DIY Crafting: A Guide to Home Furniture Projects
There's nothing more satisfying than
reclining in a deck chair that you made yourself. Whether you're
looking for inexpensive alternatives to home remodeling or you're
just eager to roll up your sleeves and try your hand at DIY, here are
a few things to keep in mind about constructing your own furniture.
Gather Necessary Supplies
First things first: Make sure you have
everything you need for your project before you begin. If you're
forced to interrupt your work with a trip to Home Depot, you'll lose
both enthusiasm and momentum, so round up all your screwdrivers,
power drills and
carriage bolts right off the bat.
Do Your Research
What kind of screws are best when
constructing a homemade patio? Which material has a higher
resistivity to corrosion, steel or ceramic? These are questions you
should be asking yourself long before you pick up a hammer, because
if you don't, you're putting the longevity of your creation at risk.
Know The Process
This goes hand-in-hand with readying
your supplies, because preparation is the key to any successful DIY
project. While handcrafting your furniture affords a certain amount
of wiggle room, it's still important that you have steps to follow
and requirements to be met. If you're building an oak table, for
example, you'll need lag bolts
(http://www.wholesalebolts.com/hexheadlagscrews.aspx)
to particular size specifications lest they lose themselves in the
wood. If you're re-upholstering a couch, you'll be stripping the
fabric and examining the frame, so make a note to inspect the corner
braces.
Find The Right Instructions
First-timers should never attempt a DIY
furniture project without having some kind of resource to check their
work. Look for online tutorials, YouTube videos, instruction manuals,
et cetera. More experienced builders might have the skills necessary
to stray outside the lines or carpenter things without help, but if
you've never built a chair before, listen to the math and
construction experts about crack propagation and weight distribution.
Know Your Limits
One of the wisest and yet more ignored
pieces of DIY advice: Don't bite off more than you can chew. Start
with simple projects, working your way up to more difficult and
time-consuming ones. You'll have plenty of chances to build that
elaborate, 100-piece playroom set. Don't make it your first goal.
These are just a few things to consider
before taking the plunge and starting your own DIY furniture project.
At the end of the day, the nuts and bolts matter less than your
passion and perseverance, so work hard and have fun!