19 DIY Projects That Should Have Been Left to the Professionals

The allure of DIY projects is undeniable. You save money, get to be creative, and—if all goes well—end up with something you can brag about. But sometimes, no amount of YouTube tutorials or Pinterest boards can prepare you for the disaster you’re about to unleash. Here are 19 DIY projects where people really should’ve just hired a pro before things went hilariously (or tragically) wrong.

1. The Kitchen Renovation That Became a Kitchen Demolition

Some brave soul thought they could remodel their kitchen on their own. After a few hours with a sledgehammer, they realized they’d knocked out a load-bearing wall. Now, instead of a stylish open-plan kitchen, they have a gaping hole and a very concerned structural engineer on speed dial.

2. The Plumbing Disaster That Became a Wading Pool

Fixing a clogged drain seemed simple enough until they “fixed” it too hard, and the pipes burst. Water poured out like a scene from a low-budget disaster movie. By the time they shut off the water, their bathroom was less of a spa and more of a swamp.

3. The Electrical “Upgrade” That Ended in a Blackout

Someone thought they could rewire the living room lights without turning off the power. A few sparks, a blown fuse, and one startled yelp later, they not only had no new lights but also no electricity in the entire house. Pro tip: electricity doesn’t take kindly to shortcuts.

4. The Backyard Deck That Became a Tilted Stage

Building a deck seemed like the perfect summer project—until they ignored the need for level ground. The result? A slanted, wobbling platform that feels more like a scene from a funhouse than a relaxing place to grill. Guests politely refused to sit on it, fearing they’d slide off with their burgers.

5. The Fence That Wasn’t Exactly Secure

They thought building a fence was easy, but they didn’t bother measuring properly or, apparently, buying enough wood. The end result was a wavy, uneven, and barely-there fence that even the neighborhood squirrels could casually saunter through. It looked more like modern art than a boundary.

6. The Tile Floor That Looked Like a Puzzle Gone Wrong

One ambitious DIYer decided to tile their own bathroom floor. After laying out the tiles, they realized they hadn’t accounted for the grout lines. The result was a crooked, mismatched floor where no two tiles aligned. It became a real-life optical illusion—and not the good kind.

7. The DIY Haircut That Became a Wig Emergency

Quarantine got the best of one person who thought cutting their own hair would be no big deal. A few snips in, and they realized they had no idea what they were doing. By the end, they looked like they had run through a hedge backward. The next day? A professional stylist, a lot of hats, and some heavy regret.

8. The Tree Trimming That Trimmed the Whole Tree

Trimming a few branches off a tree sounds simple, right? Not for this DIYer, who miscalculated the weight and direction of the falling branches. A few poorly placed cuts later, the whole tree toppled over, narrowly missing their house and leaving them with a stump that was all that remained of their outdoor “improvement.”

9. The Garage Door Installation That Went… Up

Someone thought installing a garage door was a one-person job. After spending hours figuring out the mechanism, they hit the remote to proudly watch the door open. It did—in reverse. The door rocketed upward and off its track, leaving them with an expensive pile of parts and a permanently “open-air” garage.

10. The Paint Job That Missed the Mark

Painting a room can seem like a great DIY project—until you realize paint is unpredictable. This unfortunate DIYer forgot to tape off the trim and ceiling, so their “fresh” new wall color ended up splattered on the floor, the windows, and a little on themselves. Picasso they were not.

11. The IKEA Wardrobe That Became Abstract Art

We all know assembling IKEA furniture can be tricky, but this project went especially wrong. After skipping a few steps (because instructions are just “suggestions,” right?), they ended up with a wardrobe where none of the doors closed, the shelves were upside down, and the whole thing leaned like it was auditioning to be the next Leaning Tower of Pisa.

12. The Roof Repair That Let in More Than Rain

Some ambitious homeowner thought they could fix their leaky roof with a little DIY magic. After hammering away for hours, they proudly declared the leak fixed. That is, until the next rainstorm when not just a leak but a steady stream of water poured through the ceiling. Guess who spent the night with buckets on every floor?

13. The Brick Wall That Defied Geometry

Laying bricks sounds straightforward, but for this DIYer, it was more like a game of Tetris—one they lost. After a day of hard work, their brick wall was slanting and curving in directions bricks were never meant to go. Rather than a sturdy barrier, they ended up with an avant-garde sculpture that was one strong gust of wind away from collapse.

14. The Bathroom Remodel That Took “Open Concept” Too Far

Someone decided to take on a bathroom remodel by themselves, knocking down walls for that trendy open-plan vibe. Unfortunately, they misjudged just how much privacy is necessary in a bathroom. With no walls left and no clear plan, they created a bathroom that was open to anyone—literally.

15. The Closet Shelving That Couldn’t Handle It

Installing custom shelving in a closet seemed like a quick win—until they overloaded the shelves with clothes. The shelves came crashing down in the middle of the night, scattering shoes, sweaters, and shattered dreams everywhere. Turns out, DIY shelving has a weight limit.

16. The Shower Tile That Became a Waterfall

In a bold move, this DIYer decided to tile their shower themselves. After spending days meticulously placing each tile, they celebrated by turning on the water—only to discover the tile adhesive wasn’t waterproof. Tiles slid off the wall one by one, creating an impromptu waterfall feature they definitely hadn’t planned.

17. The Concrete Patio That Wasn’t So Solid

Pouring a concrete patio sounds simple enough. This DIYer, however, forgot one key step: leveling. The patio hardened at a steep angle, turning their backyard hangout spot into a permanent downhill slip ‘n slide. Drinks wouldn’t even stay on the table—it all rolled downhill with the patio.

18. The Wallpaper That Refused to Stick

This poor soul thought wallpapering would be a fun way to update their space. But between mismatched patterns, crooked lines, and air bubbles the size of footballs, it quickly became a nightmare. By the end, half the wallpaper was peeling off, and their walls looked like a bad craft project from kindergarten.

19. The Door That Wouldn’t Fit

They bought a new door, ready for a quick swap to freshen up their entryway. Except the new door didn’t fit the frame. No matter how much sanding, cutting, and forcing, it was too big by just that much. After hours of frustration, they ended up with a door they couldn’t use and a newfound respect for door installers.

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