Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
66 Times People Tried Home Improvement And Ended Up With Big Regrets Instead
Throw the first stone if you’ve never looked at a crack in your ceiling or a kitchen cabinet door falling apart and thought, “I can fix that myself!” After all, who would want to spend so much money, effort, and time hiring someone else to do it when they can just do it themselves?
Well, for starters, the people on this list should have. Sometimes, a simple DIY fix, home improvement project, or even just a little aesthetic pick-me-up can end up looking far... less impressive than expected. And if you’re looking for inspiration for your next home project, well, you won’t find it here. But you’ll have plenty of ideas for what not to do with this list.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Apparently My Post Isn't Appropriate For R/DIY So I'll Share With Y'all. I Installed My Own Microwave Today And Saved $150 In Install Fees!
RELATED:
#2
We Just Finished The Construction Of Our Yurt... And The Fireplace Was Not Correctly Installed
#3
My Mom's Garage Is Being Renovated. I Think It's Pretty Obvious That They Have 3 Dogs
In a matter of decades, or perhaps even sooner, 2020 will be known as the year that changed the world in a monumental way. And we’re not just talking about what the pandemic took away from us, but also what it added to our lives, especially when it comes to activities at home. Statistics show that after 2020, more than 70% of homeowners tried to take on at least one major DIY project at home.
This makes perfect sense, as people were forced to spend so much time inside their homes. For a while, many weren’t working, had exhausted all kinds of entertainment, and eventually turned to fixing up whatever was within their four walls. Apparently, these projects usually involved plumbing, electrical work, and, of course, fixing tiles and drywall.
#4
I Knew That Stud Was In There Somewhere, Follow Me For More DIY Projects
#5
I Told My Neighbour His Mortar Needed Fixing. Found This The Next Week
#6
Easy Installation Shower Door, They Said
#7
At Least Your Satellite Doesn't Have A Permanent Necklace
And you can tell some of these were major fails for the homeowners, which was a sure kick to the ego. But egos weren’t the only thing hurt during major DIY projects and home renovations. Surveys actually show that over 40% of couples report that major DIY home renovation projects cause relationship stress, strain, and arguments.
This is because what starts as an exciting new project can quickly turn into disagreements for various reasons. Finance experts say the debt that often comes with these projects tends to take center stage in discussions, but other factors also come into play, like living in chaos. In a chaotic, potentially messy renovation environment, tensions can run high, and everyday life can start to feel just as disorganized.
#8
At Least You Didn't Build Yourself A Miniature House
#9
Facade Wall Contractors Used A Drill Too Long For The Job. Was Showering For 10 Mins, When I Realized, Two Rooms Were In This State
Celtic Pirate Queen 2 days ago
This is one reason to always make sure your contractor is licensed and insured.
#10
True Story: So I Tried To Open The Door To See How The Installation Was Going. Tried
#11
Home Renovation Not Going As Planned. Doing Some Minor Ethernet Wiring With Friends And He Slipped. Unharmed Other Than Pride
Fungus John 4 days ago
eh, better than my mate who fell out a third story window while running ethernet
And speaking of debt, it’s not just the cost of fixing things yourself that can be a problem. It’s also the cost of hiring a professional to fix what you messed up. Research shows that, on average, a failed DIY project costs much more to fix than hiring a professional in the first place.
This is because demolition, repairing hidden damage, and even potential trips to the emergency room can all add to the final cost of what was supposed to be a budget-friendly project. After all, there’s a reason why professionals exist in the first place
#12
Spent $40,000 Renovating My New Home. Just Got The Itemized Budget, "Install Sliding Door Stopper: $100". Here’s A Photo Of The "Installed" Door Stopper
#13
Just Don’t Leave The Water On And Swing The Faucet. This Is A Remodeled Kitchen In My Sister's New House
#14
I’m A Genius. Was Amazed How Quickly I Repaired My Entry Door From The Garage
#15
Trying To Remodel. Brand New Kitchen Is Edgy I Suppose
#16
Found On Local Cleaning Group
#17
At Least Your Toilet Isn't A Dang Puzzle
But it’s not just cost that drives people to start a home project. Researchers Michael I. Norton, Daniel Mochon, and Dan Ariely actually coined the term “IKEA effect,” which explains why building something ourselves can matter so much.
They found that when you put effort into a physical project, your brain almost instinctively rationalizes that effort by convincing you that the end result is far more special or higher quality than it actually is. It’s almost as if your brain is trying to protect you from, well... your own ambitious self.
#18
New Windows That Are Supposed To Help With Thermal Efficiency Break During Install
#19
Found In The Foreclosure My Friend Bought
#20
I Picked The Ladder Up Forgetting The Paint Was On Top
#21
Angles I Never Knew I Didn’t Want To See
There’s also a state called “flow,” which psychologist Mihály Csikszentmihalyi identified as a state of deep absorption that occurs when a challenge perfectly matches your skill level and time almost seems to stop. You become so absorbed in the moment that you forget about everything else.
These small tasks can also release bursts of dopamine in your brain, making DIY projects far more enjoyable than many would expect. But have you ever gotten this into a DIY project before? And what happened? Were you successful and happy with the final result? Let us know!
#22
I Never Thought I'd See Anything Like This In My Own Town"
Tyranamar Seuss 3 days ago
How you know your truck is too stupidly big. Time to buy a more practical vehicle.
