These DIYs Are Don't DIYs
Some DIY fixes promise style but only deliver disaster. From awkward paint jobs to tacky lighting, the well-meant upgrades we’re showing you today do nothing more than make your home look cheap. Check out our list of DIY don’ts and find out which ones to avoid.
The White Out Woes
Using white paint on every wall might seem like a good idea, but it makes your home feel cold, sterile, and unfinished - like you forgot the final step. It lacks personality and ends up looking like a rental more than a home.
A Patchy One-Coat Fail
A rushed paint job can make even the most beautiful colors look cheap. Patchy paint screams laziness, and skipping on prep or relying on just one coat of paint leaves streaks, uneven patches, and missed corners. Take your time and do it right to avoid any mistakes.
Color Overload
Painting every room a different color might be fun in theory, but it can quickly make your home feel more chaotic than chic. Too many colors fight for attention, leaving your space feeling more like a crayon box than a home for adults.
Just Say “NO” to Sponge-Painted Walls
Sponge-painted walls were so hot in the ‘90s, but now they’re just not. This is one way to end up with a house that looks messy and dated - much like your walls caught a rash. Leave the past where it belongs and choose a more modern approach.
Decal Disaster
Too many wall decals make your home feel childish or cluttered. Sure, it looks cute in a kids-themed bedroom, but there is no reason why you should be putting decals that shout “Dream Big” or “You Got This” all over your home. Sometimes, less is more.
Fake Brick Faux Pas
Fake brick wallpaper doesn’t belong in your home. Unless you’re spending top dollar, they often look cheap, peeling at the edges. You’ll end up with a home that looks more like a movie set rather than a real loft. Just give this one a skip.
A Backsplash Backfire
Peel-and-stick backsplash tiles make it so easy to give your kitchen a quick upgrade - until they start curling at the corners or falling off, that is. It’s instantly noticeable and makes your kitchen look tacky. It might be a good idea to invest in proper tiles.
Particle Board Problems
Cheap is not always better, and that faux wood grain particle board furniture chips, warps, and looks like it should come with a label that says, “assembly required.” It might be cheaper, but when it starts shedding or peeling, it takes the whole room down with it.
Mismatched Furniture Mayhem
Mixing furniture can be stylish - when it’s done right. But random garage sale finds with no rhythm just look sloppy. Choose furniture with a reason - the same color, texture, or shape - to avoid making your house look messy and cheap really fast.
The Distressed Look Mess
Distressed furniture has its place, but not when it’s over-distressed, and your house can go from looking rustic to ridiculous pretty quickly. Stick to small touches that bring out the charm rather than going full-attack mode on every dresser, table, and frame.
Crystal Knob No-No
You might think that plastic crystal knobs look glamorous, but in reality, they look more like kids’ costume jewelry than vintage chic. They scratch easily, turn cloudy, and really don’t fool anyone. Sometimes a sleek, simple knob has way more impact.
Beware the Staples
DIY upholstery requires a significant amount of effort to pull off, especially if you select subpar fabric or leave visible staples. Add in saggy fabric, a few lumpy cushions, and you’ve got seating that looks like a failed school woodwork project.
Fabric Painting Fail
Painting over fabric sounds really creative, right? The result, however, feels more stiff, crunchy, and uncomfortable than what you’d think. Fabric should breathe - not crack when you sit down. If you feel like you’re sitting on a painted wall, it might be time to put down the paintbrush.
The Knick-Knack Overload
We all love a knick-knack, but too many tiny decorations create a home full of clutter instead of charm. When every surface in your home is covered in figurines, the space will inevitably feel cramped and chaotic. In this case, less truly is more.
LED Lighting Overkill
LED strip lights are fun - when you’re a teenage girl dancing in her bedroom on a Saturday night. Visible wires, flickering lights, and lights under every shelf or on every wall scream “budget mood lighting.” You’ll be better off getting a few trendy lamps.
A Lighting Mood Swing
Yes, colored lightbulbs are a thing, but that doesn’t mean you need to use them. Stick to regular lamps with different color temperatures, such as warm and cool, and create a calming space rather than your bedroom resembling your own personal disco club.
Cord Chaos
DIY hacks leave cords dangling and taped to the wall. This looks messy and unsafe. No one wants to see wires running like vines across the wall or ceiling. It ruins the vibe and makes your home look cheap, cluttered, and like you don’t know what you’re doing.
