50 Times People Got Into The DIY Spirit But Failed At The Execution Miserably (Best Of All Time)

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’sa 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

#2 My Uncle’s Christmas Tree

#3 This Great Wall Of China

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 I Hate It But Kind Of Like It!

#5 Biblically Accurate Furby

#6 This Guy Built A Mini-Door Complete With Doorknob Into The Front Door At The Place He’s Renting, For His Cat Stanley

The DiWHY subreddit has a whopping 3.6 million members and only one moderator, u/IAMmojo. The Redditor has previously spoken with We 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 I’m No Electrician, But I Think I’ve Solved The Mystery Of Why Changing The Lightbulbs Didn’t Work

#8 T-Rex Heels

#9 Because It Gets Hot In The Workshop And There’s No Ac

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 Grandma? Is That You?

#11 My 9 Year Old Daughter Bedazzled Our Remote. It’s Very Pretty But Quite Challenging To Find The Button You Need

#12 I’m Scared

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 5 Minute Craft

#14 Hmmm

#15 Found On R/Mildlyinteresting Thought It Belonged Here

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 Came Across This Picture And Wanted To Share

#17 Can Someone Explain This One?

#18 My Baby Skull Desert Roses Are Coming In Pretty Nice

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 Just Because You Can Quilt It, Doesn’t Mean You Should

#20 Preserving Those Childhood Memories

#21 Airbag Accessories

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 Unique Lamp

#23 Why Just Why

#24 Jean Bag Chair

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 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

#26 Ewwwwwwww

#27 Now It Looks Cool

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 We in a previous interview how everything we own deserves love and attention. That’s why she uses the term ‘re-loved.’

#28 This Motorcycle Was Made Into An 18-Wheeler… Type, Thing

#29 She May Be Trashy But At Least She Recycles

#30 A Lamp Made From Repurposed Material

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 Upcycling A Toothpaste Tube

#32 Just Why?

#33 The Toilets That Await You In Purgatory

#34 Bumper Rockery

#35 Found On Facebook Marketplace

#36 “Does It…work?” “You’re Darn Tootin’!”

#37 Just Gonna Leave This Here

#38 ‘Modern Aesthetic’

#39 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!