In the more than a decade since glossy shelter magazines and home-improvement TV shows became popular, their drumbeat has been steadier than ever lately: Go ahead and tackle a home decorating or repair project! We'll tell you how!

That can be good advice, especially in a recession. Many Americans are heeding the call by taking the do-it-yourself route.

Sales are up at major home improvement chains, and interior designers say many of their clients are curious about trying do-it-yourself projects around the house.Though these projects can be great fun and real money-savers, choosing wisely and planning carefully are keys to avoiding DIY disasters.

Interior designer Mallory Mathison gets frequent calls to fix home improvement projects gone wrong.

"A lot of people say, 'I've tried something myself and it didn't work.' So I'm coming in and fixing someone else's mistakes," Mathison says. "It definitely can cost more to try and do it yourself and then have someone come in and do damage control."

How do you make sure that your weekend project is successful?

Step one is research, says interior designer Janine Carendi. She recommends looking online for free, step-by-step videos for a particular project."The nice thing about seeing it visually is you can actually follow the person, rather than read instructions," she says."A video is a good way to decide if you can do it, and it's great because they usually include a list of tools needed."

You can buy or rent tools you don't have. Consider whether you'll use the tools more than once, and weigh the cost against the price of hiring someone to do the job.Researching a project also gives you a realistic idea of how much time it will take.

"A lot of things can be a two-day project or more," Carendi says. "A lot of people don't realize, and they start a project and don't finish it."

What projects are best for inexperienced DIY-ers?

Painting: Go for it


Walls, furniture, even light fixtures - designers say painting is among the easiest and most affordable ways to improve a home yourself. Just don't cut corners.To make the work look professional, be sure to clean and sand the surfaces before painting.

Mathison suggests painting cabinets to give a kitchen an affordable face lift.

You can attempt to paint the ceiling, says designer Brian Patrick Flynn, but there may be a better route.

One of Flynn's favorite new products is a laminate plank system for ceilings (he loves Armstrong's Woodhaven collection). It can be affixed over an existing ceiling for a sleek, professional look.

Outdoors: Lots of possibilities


Mathison says even home improvement novices can put down a stone walkway in their yard.

She also says staining a deck isn't difficult, as long as you research the job and buy the proper materials. Add a few attractive planters and your DIY yard is complete.

Wallpaper: Stay small


"Everyone now wants some kind of wallcovering," says Flynn, but it's tough to do the entire wall on your own.

"Do all the prep work yourself. Sand the walls with a sanding block and fine-grade sandpaper. After that, take a damp cloth and get all the dust off, then prime with wallpaper primer," Flynn says. "You can probably save up to $300 for a 12-by-12 space. The person you hire just cuts the paper and hangs it. They can be out in a day."


Some wallpapers are pre-cut and pre-pasted, says Carendi, and can turn out beautifully if you're doing a small space. But take your time and work carefully.

Lighting: Stick to cosmetics


"If it involves adding electricity or moving electricity," says Flynn, leave it to an expert. But "swapping lightweight pendants is a much more user-friendly DIY task."

Buy a drum shade from a home goods store. You'll also need some decorative trim and a pendant light kit (available at hardware stores).

"Use a glue gun to add your own trim to the top and bottom of the shade, then insert the pendant kit and cut the cord to size. ... You will be amazed how easy this is," Flynn says.

Above all, says Carendi, know your limitations. But don't be afraid to learn a new skill. "If you're stubborn, that's the best ingredient for any home project," she says. "You have to be really stubborn and determined."