When you begin to start a new home project, how often do you think it through before you start to gather your materials?  It’s so easy to want to hurry up with your projects, because let’s face it: no one likes to have their house torn apart, even if it is for the sake of making it look better!  I want to talk to you about the importance of beforehand planning of projects before you even step foot in the hardware store for supplies.

Let’s just say you want to paint your dining room.  Sounds easy enough!  Painting is a great way to add your charm to areas of the house, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an easy task.  The first thing you’d want to do is create your list.  You’ll need paint, masking tape, rollers, trays, tarps and possibly a few more odds and ends.  Draw a picture of your room on a piece of paper.  If you want to move furniture around, draw it out first; do you like the new look?  Making lists and diagrams before you start these projects mean you most likely won’t be surprised with the outcome.  A list will keep you from forgetting easy to forget items at the store when it comes time to buy.  It’s so easy to just walk in to buy your supplies, and forget the fact you will need a small brush to help where the roller can’t cover.  What about floor covering? Do your walls need some plaster or sanding? Would you have remembered your paint tarp?  (BTW, I find plastic tarps on the floor in my home to be a bit dangerous.  It’s so easy to slip.  I often check the clearance sections of my home stores for cheap sheets.  I use those and minimize my risk of slipping, but remember; paint can soak through- so layer!)

I find that making lists help me with budgeting my projects.  A big reason many of us do jobs ourselves is to save money.  I can often make a list of my supplies and then visit the website for a big box home store.  This way, I know what I’ll be spending before I get there.  It’s such a time saver!

Remember; don’t rush yourself when you’re doing projects at home.  If you hurry the job, your end result will show.  Take an hour out of your day to pre-plan and research even the simplest projects.  Talk it over with your spouse if they’ll be helping you.  Don’t go to the paint store and buy something you’re uncomfortable with because you want to get the ball rolling.  Bring samples home and sleep on it!  So many DIYers will run into bumps in the road when working on projects in their homes, but you can minimize the hassle if you just take time to think a little bit ahead of time.  Happy tasking!