How to Avoid Pinterest Fails

Tips to avoid Pinterest Fails

Have you ever taken a stab at a Pinterest DIY, failed miserably and felt kind of bad? Yea, me too and it turns out we’re not alone. A lot of people have tried Pinterest DIYs resulting in some hilarious fails {for some serious laughs check out Bored Panda’s 20 hilarious Pinterest fails}.

Pinterest is an amazing resource for DIY inspiration, but can we expect the same results when we try it ourselves? And most importantly, can we expect it to always be money-saving? Probably not and here’s the truth:

Major Pinterest Fails

A lot of Pinterest DIYs are created by skilled people and photographed by an experienced photographer in order to showcase and market their abilities. And who knows, they may try the project 10 times to get it right before posting the final results.

Realistically, we don’t have 10 times the patience or 10 times the $$$ to put into a project that could potentially look as sad or as limp as the wreath above. So, how can we choose the right Pinterest project, you ask.

Don’t worry, it’s easy! Choosing practical Pinterest DIYs is as simple as remembering a few key thing.

Let me tell you from experience. Not all DIYs save you money! {Oops} Make sure you research the cost of each material you need and decide whether the savings of doing it yourself is worth the extra effort. Also, be prepared to spend a little extra if there’s an unforeseen set back in the project.

Be careful when choosing a project that’s very “now” or “trendy,” as it could be a temporary fad and not worth the time or money. {For example, the ombre and gradient furniture below, don’t get me wrong I love me some ombre, but this design is very current and may look dated in a few years.}

Ombre Furniture DIY Image Source: Jake and Maya

Remember that time = money. Take into account every single aspect of the project {shopping, prep, execution, clean up, etc.}. Decide if spending a little more money for the store bought product is worth the valuable time you’ll save.

Decide if it’s just something nifty/kitschy that you want to try on impulse or if you need it. Since it’s not guaranteed to work, do you need/want it enough to risk it not coming out right?

Pinterest Fails: How to Have Realistic Expectations with DIY Projects

Image Source: Muse Decor {Although this one was a fail, Muse Decor has some really amazing, successful DIY projects}.

And there you have it. Want some practice? Try these questions on my post 5 Ways to Reinvent Secondhand Furniture and see if one of those fabulous ideas could be your next project!

Have you tried a project and been successful? Or unsuccessful? Do you have a project you’re thinking of trying? Do you think most Pinterest DIY projects are easy enough for the average person to do?

About the author: Taylor Gordon is a freelance blogger from D.C. When she isn’t obsessively searching for deals you can find her Instagramming photos of her cat Zeus and blogging about personal finance and budget living on her blog, TrendyCheapo.com. Like Trendy Cheapo on Facebook or follow her @TrendyCheapo on Twitter.

9 Comments
  • Tiffany
    Posted at 09:17h, 21 January Reply

    Ha! this is so true. I’ve tried some projects and they definitely didn’t come out as expected. Some people make it look so easy. It really is trial and error and a LOT of time

    • Taylor
      Posted at 10:02h, 21 January Reply

      LOL right? When my projects fail it’s a good laugh. I think it’s great that some people are transparent and show their failed projects so we can feel a little better about ourselves 🙂

  • Thrifty Chic
    Posted at 09:36h, 21 January Reply

    I know my limits with projects. If it requires a lot of serious steps and tools I’ve never used, I pass or make sure i don’t have to spend a ton of materials.

    • Taylor
      Posted at 09:51h, 21 January Reply

      smart! It took me a few fails to realize that some DIYs are not worth it.

  • Alex
    Posted at 18:08h, 21 January Reply

    These fails are too funny, but so true.

    • Taylor
      Posted at 13:34h, 22 January Reply

      I laughed almost the entire time I wrote this… especially at the link from Bored Panda. If you haven’t checked it out, those fails will def get you over “hump” day with some humor.

  • The Budget Babe
    Posted at 18:21h, 23 January Reply

    Thank you for writing this, I see so many DIYs that cost a ton and like you said, time is money. Homemade is great but not always cheaper than store-bought.

    • Taylor
      Posted at 15:54h, 24 January Reply

      Thanks for reading! I learned this lesson the hard way and found that some DIY projects are just not worth the effort or meager savings.

  • Pingback:Save Cash with These Easy DIY Projects | Looking Fly on a Dime
    Posted at 03:02h, 29 April Reply

    […] some DIY projects look great, but they’re super intimidating and time consuming {remember our Pinterest DIY Fails post?!}. But you do not have to be a seamstress or designer to make fashionable pieces that show […]

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