Peel and Pain
Painting over tile and linoleum without sealing them first leads to flaking, peeling, and a whole lot of disappointment. Sure, it looks good for a week, but soon it starts to chip, and once that starts, it snowballs into a very cheap-looking floor disaster.
Rugs, Rugs, Rugs
Rugs add character to your home - well, at least they do if you use them the right way. Using rugs that are way too small for a room just makes everything feel off. A tiny rug under a coffee table highlights empty space. Bigger is better for grounding your furniture.
Stencil Slip-Ups
Floor stenciling is super cute, but only if the pattern is clean and consistent. Blurry lines, misaligned repeats, and colors that don’t complement each other look more “oops” than trendy, giving away that it’s a DIY—and not in a good way. Choose your stencils wisely!
A Sticky Floor Situation
Peel-and-stick floors are okay when you have a budget. However, remember that the cheaper the tiles, the quicker they start to crack, pop up, or appear as a poor-quality puzzle. Your easy fix suddenly looks like a floor meltdown, making your home look cheap.
Bin There, Seen That
Clear plastic storage bins are great - for closets or garages. Out in the open on display, they scream, “I gave up trying to make my home look stylish.” They simply don’t add style and tend to look messy, no matter how organized they are.
The Sagging Life of a Shelf
Shelves are a lifesaver for organizing your home. But DIY shelves should always be level and supported. Sagging, crooked, or bowing shelves make your space look like it’s melting, giving off major “leftover wood” vibes. Purchase proper shelves or hire a professional to install them for you.
The Curtain Call
We’re all guilty of hiding clutter behind a curtain at one point or another, and sometimes it’s okay - if you’ve got the right curtains for it. Unless the fabric is tailored and intentional, it sends a message that you don’t know what else to do.
Floating Curtains Be Gone
Curtains that don’t reach the floor are like pants that are too short for you - it just looks awkward and wrong. Measure your space, adjust the rods, and buy longer drops if you have to. The right length makes a room look more finished and stylish.
Bad Bold Doors
Bold-colored doors can be fun - if you do it the right way and prep your doors properly. Skipping primer or sanding leads to chipping, streaks, and a lot of regret. And rather than adding charm to your home, it just looks like your door’s been through something.
Tension Rod Trouble
Say it with me, “tension rods do not make for a cozy home.” Yes, they’re inexpensive to install and great for renters, but in the long term, they make a room look temporary and not put together. Say goodbye to college dorm vibes and get some proper curtain rods!
Hardware Horror
Did you know that the hardware on your furniture has an effect on its style? If your drawer pulls resemble cheap costume jewelry, they’re not doing your style any favors and likely clash with everything else in your space. Keep it simple and sleek, and you can’t go wrong.
Faux Marble Mishaps
DIY faux marble contact paper might seem like a good, cheap idea to transform your bathroom or kitchen. But in reality, it bubbles, peels, and screams “temporary.” It doesn’t fool anyone, and you’ll be constantly smoothing it out to make it look good.
Greasy Paint Jobs
If you’re not degreasing your cabinets before you paint them, what are you even doing with your life? Grease prevents the paint from sticking, which means it’ll peel in no time—all that work wasted! Take the time to prep and degrease your cabinets properly for a great finish.
Stick-On Sloppiness
Want to reface your cabinets with stick-ons? Sounds like a quick, cheap, and easy job, but it quickly turns into a nightmare with uneven edges and misaligned doors. At the end of the day, you’ll have a kitchen that looks like a botched craft project.
Themed Room Ruckus
Overly themed rooms feel dated and overly kitsch. Remember Grandma’s beach-themed bathroom with all the seashells? Be honest, it never looked good. A small nod to a theme is perfectly fine, but too much feels like you’re visiting a novelty shop.
The Style Clash
Mixing styles is great - when it’s done with balance and purpose. However, if you’re incorporating farmhouse, mid-century, boho, and glam chic styles without a cohesive plan, it’s likely to result in design whiplash that appears confused rather than curated.
Plastic Not-So-Fantastic
Those fake plastic plants you find at the dollar store are fine for a bit of color in your home - until they’re dusty, faded, or very obviously fake-looking. Nothing says “cheap” and “low-effort” like a plastic ficus covered in cobwebs. Keep them clean!
Cliché Wall Art
DIY wall art with cliché sayings like “Live, Laugh, Love” makes your home feel more like a gift shop than a personal space. It’s overdone, very unoriginal, and probably makes your guests roll their eyes whenever they step foot in your home.
