Save Yourself From Stress
DIY projects always seem so simple in theory - grab a few tools, follow a quick YouTube tutorial, and enjoy the satisfaction of doing it yourself. But anyone who’s ever started one knows that “easy” projects can spiral out of control fast. Here are 15 DIY jobs that look simple, but often become total nightmares.
Installing Peel-And-Stick Tile
It looks like the easiest weekend project ever - just peel, stick, and enjoy a fresh backsplash, right? Not so fast. If your walls aren’t perfectly flat, those expensive tiles will start peeling or bubbling. Add in tricky cuts around outlets and corners, and suddenly you’re ready to smash the whole kitchen.
Hanging Floating Shelves
You’d think floating shelves are as simple as measuring, drilling, and hanging. Nope. Walls never seem level, studs don’t line up, and those anchors never hold quite right. Before you know it, your fancy new shelves are crooked or, worse, pulling out of the wall.
Assembling Flatpack Furniture
Who hasn’t been lured in by the promise of affordable, stylish furniture that “just requires simple assembly”? But following the instructions is so much harder than it looks, even if you’re doing it with someone else. Let’s be honest: IKEA is probably responsible for at least one divorce.
Painting a Room
Painting is supposed to be the easiest home update. But if you skip prep, as so many unfortunately do, it can quickly get messy. Uneven coats, streaky walls, and paint splatters everywhere make it less “Pinterest-worthy” and more “someone has defied the laws of nature in this room.”
Installing a Ceiling Fan
The idea: swap out a light fixture and cool your room with a nice fan. The reality: balancing on a ladder while wrangling awkward blades, mismatched wiring, and a heavy motor. The ladder part really gets to people, and sometimes that makes them give up and call a professional.
Laying Laminate Flooring
Those DIY flooring kits advertise that they snap together in a weekend. But if your subfloor isn’t perfectly flat, those planks don’t click smoothly. Gaps appear fast, and trimming around doorways is a nightmare.
Wallpapering a Wall
Wallpaper is back in style and it looks so easy, hooray! But wait… bubbles, wrinkles, and seams not lining up will test your patience fast. A day into the project, and you might end up wondering if birds on your wall is really worth all the hassle.
Installing a New Light Fixture
Swapping out an old fixture should be a basic electrical job, but it can go so wrong so easily. With people more aware these days about the dangers of electricity, it’s not surprising that many folks opt to just call a professional as soon as they get nervous.
Building a Raised Garden Bed
Cut a few boards, screw them together, and boom - instant garden! Except turns out that wood splits, corners don’t line up, and leveling on uneven ground takes forever. Then sometimes you get to what you think is the end and the whole thing collapses anyway.
Installing a Door Fixture
Replacing a doorknob or deadbolt should be easy, but doors rarely cooperate. Sometimes you think you’ve done the task perfectly and then suddenly your door won’t close. Lots of shouting and swearing shortly follows.
Wall-Mounting a TV
Aren’t you dying to be able to see your TV from anywhere in the room? Why not wall-mount it? Well… wall-mounting is a lot harder than you might think. You might end up breaking a valuable TV and wasting a ton of money.
Installing a Toilet
The instructions make it sound like a quick job, but toilets are heavy, awkward, and messy. Getting the wax ring sealed properly is trickier than expected, and if you don’t, leaks or wobbling are guaranteed. Some decide toilets are too important to not call a professional. Fun fact: This was once the basis of an entire Golden Girls episode.
Fixing a Drywall Hole
Patching drywall seems like a classic DIY fix, but it’s harder than it looks to make it blend. Getting the mud smooth and sanding it down to match takes real skill. One wrong move leaves a bumpy or obvious spot that unfortunately, visitors to the house will definitely notice.
Replacing Baseboards or Trim
Trim work looks deceptively simple - just measure, cut, and nail it in, right? But getting those corners right with miter cuts is a whole different story. It’s one of those projects that proves precision carpentry isn’t as easy as it looks on TV.
Replacing a Faucet
Changing out an old faucet seems like a beginner plumbing project, but one rusty bolt or stuck connection can turn into hours under the sink. Add in surprise leaks or realizing you bought the wrong size fixture, and frustration hits fast.
