As a new dad and homeowner, I’ve started to take more of an interest in DIY and handyman skills in the last few years. I want to be the dad that makes cool things with his kids and the homeowner who doesn’t have to call a professional every time he needs something fixed on his house. But like many 21st century American men, my handyman skills are paltry compared to that of my grandpa’s or even my dad’s generation.
However, thanks to the wonders of the internet I’ve been able to level-up my DIY skills. Below I share five of my favorite home improvement and DIY blogs and sites. Some of them focus on fun projects you can do with your kids, while others share how-to’s on fixing things around the house.
I find that most of the DIY home improvement books out there don’t do a good job of explaining things for beginners. They sort of assume you know what you’re doing and just offer “guidelines” on how to complete a project, leaving you frustrated and scratching your head.
That’s why I was so excited to serendipitously meet the fine gents who own and run the home improvement site One Project Closer at a blogger event last year. The One Project Closer staff shadows professional remodelers and contractors, and then shares what they’ve learned about successfully completing even the toughest of jobs with their readers. The site is packed with easy-to-follow, step-by-step photo guides on how to do the most basic and most advanced home improvement projects. You can easily browse tutorials by area of house — categories include flooring, bathroom, and walls and ceilings just to name a few.
Most craft websites on the web are geared towards women. It’s hard for a guy who wants to be “crafty” to find project ideas that don’t have the words “Shabby Chic” in the title.
But Man Made DIY is a shining exception. The site curates the best man-centric craft projects out there on the web in one place. The typical project featured on Man Made DIY can be done by just about any guy who has a modicum of handiness in him. You’ll find a plethora of fun and cool projects in the site’s “How-to” section. Here are three of my favorites:
Make a DIY Surplus Ammo Can Speaker Box
Make a DIY Portable Grill from a Recycled Tool Box
Make a Rustic Wooden Coffee Table from Scratch
This is a must read site for dads. But even if you don’t have kids, you’ll probably find some projects that you’d enjoy making for yourself. Built by Kids is packed with project tutorials that you can do for and with your kiddos. Here are a few of my favorites:
How to Make a Backyard Zip Line
Build a Star Wars Imperial Walker Bed
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