8 Ways to Improve Your Do-It-Yourself Skills

Tons of parents are turning to DIY kits and similar products as a hobby and for home improvement. Learn 8 amazing tips on how to hone your DIY skills.

The previous year has been a grueling challenge to almost all parents everywhere. Some have used this time to work harder, others have used it work on themselves. If you belong to the latter party, you've probably tried the various trends that have popped up in 2020, such as homemade bread. Research reveals 36 percent of Americans undertook a do-it-yourself project to make their homes more comfortable.

However, you may want to expand your technical abilities. For example, you may want to know how to use a tile spacer and finally retile your bathroom on your own.

If you're not confident yet with your skill, below are eight ways to improve your do-it-yourself abilities.

There are literally millions of video tutorials on platforms like YouTube dedicated to educating people on various things. Simply type in the hobby or project you want and you'll probably find dozens of appropriate search results. The key is winnowing to which videos are truly for skill improvement purposes and which ones are for entertainment. Browse the comments sections to gauge how useful the videos are to your interests.

Plenty of subject matters experts have established themselves online to help others on their do-it-yourself journeys. An expert can even develop online courses to sell and provide an in-depth level of training. Sign up for these courses and you can benefit from the experience these experts have to offer. Remember to take notes while watching or browsing to make the most out of these usually short online classes.

No single expert in the world can fully cover the whole breadth of the hobby or skill they are trained in. Thankfully, there are hundreds of websites with forums where thousands of enthusiasts routinely share their tips and advice. You can go to any of these forums and ask friendly enthusiasts for help on getting started and on how you can further hone your skills. Remember to be respectful to posters and honest about your skill level.

If you have a hard time finding online courses to take up or forums to join, reach out to your social circle for assistance. Maybe you are friends with another mom who's been improving her carpentry skills or maybe your neighbors have been taking culinary classes. Talk to these people and ask them for tips on how you can further progress with your DIY skills.

If you're a complete beginner, never try to take on a project that's way over your skill level. For example, if you're only starting to learn how to knit, you should probably start by knitting a cap or a scarf instead of a whole sweater. Starting with simple projects makes it easier for you to complete them and give you the necessary motivation to pursue your skill improvement. Beginner projects are also intended to help you work on basic skills you need for more challenging endeavors.

You may take up do-it-yourself projects out of necessity, but even then you should pursue skills that pique your interests. For example, if you're more passionate about cooking, then maybe you should learn to bake great pastries rather than learning how to put down grout. Your passion and interests will help you stay interested and pay attention to what online classes and instruction have to say. This will increase the likelihood that you actually improve your talents.

A tenet that every so-it-yourself enthusiast should take to heart is that your projects will only be as good as your tools. You can't expect your flower beds to look wonderful if you use substandard mulch. You won't get perfect eclairs if your oven is on the fritz. So before you begin improving your skills, invest in amazing tools for beginners. Research just what exactly are the best tools for your skill level and acquire them gradually if you have to.

While your interest and passions are definitely important factors, you should also occasionally take on DIY projects and skills that are completely new to you. It may surprise you how interested you are about a facet of home improvement you've never tried yet. Perhaps the only thing stopping you from becoming an expert plumber is because you've never tried to fix your own pipes before. Indulge your curiosity and learn something new.

Do-it-yourself projects aren't just for single people with nothing to do. Parents can still work on their skills outside of work, if you have the time and energy to do so. If you want to continue improving your skills at baking, gardening or woodworking, these tips are perfect for you.