#23
Mom And Dad Are Getting The Bathroom Renovated And The Tiler Did This
#24
Council House Newbuild 🙈
#25
For Those Who Like Their Mornings Electric
#26
GF And I Have Covid. Heater Went Out, Technician Can't Come Out Due To Quarantine. Decided To Try And Fix It Myself. Tripped Over A Pipe And Fell Through The Ceiling
#27
My Landlord Installed This Toilet Paper Holder In My Apartment During Renovation. Yes, It Is Glued Onto The Wall. No, None Of The Parts Come Off
#28
Lazy Plumbers Installed Leaky Pipes In My Bathroom. Now There Are Mushrooms Growing On My Ceiling
#29
We Are Both Crying Inside, He’s Okay And Super Lucky He Didn’t Fall Above The Stairs
Brian Droste 3 days ago
I have made this comment before and again I am going to make it again. If you are going to be in the attic, WALK ON THE BEAMS. You won't fall through like this.
#30
Currently Having The Bathroom Above Our Newly Renovated Kitchen Redone, This Is What I Came Home To Today
#31
At Least You Didn't Run Out Of Paint At Just The Worst Moment
#32
Shower Jenga. Because Nothing Says “Relax” Like The Fear Of Collapse
Slop Generator 3 days ago
Now you can dance with both hands free while singing into the shower head. Great idea!
#33
My Girlfriend's Approach To Fixing Broken Glass On Our Kitchen
#34
Fixed The Doors... And Now They Don't Close
#35
Real Fake Doors
#36
Neat Fan Installation
#37
How To Turn A Perfectly Good Toilet In A Urinal
#38
Don’t Really Know If It Fits Here But My Mom Turned Our Broken Kettle Into A Planter
#39
Powered By Hope And Double-Sided Tape
#40
What Do You Mean "Crush Hazard" It Looks Perfectly Safe To Me
#41
Didn’t Color Match Spray Paint Before… Not Sure What To Do Now
#42
DIY Plumbing, Apparently Anyone Can Do It
#43
If It Fits, I Sits
#44
This “Abstract” Billiards Table At An Airbnb I Was At. As It Also Turns Out, Thick Globs Of Hideous Paint Don’t Allow For Very Smooth Table Roll
#45
This Bathroom Floor In A House I Found On Zillow. I Can’t Decide If I Love It Or Hate It
#46
I Have No Words For This Atrocity Of A Mirror
Beak Hookage 4 days ago
Oh come on, they didn't even paint the foam to make it look pretty. Or at least try to.
#49
Just Moved Into First Home With My Wife, She Just Wanted To Hang A Picture..by Drilling Into A Sprinkler Pipe Trying To Put In A Wall Anchor. 40 Minutes To Shut Off, Do Not Recommend
#50
Cooks Belong In The Heart Of The Kitchen
#51
My Brother-In-Law's Remodeled Basement
#52
I've Heard Of "Painting Yourself Into A Corner" But My Wife Took It A Step Further. I Don't Even Know
#53
Normally I Like Modern Furnishings, I Don’t Like This Though…
David Paterson 3 days ago
Judging from the infamous "webs of spiders on dr*gs" article in Scientific American, LD 50 of caffeine.
#54
When You Don’t Know Plumbing, Just Pour The Floor Around It ..?
#56
One Roll Per Adventure
Ophelia Poe 3 days ago
It's important to conceal embarrassing details. It's fine to let people know that you USE the toilet but you don't want them to think you wipe afterward. It just isn't dignified.
#57
'My Landlord's DIY Fail', Otherwise Known As 'How To Save Money And Turn Your House Into A Fire Hazard In One Easy Step'. (My Landlord Installed A Dryer Vent For Us, But Instead Of Hiring A Contractor, She Got A Family Friend To Do It)
Francisco Scaramanga 3 days ago
It’s a shock to me that anyone still uses vented dryers. All that d**n plastic lint goes right into the air.
#58
I Present To You, My Shower Head
#59
How These Pipes Were Installed
#61
At Least You Didn't Put Your Doorstop On The Wrong Side
PeachPossum 3 days ago
No, no, no, no. That is not a door stop. That is a CAT TOY. How else will Kitty know to wake you when it's her breakfast time? SPRONG!
#63
Saw This House For Rent On Marketplace
#64
DIY Projects That Probably Should Have Never Happened
#65
When One Bulb Isn’t Enough To Blind Guests
#66
They Just Had Their Kitchen Remodeled
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
David Paterson 3 days ago
Most lists of DIY failures include at least one "if it's stupid and it works then it's not stupid" entry. But all of these are genuine disasters. Well done.
Jan Castle 1 day ago
I love the post, but i love more the poll xD "Embrace the chaos and humor of DIY"! YES!
Laugh or not 3 days ago
Most of them are harmless, a few are potentially lethal. And my European mind wants to know what those ceilings are made off that people fall through them so often.
Load More Replies... David Paterson 3 days ago
Most lists of DIY failures include at least one "if it's stupid and it works then it's not stupid" entry. But all of these are genuine disasters. Well done.
Jan Castle 1 day ago
I love the post, but i love more the poll xD "Embrace the chaos and humor of DIY"! YES!
Laugh or not 3 days ago
Most of them are harmless, a few are potentially lethal. And my European mind wants to know what those ceilings are made off that people fall through them so often.
Load More Replies...
Related on Bored Panda
