Some people love doing DIY projects. The sense of accomplishment, the pride, even the process itself. For some, it's a hobby. For others, it's a lifestyle. When it comes to DIY projects at home, 44% of Americans say they prefer to do it themselves over hiring a professional.
But every DIY project can't be a winner. Many of us have probably made a stinker of one of our first DIY projects. That's where the DiWHY community comes in. They share the most hilarious and questionable cases of DIY, and, of course, they ask: "Why is this a thing?"
This time, we're featuring the cream of the crop of the subreddit: the best of all time DiWHY posts!
#1 Trying To Fashion A Face Mask Out Of A Brassiere
Image credits: ajfoucault
#2 This Great Wall Of China
Image credits: McDirty09
#3 Biblically Accurate Furby
Image credits: Christinedrink
As we're celebrating the best of all time pictures the DiWHY subreddit has to offer, it's only fair to give it a proper introduction for those who might not be familiar with it. It's a community that celebrates (and sometimes mocks but mostly in good faith) bad DIY jobs.
The subreddit invites people to share their DIY projects gone wrong. "Ever try fixing things on your own? Didn't come out the way they were supposed to? Do you stand there questioning your whole life? If so, post your results here to DiWHY," the sub's bio claims. "Where shitty projects from DIY live prosperously."
#4 My Uncle's Christmas Tree
Image credits: Sketch_Crush
#5 I Hate It But Kind Of Like It!
Image credits: slothmk1
#6 This Guy Built A Mini-Door Complete With Doorknob Into The Front Door At The Place He’s Renting, For His Cat Stanley
Image credits: BurritoBoy11
The DiWHY subreddit has a whopping 3.6 million members and only one moderator, u/IAMmojo. The Redditor has previously spoken with Bored Panda in 2020, back when the community had only 1.1 million followers.
Although DIY encapsulates all kinds of jobs, from crafting to home improvements, the subreddit's logo is a glue gun. Its moderator, u/IAMmojo, explained to us before that the hot glue gun is probably the main common denominator in almost all bad DIY projects that get featured on the sub.
#7 Because It Gets Hot In The Workshop And There’s No Ac
Image credits: neuroticsmurf
#8 Grandma? Is That You?
Image credits: Die_Like_A_Rockstar
#9 My 9 Year Old Daughter Bedazzled Our Remote. It's Very Pretty But Quite Challenging To Find The Button You Need
Image credits: spankybianky
We like doing DIY projects, even if we know we might fail. The editor of Make magazine and author of Made by Hand: My Adventures in the World of Do-It-Yourself claims that DIYing gives us the courage to screw up. "DIYers not only accept the inevitability of mistakes, they welcome them, because they know that mistakes are a source of inspiration and the most effective way to learn."
#10 5 Minute Craft
Image credits: PowerRangers69
#11 I'm No Electrician, But I Think I've Solved The Mystery Of Why Changing The Lightbulbs Didn't Work
Image credits: gardenpea
#12 T-Rex Heels
Image credits: BarefootHippieDesign
However, some folks prefer to do a one-step DIY: open their wallets. As evident from this list, DIY projects can often go south pretty quickly. Things might get a little bit more serious when it comes to home improvement projects. While it's generally a good idea to paint your walls yourself, doing your own electrical work might be a bad idea.
#13 My Baby Skull Desert Roses Are Coming In Pretty Nice
Image credits: tommeland
#14 I’m Scared
Image credits: Ilovemychicken1013
#15 Came Across This Picture And Wanted To Share
Image credits: MissouriFred
The pandemic was a catalyst for many people to start doing things themselves. Some started baking bread, and others ambitiously set out to redo their kitchens. Do-it-yourself and home furnishing sellers saw a boom in profits that year. Sweden's home improvement product provider BHG, for example, saw a 58% growth in the second quarter of 2020.
#16 Just Because You Can Quilt It, Doesn't Mean You Should
Image credits: van_bh
#17 Airbag Accessories
Image credits: MannequinFactory
#18 Found On R/Mildlyinteresting Thought It Belonged Here
Image credits: i_am_chewbacca
Bloomberg reported in 2022 that the surge in house repair and renovation projects was slowly fading. Stanley Black & Decker's profits lowered almost by half, and they predicted retail purchases to go back to 2019 levels. To offset inflation and lower demand, they have raised their tool prices, prompting some people to put off their DIY projects for later.
