5 Steps for Getting Into DIY Hobbies
Hobbies are good for us. Dedicating time to practices not directly connected to work or personal responsibilities benefits our mental well-being, improves cognitive function and even reduces the risks of chronic health conditions. The various forms of DIY hobbies, such as automotive tinkering, carpentry or household improvements, are all popular; although they can be hard to penetrate for newbies.
If you’ve always felt like you wanted to get better with your hands but aren’t sure where to start, this article is for you. It will offer five steps on how to get into DIY, ranging from workshop prep to proper discipline choice, so you can feel confident taking the first steps in your new hobby.
1. Picking the right DIY projects for you
Every other step should be dictated by the DIY discipline that you choose to take on. So make sure to take the time to think about what it is you really want to do before buying tools or redesigning your home. Scroll through DIY accounts on Instagram and YouTube for inspiration, then base your next steps on the videos and projects that speak to you the most.
2. Creating the ultimate DIY garage
The garage is the ultimate space for DIY projects, as it’s already a utilitarian space, which you can make a mess in and use for storage. This is especially true if the garage is no longer used for car storage.
- Bring in a workbench near a window or under high-powered LED tasks lighting
- Install some wall-mounted slatwalls and bring in some mobile-based storage for tools and components
- Ensure you have quality garage doors built for temperature and sound control
- Position a dedicated charging/power station for cordless batteries and corded tools
- Bring some interlocking floor tiles in to insulate your feet and provide protection against dropped tools
- Install some carbon monoxide and smoke detectors for safety if using paints or solvents
The same approaches can be used if setting up your DIY studio in the spare room or a space away from home.
3. Choose your first couple of projects
This is in line with selecting the right focus in terms of DIY hobbies, and can even help if you’re still debating what direction to go in. Planning your first few easy projects will give you some valuable hands-on experience and build basic skills, helping to guide your opinion on what future projects will look like.
Some great starter DIY projects include:
- Small entryway shoe racks
- A laundry tower
- Wooden storage bins
- Homemade candles
- Wooden chopping boards
- A doghouse
Think about easy things when you start, then use your chosen projects to direct the next step.
4. Buy your essential tools
As a beginner, it’s very tempting to just purchase a 200-tool set, but realistically, you do not need this in your arsenal. It’s a lot more sensible to think about the absolute essentials needed for your first few projects.
The most important tools for most DIY hobbies include:
- Tape measure
- Claw hammer
- Screwdriver set
- Adjustable wrench
- Level
- Utility knife
- Pliers
- Cordless drill/driver
- Jigsaw
- Orbital sander
- Safety glasses
- Sawhorses
With these tools in your set, you should be ready to take on most beginner projects.
5. Get started and don’t be afraid to make mistakes
The most important step of all when getting into DIY hobbies is to simply get started with your first effort! The reality is, no amount of preparation will make you any better the first fews times. Just get crafting, twisting, screwing or otherwise doing it yourself, with no fear of making mistakes. The sooner you mess up, the sooner you’ll learn and start to really succeed.