What are the common chores you do around the house? And where do you feel handicapped by your lack of skills? Think about these two questions and then search for the best "how-to" websites that answer all your questions.
DIY sites aren't only about increasing your handyman skills around the house. Yes, they can save you a lot of money. But they can also bolster your confidence when you know how to handle tiny everyday emergencies without calling someone.
Here are some of lesser known how-to websites that give you a lot of projects to tinker with at home and work.
DIY Home Improvements
Start with the less expensive home repairs. Prioritize decor changes that boost your family's sense of warmth and you won't go wrong. There are many places to learn home repair tips from, including YouTube, but pay these sites a visit too.
1. DIY Projects
DIY Projects is a well organized site. You can find projects to do around the house and even outside. Use the menu on top to find projects around your skillsets or narrow down to specific areas at your house. Many of the articles on the site are listicles that give you a bunch of ideas in one quick read.
2. The Home Depot Blog
The Home Depot is the place you will go to in search of appliances and the tools to repair them. The blog is the place you can visit for do-it-yourself projects that help you repair, renovate, and build things around the house.
The blog offers pointers on home improvements segregated by the different rooms in your house. A nice section called Style Challenges if filled with inspirational projects for those who want to take on a complete makeover before any special day of the year like Christmas or Halloween.
3. Brit + Co
This colorful site can help you turn your closet into an office. It can also help you deal with personal issues at work or at home. The blog is for the creative woman who has a do-it-herself attitude in all aspects of her life. Apart from the articles, the site also hosts online classes and recommends products a woman can use in all areas of her life.
4. How to Clean Stuff
Cleaning and maintenance is a daily task. Follow the experts on this site as they teach you how to clean everything from clothing to cars. The simple site is well categorized and you can find just about anything to clean on the Things You Own page.
Gardening
Gardening teaches us the value of growing our own food. It also teaches us a lot about patience. Tending your home garden is also a great family hobby.
5. Gardening Know How
This site answers all your gardening questions. So far it has answered about 50,000 direct questions about gardening so it's expected your query will already be one among them. If you are new to gardening, start with the Gardening How To section. There are many gardening projects you can take on one at a time too.
6. Garden Therapy
You can put your craft skills to work in your garden. Stephanie Ross takes it one step further and shows how plants can be therapeutic as well. Look at the DIY section on the blog for projects you can work on in your own little slice of heaven.
Cooking
You can cook what you grow fresh. But with so many excellent cooking and recipe sites already on the web, do you need more? Well, these two how-to cooking sites are of a different kind.
7. The Fresh Loaf
The trend of artisan bread making and sourdough is on the rise. The Fresh Loaf is a "how-to" community of amateur bread bakers. Start with Lessons and then go on to the hundreds of recipes on the site. The Forum is also a nice place to hang out and meet others who are passionate about baking their own bread.
8. Homebrewing DIY
Let's try a podcast as an alternative to instructions on a DIY website. This niche podcast is all about the do it yourself aspect of homebrewing. You will get to listen to homebrewing experts as they talk about their passion and all the things you need to make your homebrewing hobby work.
Career and Work
Your home life can suffer if you are not passionate about your job. Or there is work and life imbalance. Not all of us do what we really want, but it's always possible to make any job better.
9. Idealist
Idealist is a job search site for social impact seekers. But it is also a career how-to site for those who want to go from intention to action and working on socially impactful careers. Here you will find answers on career changes, work-life balance, organizational skills, job search challenges, and lots more.
10. Ask a Manager
Meet Alison Green. She's the hiring manager you should listen to before your first sit down. She injects he posts with a lot of humor and years of insight on how hiring managers think. If you are looking for specific advice, go through the Topics list on the home page.
Sustainable Living
A non-toxic environment has become a crucial need. Clean water and cleaner air have already become challenges for the present. You can start with these two how-to websites that suggest little actions on how to live a sustainable life.
11. Recycle Nation
Green living is a growing trend. And it offers the only hope for a sustainable future. You should try the site to find a recycling location around your town. If that isn't what you are looking for right now, follow the articles that show you how to repurpose stuff around your house. Maybe, start with how to recycle all types of Amazon packaging first.
12. The Tiny Life
This wonderful website is a favorite of minimalists everywhere. It rests on the three pillars of simple living: tiny houses, minimalism, and homesteading. Ryan Mitchell, the founder has lives life in a tiny off-the-grid house. He teaches the benefits of downsizing to others with practical lessons that cover home design, decluttering, and sustainable living.
Go Online to Find Help
There are enough "how-to" websites to supply all the solutions you ask for. You will also find that the best way to solve a problem is by getting your hands dirty. So take them on as a project. Break it down into the smallest chunk you can solve today, and then go looking for answers.
The DIY websites in the above list are a tiny fraction. There are many more how-to websites to bookmark.