DIY Renovating Don'ts We Learned From Experience (Part 3 of 5)

Measure, measure, measure

We've all heard the saying. "Measure twice, cut once." But, honestly, sometimes measuring twice doesn't feel sufficient to us. If we can get it right three times in a two, we feel pretty confident we've got the right measurements.

"One of the biggest fails you can make is also one of the most common, especially for do-it-yourselfers," said HomeAdvisor. "Measuring incorrectly can cost you a lot of money and cause a lot of headaches. Being off by an inch, a half-inch, or an even smaller fraction of an inch can have dire consequences when it comes to your home renovation project. Incorrect measurements can mean that you don't have enough space to install your appliances or you don't purchase enough materials to complete the project. To avoid making this mistake, measure multiple times. If you're working with someone, have him or her measure as well to ensure that the numbers are accurate."

Don't rush your paint choice

If it looks great in the store, it'll look great in (or on) your place, right? Not always. There's a reason paint stores have samples. Do yourself a favor and buy a couple. The light and shadows in your room could make the color look completely different in your home, turning what you thought was the perfect shade into something meh.

You'll also want to make sure you try the paint in every room you plan to use it in. Perfect Greige is one of our favorite colors, and it looked great in our sunny office. Used in our dark-ish bathroom, however, it turned it into a muddy, cave-like space.

Another important factor to remember is what type of paint to use. That same bathroom was extra challenging to make over because someone had slathered the walls in flat paint long before we got there. "Manufacturers make paint for every surface in your home and they are not all the same," said HomeAdvisor. "Flat paint does not have a shine, shows marks, and is not easy to clean. Use this type of paint on ceilings and on walls in low-traffic areas. Semi-gloss and gloss paints have a nice shine and are a better option for walls in bathrooms, kitchens, and other high-traffic rooms."