Is Your DIY Obsession Destroying Your Apartment? Let’s Talk About It

Pin Save Email

DIY used to mean being creative with a tight budget. These days it often means overestimating your own skill set and thinking you’re a contractor just because you watched a few clips online while eating cereal. There’s a difference between customizing your space and trying to reinvent the entire concept of plumbing before noon.

The Appeal Makes Sense… Until It Doesn’t

Look, nobody’s saying you shouldn’t personalize your apartment. You should! It’s your home. You deserve it to reflect your style, your comfort, your quirks. But there’s a very blurry line between customization and chaos, and far too many people are sprinting over that line with power drills and gallons of off-brand paint. What starts as a harmless paint job can snowball into sanding floors that aren’t yours to sand or attempting built-ins in a space that was never built for them. And yes, I get it—contractors are expensive, landlords can be useless, and waiting for maintenance is like waiting for a comet sighting.

Still, maybe don’t try to tile your own backsplash after two cocktails on a Saturday night.

And let’s not ignore the social media angle. It’s tempting to want that picture-perfect corner of your home to post and share. But just because someone online made it look easy doesn’t mean they didn’t cut corners or hide the part where their sink exploded. Chasing aesthetic over safety? That’s not a cute personality trait.

Most Of Us Aren’t Contractors And That’s Okay

There’s a reason people go to trade school, apprentice for years, and get certified before they’re allowed to tear out pipes or reroute electricity. That reason is: it’s hard. And sometimes dangerous. You wouldn’t walk into a dentist’s office, pick up a drill, and start giving yourself a root canal just because you watched a tutorial. So why are we doing the home version of that?

Here’s the thing—if you’re renting, there’s probably language in your lease that says you’re not even supposed to be doing half the things your DIY Pinterest board is dreaming about. You may think you’re adding charm or value or “character” but all you’re really doing is creating a pile of issues your landlord will charge you to undo later. And that’s if you’re lucky.

There are also way too many people out here handing out advice who probably shouldn’t be. There’s a difference between home remodeling tips and someone going viral for turning their bathtub into a sunken library using plywood and duct tape. You don’t have to take inspiration from every hot mess that ends up on your feed. Some things are better left to professionals—or at the very least, to people who own the walls they’re trying to destroy.

Damage Control Is More Expensive Than You Think

You think you’re saving money by skipping the pro, but let me tell you—nothing drains your bank account faster than a DIY gone wrong. Replacing baseboards you ripped off, patching giant holes from a “floating” shelf collapse, or fixing that electrical short you caused when your DIY pendant light fizzled out? That all adds up. Fast.

There’s a quiet panic that sets in when your landlord calls to schedule an inspection and you suddenly remember you replaced all the cabinet handles with antique door knockers “for the vibes.” And it’s not just the aesthetics. If something breaks because of your handiwork and it causes damage—water leaks, electrical fires, etc.—you might be on the hook for it.

Also, let’s talk about time. DIY projects rarely go according to schedule. What was supposed to be a Saturday afternoon refresh can turn into a three-week saga of trial, error, rage, and regret. You could have just hired someone and been done with it in a day, probably for less money than you’ll spend fixing your mistakes.

Comfort Can’t Compete With Chaos

You moved into an apartment because you wanted convenience, right? A place you could enjoy without worrying about roofing or replacing the water heater. So why are you trying to turn your space into a fixer-upper project that eats your weekends and ruins your walls? There’s something deeply satisfying about living in a space that just… works. No weird cabinet “hacks” that keep falling off. No closets that wobble because you wanted to turn them into a built-in pantry.

And when something does go wrong—say your cooling system stops working in July? That’s when you call someone who knows what they’re doing. If you think your friend’s cousin who’s “pretty handy” can figure out how to reroute the ventilation system on a 15-year-old unit, you might be in for a sweaty surprise. Your peace of mind is worth the investment in AC repair, not worth the gamble of trying to fix it with a YouTube tutorial and blind confidence.

Let the Pros Handle the Heavy Stuff

There’s still room for creative expression without going rogue on your apartment. Paint a wall (if it’s allowed). Swap out your shower curtain. Add peel-and-stick wallpaper or change up your throw pillows. That’s all fun and fine. But if your DIY project needs a power saw, extensive research, or the phrase “I think I got it to stop leaking,” you’re probably past the point of no return.

There’s also no shame in asking for help. Want to update your lighting? Call an electrician. Want a new floor? Hire someone who won’t leave you with uneven planks and a lawsuit. Yes, it costs money—but not nearly as much as botching the job yourself and needing to undo the damage later.

And if the motivation is just to impress your Instagram followers? Maybe it’s time to unplug for a minute and think about who’s actually living in that space—hint: it’s you, not your audience.

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

DIY can be empowering when it’s simple, safe, and done with some self-awareness. But the current trend of treating every apartment like it’s your personal HGTV show needs to simmer down. Your home doesn’t have to be a constant project to be worth showing off. Sometimes the best move is doing less—and doing it well.

Pin Save Email

Gallery