DIY.
Why is this such a dirty word* in the design world? Time after time I see tweets, blog posts and Facebook updates criticizing DIY.
Fine. Not everyone likes it. I get it. What I want to know is, why do people have to put something down if they don't like it?
There are loads of things related to design {and otherwise} that I do not like. I am a love or hate kind of girl. But, I know people out there reading my tweets or my posts do like something that I may hate, so I do the mature, respectful thing and try to keep my mouth shut. I don't feel that the need to express my negative opinion about something is more important than potentially hurting someone's feelings. And trust me, when you insult certain things in social media, someone is going to feel hurt.
How about this idea:
So why the insults about DIY? Why do some designers, decorators, or design bloggers feel the need to bash it? Does it make them feel superior? I have news for them all: there is no superior. Only different. Different talents, different skills, different styles. All amazing. All worth celebrating. And there is room for everyone.
There will always be people fortunate enough to afford and hire interior designers, decorators, and stylists {in fact, I just started taking clients}. However, for those of us that can't, great design is becoming more access able thanks to TV, magazines, blogs and books sharing the tricks and tips for how we can do it ourselves.
For me, DIY is an opportunity to express my creativity, to take something and make it more than what it was, to add pretty where there was none. It is usually budget friendly, which makes beautiful design more accessible to me, and others like me. And there are a lot of people out there like me. DIY can be hard work and I take great pride in every project I create for my home.
Are there crappy DIY projects? Of course there are. Just like there are poorly designed rooms.
But remember this: they are all something special to the person that created it.
Here's an idea: if someone truly wants the world to know her design style it is just as effective—and way more respected—to share what you love instead of judging what you hate.
*I know DIY is an acronym but 'dirty acronym' doesn't quite have the same ring to it as 'dirty word.'
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