110 Home-Made Inventions That Might Just Blow Your Mind

We live in an age where we can have any item delivered to our doorsteps in a matter of days. You don’t even have to buy groceries or make dinner if you’re not in the mood; a courier will bring you whatever you’re craving within the hour. This convenience culture is great sometimes, but it has removed so much friction from our lives that many of us have forgotten how to acquire new skills.

There’s certainly still value in making something yourself, though. Just look at the Maker subreddit! This group is dedicated to celebrating all sorts of things; as long as you made it yourself, it fits the bill. So we hope that the photos featured here will remind you that you don’t have to order everything off Amazon, pandas. You can always follow a YouTube tutorial and figure out how to make that shelf yourself!    

If you’re wondering what the benefits are of doing projects yourself, Houzz has got you covered. First, they note that anything you DIY will have a personal touch. You won’t own the exact same pieces from IKEA that everyone else in your life has, and every time you look at that bookcase or table, you’ll remember how hard you worked on it.

In the same vein, upcycling comes with a sense of accomplishment. Anyone can go to the store and pick something out or order a product from Amazon with just a few clicks. But not everyone has the vision and skills to be able to create something totally unique. You might just become obsessed with that sense of accomplishment and start DIY-ing all the time!

Making things yourself is also a great way to reduce your environmental impact. If you use materials that were on their way to the landfill, you’ll benefit both your home and the planet. Plus, by making something unique, you’ll reduce the demand for cheap, low-quality products sold by huge corporations. It may be convenient to buy those items, but they won’t last a lifetime. It’s better to invest your time and energy into something you’ll truly love.  

Now, we’ll be honest, not all DIY projects are cheaper than purchasing something from a store. But once you’ve accumulated all the supplies you need, future projects will likely be much friendlier on your wallet than shopping for something brand new. Plus, you have the ability to customize your items to make them exactly how you imagined, whereas you might have wanted to paint or zhuzh up something you bought from IKEA.  

If you’re starting to wonder where exactly to start your DIY journey, we understand; it can be overwhelming. But The DIY Playbook has recommended 13 manageable skills that every homeowner should be able to pick up. First up: knowing how to change your air filter, as this should be done every few months. It’s also important to know the correct hardware to hang things from and how to fill holes in your drywall. And while you’re at it, figuring out how to use a caulk gun is a great idea.

If you’re scared of power tools, now’s the time to conquer that fear. Because The DIY Playbook says operating a power drill is something we should all know how to do. And another simple one is knowing how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity in your home. If there’s ever an emergency, you’d better know how to use a fire extinguisher. And you might want to pick up some basic plumbing skills if you want to avoid paying a plumber hundreds of dollars every time there's a minor leak.