20 Outrageous Home Improvement Fails

These ill-advised projects may make you think twice about doing things around the house on your own.

20 Outrageous Home Improvement Fails

Because so much information is available at the stroke of a finger now, people are trying more home improvements themselves. Do-it-yourself culture is a very real thing. And while all sorts of creative crafts can become both more personalized and more playful when you attempt to do them on your own, certain things — like major home tasks — should typically be left to professionals.

These hilarious posts embrace the failures of home improvement attempts. These DIYers were in way over their heads, whether or not they realized it at first. Enjoy these entertaining stories and pictures from people who attempted to do home improvement projects themselves and quickly (and often hysterically) learned their lesson.

Nobody Puts Two Drawers in a Corner

Just because something looks good on paper doesn’t always mean it’s going to work in the real world. Make sure you think a couple steps ahead before you install something that will only cause frustration.

Caulk It up to a Learning Lesson

Sometimes you have to learn a lesson the hard way. And getting all the goods but not having the equipment to make the goods actually work can be a tough lesson, but one you’ll likely never forget.

A Delicate Balancing Act

The person who got creative with this ladder foundation certainly deserves credit for creativity. And they’ll need that credit when this ladder inevitably comes crashing down.

A Shocking Shower

Having lots of electrical outlets available is usually a plus. But in this case of these unfortunately located outlets, you’d probably be better off (or at least safer) relocating either the outlets or the shower itself.

A Very European Mistake

A busted pipe is usually not a good thing. But if you’re in the mood for a bidet without all the pesky planning and water control, then it can be a positive thing.

Peeping Skylight

Sometimes you forget that your own home improvements can affect your neighbors or the people who live nearby. Unless, of course, you create a “home improvement” that allows you to see them much more clearly.

Even Duct Tape Has Its Limits

Duct tape can be a great temporary fix for a lot of problems. But it is not a catch all. And it doesn’t last forever. So make sure your home improvements are actually improvements and not just temporary fixes.

Measure Twice, Cut Later if Needed

There are so many problems to this “solution” of cutting a door to make the toilet seat fit. One of the major ones, of course, is now you don’t have any privacy since there’s a big hole into the bathroom that will allow anyone walking by to see or hear easily.

Quite a Mis-steak

Usually, when you want to change the color of an item in your home, you do so by painting it. But in this case, the kitchen got a new layer of color thanks to a major cooking mishap.

A Pawsitively Bad Idea

Dogs may be man’s best friend. And they make great buddies for all sorts of adventures. But when it comes to overseeing home improvements, it may be best to let your furry friend go play in the backyard while you focus on the building.

The Higher the Speed, the Lesser the Pain

Occasional mishaps and accidents can happen when you’re working with your hands, especially when large equipment is involved. But at least this poor person learned that when something pierces through you, if it does so quickly, the pain is slightly more manageable.

Missed the Mark

It’s a great feeling when you hang up something in your home all by yourself. But it’s a sinking feeling when, moments later, you hear that very thing come crashing down.

Stairway to Nowhere

When building a set of stairs, it’s probably a good idea to have them go somewhere. Otherwise they’re just confusing and don’t add a lot of value to your home. (Unless, of course, you’re the famous Winchester Mystery House in California.)

Snakes in the Drain

Anyone who has ever called a plumber over for a clogged pipe may have seen the snake tool they use and thought it looked simple enough. But if you’ve actually used the tool, you know it can be finicky and frustrating, and usually best left to the experts to handle.

Careful With That Hammer

Hitting yourself anywhere with a power tool is going to be painful. But there are certain more sensitive spots on the body that can be especially painful, even if they’re entertaining to say.

What a Stain

At least this only stained the floor of a garage. It may be a headache to attempt to get out, but if anyone asks, you could pass it off as an “artistic expression.”

Pun-ny Failure

Not all paper is created equal. There’s a reason notebook paper should stay on a desk and wallpaper should stay on the walls. Getting them mixed up can confuse everything.

Ceilings Can Be Relative

This isn’t exactly where you’d expect a ceiling fan to go, even though it still mostly will send air down from above. All you have to do is walk on the other sidewall in order for this to be considered the “ceiling.”

My Lamps Are up Here

Sometimes lights can create surprising shadows. And the placement of these two lights with the angles of this home’s ceiling have certainly created something, ahem, familiar for those who look up.

Shattered Patio Dreams

Be very careful with whatever you put on any beloved glass surface. Glass can be unforgiving if something too hot or too heavy is put onto it.