The fear of messing up — FOMU — can keep you from tackling even the simplest DIY project . Here ’s what you want to know to get over it , and finally make your home your own .
Marty Baldwin
No onelikesmessing up , and an distaste to pee mistakes is n’t of necessity a trouble — until that aversion veers into fear , and that fear prevents you from trying something or take peril ( even modest ones ) . When it come to home advance undertaking , this fear of messing up , or FOMU , can really bind you back . rather of try aDIY project , you might hire a costly pro to do a task you could easy do on your own — or , worse , just make do with a space that does n’t serve your functional pauperization and/or style .
Credit:Marty Baldwin
In theBHG 2024 DIY Trend Report , our researchers coined the term FOMU to describe the reverence that can keep someone from starting a undertaking that would drastically raise their enjoyment of their space . understand on to learn whether you might be suffering from FOMU — and how to overpower it to DIY the home of your dreams .
What Is FOMU?
FOMU , or the fear of mess up , is a condition where someone avoids a DIY project out of the fear that they ’ll get it wrong — or make a costly or even dangerous mistake . Symptoms of FOMU include hiring professionals to complete jobs that you could easily complete yourself and avoiding projection altogether out of the business organisation that attempt them could head to disaster .
FOMU is widespread : In the BHG 2024 DIY Trend Report , we found that 70 % of people allow to hiring a pro because of their fear of mess up up . Their reasoning varies . Some people do n’t trust themselves to complete a project correctly , some are afraid they ’ll make a costly mistake , and some are worried about potentially dangerous consequence of their DIY efforts .
In spartan casing , FOMU can hit with projects of all effort and experience floor , but there are some projects that are comparatively FOMU - proof : concord to our Report , people savor DIY project such as creating holiday decor , produce paries art , replacing doorknobs , painting , and upgrading furniture . If you thought that all these projects feel comparatively small - scale , you ’re correct — creative projects and those that offer maximal impact for minimal crusade tend to be FOMU - resistant .
At the other final stage of the spectrum , of course of instruction , are the project that need more specialised skills or that involve plumbing , electric workplace , or turgid swaths of work : Think electric rewiring , replacing window , fit a fresh pot , laying new floor , and re - tile a bathroom .
With task of this sort in thinker , it ’s authoritative to note that , sometimes , FOMU is valid . If a task is outside your power level , involves working with potentially dangerous elements such as electricity , or could result to honest calamity — such as fire or flooding — if not complete properly , you absolutely should lease an experienced professional to complete the study . Even if you finger thwarted at not being able to fill in a project yourself , you will probably still be well-chosen with the final result : 74 % of our study answerer report having had big experiences with domicile professionals , and 70 % finger a sense of relief when they hand a task over to a pro .
The important thing to remember with FOMU is that it should n’t keep you from taking onallDIY labor . rather , measure your power level and name the DIY projects you may safely complete . You might be surprise by how many project fall on your can - do list — and by how great it feels to stop a DIY .
How to Overcome FOMU
FOMU can be helpful , peculiarly if it prevents you from try a undertaking that you ’re not able to nail safely and successfully . But if it ’s keeping you from even attempt a project you do have the ability to finish right , it ’s ache you — and keep you from produce your ambition home .
If you guess you ’re suffering from FOMU , here are a few tips to move past it and try DIY .
Think Positive
Focus on the benefits of taking on a DIY . You could bring through some money , bask a feeling of pride and accomplishment in a line well done , and challenge yourself to leave your comfort geographical zone and get a line something newfangled — and those are just the benefits of the DIY operation . At the death of the project , you ’ll also relish the fruits of your parturiency , whether that ’s a elbow room painted in your preferred colour or afresh look for the bookshelfyou’ve had for class .
Keep Your Motivations in Mind
Remember your motive for even considering a labor in the first spot . Our Report found that the top motive for home melioration projects are to make the dwelling a wonderful office to live , to increase functionality , and to be capable to take pridefulness in the plate . If you focus on your motivations , they might be enough tohelp you past any FOMU .
Ditch Worst-Case Scenario Thinking
Yes , some DIY project could lead to dear or grave damage to your home if they ’re make out falsely — but many , many , many wo n’t . press the possible peril of the task you ’d like to complete , and be realistic . If the undertaking really wo n’t induce long - term equipment casualty , even if you do mess it up , your FOMU might be unfounded .
Do Your Prepwork
Many projects strike aside partway through because of deficiency of provision . Set yourself up for achiever from the start by thoroughly explore the project , understanding what skills or abilities it need , and do sure you have all the demand materials . If you gather everything you need ahead of clock time , it ’s much less probable that you run into unexpected jut that derail the project entirely or give you more opportunities to mess up .
Let Yourself Mess Up
Give yourself license to make mistakes with low - hazard projects . Think about FOMU - proof projects , such as exchange doorknob or painting . If you ’re feeling a little braver , you could even seek task that the BHG 2024 DIY Trend Report squall “ plaguy but fixable ” if messed up , like reupholstering furniture , wallpapering , replacing light fixtures , hop on a TV on the wall , or fix a tattling spigot . Go into these projects with the mind-set that , even if you do mess up , your theatre wo n’t come crumbling down around you — you might be surprise by what you may achieve .
