden magazines. As for those television shows that transform rooms within a few days….that’s not always perfect either.  Behind the scenes of those shows, you can tell that things were rushed at the last minute.  Decadent throw pillows were stapled and there were paint drips galore!  If you want to make it perfect, just take your time.  Doing some preliminary research on your project and doing the best you can is all you need to succeed.

Don’t expect to overhaul a room in your house in a weekend.  It’s no fun having your place a mess while you take on tasks, but good things come in due time.  Currently I’m re-doing my hallway bath, and it’s been a total mess.  There were plenty of bumps along the way.  Speaking of bumps, let’s talk about my walls.  They were in such rough shape; I decided to pour a little sand into my paint to give it texture.  You’d be surprised how great a little texture makes a sad wall look.  The spread of the sand was a little uneven, but I think it gave the walls a touch of character.  Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect!  If you like how it looks, you can consider that to be perfect!

Now, when you’re hanging pictures, or other things that require leveling, yes that does need to be “perfect.”  Otherwise you’ll have crooked items hanging from your walls.  There’s no skill to driving a nail into a wall.  Once you hang your picture, just eyeball it or use a level to make sure you’re on target.  Measurements are one of the most important things that you need to make sure are accurate when you take on projects. 

Remember, if you’re a perfectionist like I am, these projects can get really frustrating.  You should remember that your job will only look as good as the tools you use, so do your research!  No matter what, be proud of how your project turned out in the end.  You deserve to be satisfied with your work.