16 projects
Beginner DIY projects
Each project lists the level, time, rough cost and tools before the steps, so you know what you're getting into. New to DIY? Start with the core skills.
Core skills
Safety, measuring, drilling and finding studs. Start here.
- DIY safety basics before you start
Eye protection, ladders, lead paint and the jobs to leave to a pro.
- Measure, mark and level like a pro
Read a tape measure, mark cleanly and get things straight the first time.
- Drill and driver basics
Choose bits, set the clutch and drive screws without stripping them.
- Find a stud (and when to use anchors)
Locate studs reliably and choose the right anchor when there isn't one.
Walls and paint
Patching, choosing paint, cutting in and painting a whole room.
- Patch nail holes and small drywall holes
Make nail holes, dents and doorknob holes disappear.
- Choose the right paint and finish
Flat, eggshell, satin or semi-gloss: which goes where, and why primer matters.
- Paint a room, start to finish
Prep, cut in, roll and clean up for a finish you're proud of.
- Cut in clean lines without tape
Paint crisp edges along ceilings and trim with just a brush.
Hanging and assembling
Pictures, shelves, curtain rods and flat-pack furniture.
- Hang pictures and mirrors securely
Get the height right, use the right hardware and hang it level.
- Mount floating shelves
Shelves that look clean, sit level and hold what you put on them.
- Install a curtain rod
Brackets that stay put, and curtains that make the window look bigger.
- Assemble flat-pack furniture without the stress
Sort, read, build and anchor tall furniture to the wall.
Quick fixes
Doors, cabinets, showerheads and caulk.
- Fix a squeaky or sticking door
Quiet hinges, tighten loose screws and stop a door rubbing.
- Adjust cabinet doors and replace hardware
Line up crooked cabinet doors and update knobs and pulls.
- Replace a showerhead
A 20-minute upgrade with no plumbing experience needed.
- Re-caulk a tub or shower
Remove old, moldy caulk and lay a clean, watertight bead.