Should you build it or buy it? More often than not, in order not to crack open our brain, we tend to follow the quick and easy way to furnish our house by buying furniture straight from a catalogue. And of course, our home might look exactly like a catalogue showroom, which can look pretty boring.
We are Ikea fans and over the years, we have bought a lot of their black and white furniture. They always look great in the catalogue, but they don’t always work well for everyone’s home, especially for us! Our living room looks dull with no style!
In this devoted Pinterest world, we have all pinned plenty of DIY or upcycled furniture on the board, hoping one day, we will feel inspired and start a project! But which ones are worth just buying from a store, instead of rolling up our sleeves and doing it ourselves?
That’s the multi-million dollar question I always ask myself since I love DIY! Should I build it and make it my own style? Will it end up costing us more – monetary, or in blood sweat and tears? Here are some things to think about when trying to decide whether to build it or whether to just buy it:
1. Cost
Materials do not come cheap and also not forgetting to add transport/delivery fee and tool costs. Write out all the costs in a spreadsheet to give you an idea of how much it would cost.
I usually do an internet search and go onto the local Facebook page, Freecycle, NextDoor etc., to ask for help in materials (free materials are always welcome), where to get the supply from or any ideas to improve it.
For example, if you are building a toy box, you would probably want to get gas springs from SGS Engineering. Gas springs are perfect for use with most furniture – not only do they make opening pieces of furniture easier, they will also make it safer, too. Also, loud noises when closing boxes or furniture will certainly be a thing of the past!
Good quality tools that last for a long time can be expensive, but if you love DIY, it is definitely worth investing in and can help provide significant savings in the long run by allowing you to make things instead of buying them. If you have no plans for any future projects, then buying ready-made / flat-pack furniture will be more cost-effective.
2. Time
If you think you have a couple of hours to spare, then plan it out but always plan for more. I always go with twice the amount of time I think it will take. Just like this Pallet Playhouse I made for my daughter which I thought would take about 4 hours but ended up taking about 8 hours!
3. Skills
Do you think you have the skill to do it? If no, it is probably best to do your research and learn how to make it before you attempt it. You can learn a lot of DIY from YouTube. There are so many tutorials online from large DIY projects to simple DIY tips. Don’t be afraid to learn a new skill or maybe get some knowledgeable family and friends to help you along.
But, if you have no interest in learning a new skill, it may be worth skipping and just buy instead!
4. Work Space & Storage
Do you have the space to work and the place for storage? It’s easy to overlook how much space we need to be able to work effectively but not block up the key areas of the house. Plan for an area that can be cleared in a minute and ensure you’re not blocking any exits!
5. Style
What kind of style are you after? If the project will save you a fortune, or you can’t find it anywhere, not the right style, colour, shape or size, then it is totally worth building it yourself.
Just like this one of a kind Pallet climbing frame that I made for my children. You can’t get this in any shops!
If it is one-of-a-kind furniture that simply just can’t be replicated or too hard, then it is worth buying it.
I hope these factors to consider are helpful for you if you are trying to decide whether to build it or buy it! Do let me know your thoughts at the comment below!
Disclosure: This is a featured post.