#19 Preserving Those Childhood Memories
Image credits: Goobersita
#20 Hmmm
Image credits: LithiumTT
#21 Jean Bag Chair
Image credits: noneo
So, what's the psychology behind doing it ourselves? For some, it's about saving money. In a survey where Clover asked 1,000 homeowners why they chose the DIY route, 85.2% claimed that it's cheaper. And, sometimes, it makes sense. Like when you need to unclog a toilet. The same survey calculated that the average price of unclogging a toilet yourself is $5. If you call a professional to do it, it can cost anywhere from $85 to $520.
#22 Can Someone Explain This One?
Image credits: PineappleLife3
#23 Why Just Why
Image credits: JoseGiraffe
#24 Porcelain With Handpainted Ants
Image credits: FoRealDoh
For those who don't feel discouraged by this list or the dangers of DIY projects, many experts recommend starting small. DIY home improvement blogger Angela Rose suggests painting tile floors, installing floating shelves, or updating closet doors. "All of [these projects] majorly changed the look and feel of the room they were done in," she writes.
#25 Upcycling A Toothpaste Tube
Image credits: reciclagemearte
#26 Unique Lamp
Image credits: Carlos Pujol
#27 As A Landlord, I Am Constantly Amazed At Some Things My Tenants Do. I Installed New Curtain Rods Before The New Tenant Moved In, But She Still Felt It Necessary To Nail The Curtains To The Wall
Image credits: anon
There's also a satisfying sustainability element in DIYing for the eco-conscious. Reusing and repurposing things like furniture or decor items can be great do-it-yourself projects for beginners. Content creator and DIYer Shelly Kennagh told Bored Panda in a previous interview how everything we own deserves love and attention. That's why she uses the term 're-loved.'
#28 Ewwwwwwww
Image credits: rosieSpose
#29 A Lamp Made From Repurposed Material
Image credits: PraxisLD
#30 Faux Library
Image credits: pobody-snerfect
Even if we sometimes fail at DIYing, there are still benefits to doing it. When we're doing something with our hands, we're preventing and building resilience against depression and other mental health disorders. It also gets us away from devices and keeps us engaged in the present moment.
Also, the more DIY projects you do, the better you gradually get. So, don't get discouraged by these DIY fails, Pandas! Grab those power tools or a paintbrush and tackle your first simple project with confidence.
#31 Just Why?
Image credits: SgtRandiTibbs
#32 Found On Facebook Marketplace
Image credits: BQJJ
#33 The Toilets That Await You In Purgatory
Image credits: Machinefun
#34 ‘Modern Aesthetic’
Image credits: TaffleBottom
#35 Cow Tag Earring
Image credits: oliveio
#36 Bumper Rockery
Image credits: the123king-reddit
#37 Now It Looks Cool
Image credits: Deepthrusting99
#38 Feeling Insecure About How Unoriginal And Boring Your Bathroom Tile Grout Is? Want To Make A Statement? Simply Just Cover It Up With Some Glitter Glue!
Image credits: dtx1984
#39 "Does It...work?" "You're Darn Tootin'!"
Image credits: PM_ME_KITTYNIPPLES
#40 Just Wait Until The Airbag Pops Out
Image credits: daisykills
#41 This Motorcycle Was Made Into An 18-Wheeler… Type, Thing
Image credits: READlbetweenl
#42 She May Be Trashy But At Least She Recycles
Image credits: heretik
#43 Just Gonna Leave This Here
Image credits: jeuv
#44 This Chair Is Upholstered In Old Jeans
Image credits: iamrealsmart
#45 "Upcycled" Knife Block
Image credits: mrssupersheen
#46 Beautiful Wood Paneling
Image credits: OrthodoxWarlocks
#47 This Is So Stupid I’m Actually Mad Rn
Image credits: pirateanimal
#48 Tea Cup Made Of Teeth
Image credits: ultraman16
#49 If Someone Could Explain This To Us We Would Greatly Appreciate It
Image credits: lexakookie
#50 Time To Ruin Some Artwork For The *~aesthetic~*
Image credits: reddit.com
