DIY mistakes that made us laugh (and learn)

When it comes to DIY, mistakes can be as inevitable as bent nails.

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Yet, it’s these little blunders that teach us some of our most valuable lessons. Here's a light-hearted look at five memorable mishaps that might make you chuckle — along with tips to ensure your own projects stay (mostly) on track.

The measuring meltdown

Perhaps you've heard the golden rule: measure twice, cut once. Well, it’s a lesson someone learned the hard way when they built custom shelves that were too wide to fit through the doorway. After hours of careful assembly and sanding, the finished shelves ended up wedged at an awkward angle, forcing a dismantle-and-reassemble job in the passage.

Lesson learned: Always double-check every measurement — and consider the space you'll be manoeuvring through. It might be tempting to save time by cutting first, but a moment's patience can spare you plenty of headaches (and accidental doorframe damage).

The paint-fumes fiasco