In Family Handyman‘s new series, DIY Diaries, real DIYers share the projects they’re most proud of. They recount the full story—from laying out the initial plans and wrestling with frustrating setbacks to celebrating their proudest moments. These candid accounts reveal the true ins and outs of DIY, and will leave you with practical tips that’ll give you the confidence to conquer your next build.
DIY has been a part of Anika Gandhi’s (@anikasdiylife on Instagram) life for over a decade. It all started when, underwhelmed by the plain in-store options for a table and chair set for her daughter, Gandhi got the notion: “Maybe I could do this myself.” That sent her “down a rabbit hole of learning about power tools and woodworking.” The empowering feeling of creating something for her daughter with her own hands left her completely hooked on DIY, and “everything snowballed from there,” she says.
More recently, Gandhi shared a beautiful charging station she made for her living room, and she was excited tell Family Handyman all about the project. “When we switched from two couches to a sectional, my DIY charging end table that used to sit between them no longer fit,” Gandhi explains. Her family still needed “a place to charge devices, set down our coffee, or keep small things handy,” so she decided that a charging table that sat behind the sofa would be the best fit. “Since we live in a smaller home, I designed it to make the most of our space with built-in storage and charging.” The table is slim enough to fit behind the sofa, but still manages to provide extra storage. The wires are accessible but kept out of sight, and the legs have shelving built into them.
The Project Stages
How long did this project take you to complete?
This project came together quickly. “It took me about a week to build it, but the build time was only 5-6 hours total,” she says.
Were there any setbacks you had to overcome?
Even well-established DIYers run into the occasional setback. In Gandhi’s case, “there was definitely a hiccup!” When she was working on the side storage compartment, she “accidentally drilled the hinge holes on the wrong side of the walnut plywood door.”
She could have scrapped the wood and started fresh, but instead, Gandhi “figured out a way to fix it by cutting small walnut plywood circles on my laser to fill the holes so they would blend in.” If you look very closely, you can spot them; she says that they serve as “a great reminder that mistakes happen, and [that] there’s almost always a creative way to fix them!”
Are there any budgeting hacks you used in this project?
One of the appeals of DIY projects is that they can save you money if you plan correctly. For this project, Gandhi leaned on a tried-and-true savings tactic: using materials she already had on hand.
“I used leftover walnut plywood cutoffs for the doors and the side storage cabinet,” she says. It may be tempting to run to the store before starting, but projects like this are “a great reminder that you don’t always need brand-new materials to create something beautiful and functional!”
Was there a specific moment during the project where you felt the most proud or accomplished?
Another appeal of tackling a DIY project is the sense of satisfaction that comes from a job well done. Gandhi’s proudest moment came when she got all the doors lined up perfectly. “Getting the spacing just right can be tricky, so seeing everything align cleanly was one of those satisfying moments,” she says.
If you could have a do-over on this project, what would you change?
You can do all the planning in the world, but there’s always something you’ll want to change. Sometimes you figure this out during the build. Other times, it’s not until you’re using your project that you realize there was an alternative that might have worked a little better. In Gandhi’s case, she “would replace the side cabinet with some sort of a pull-out cabinet so I could make it deeper and utilize even more space.”
Advice for Aspiring DIYers
Where do you find inspiration for your projects?
Gandhi finds inspiration everywhere. Sometimes her ideas come out of necessity, while “other times, it’s a design I spot on TV or an architectural detail on a building.” She’s not afraid to combine ideas either; she saves inspiration from the internet all the time and will occasionally blend ideas “to create something completely unique.”
“Inspiration really has a way of showing up when you’re looking at the world with a ‘What could I build?’ mindset,” Gandhi says.
What’s one essential piece of advice you would give other DIYers before they start a similar project?
“Start small and just begin!” Gandhi advises. Rather than choosing a giant project or spending ages agonizing over the details, “pick a simple project that solves a real need in your home.” She stresses that “it doesn’t have to be perfect. The best way to learn is by doing.”
Gandhi warns against getting hung up on slip-ups. “You will make mistakes (we all do!), but every cut and every project teaches you something new.” What’s important is that you “don’t overthink it. Grab a couple of tools – a saw and a drill, and build a simple project.” The key is to “take your time and enjoy the process.”
What’s Up Next
Just because this project is done doesn’t mean Gandhi is taking a break. She’s working on a series of projects next. “I am working on DIY gift ideas for the Holiday season,” she shares. And she’s adding in a fun wrinkle. “This time,” she says, “I am challenging myself to build with just the boards and cut-offs I already have at hand – no trip to the store allowed.” If you want to follow along, you should! “These projects are going to be simple, fun, and great for beginners as well!”
The post “Just Start Small and Begin”: How This DIYer Made the Best Living Room Charging Station appeared first on Family Handyman.
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“Just Start Small and Begin”: How This DIYer Made the Best Living Room Charging Station
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