If you’ve been on TikTok recently, the chances are high that you’ve come across color analyses. From beauty to clothes, people are turning to the pros to find out which colors best suit them (any other cool springs out there?)
21.05.2024 - 15:41 / bhg.com / Lauren Phillips
Marty Baldwin
No one likes messing up, and an aversion to making mistakes isn’t necessarily a problem—until that aversion veers into fear, and that fear prevents you from trying something or taking risks (even small ones). When it comes to home improvement projects, this fear of messing up, or FOMU, can really hold you back. Instead of trying a DIY project, you might hire a costly professional to do a task you could easily do on your own—or, worse, just make do with a space that doesn’t serve your functional needs and/or style.
In the BHG 2024 DIY Trend Report, our researchers coined the term FOMU to describe the fear that can keep someone from starting a project that would drastically enhance their enjoyment of their space. Read on to learn whether you might be suffering from FOMU—and how to overcome it to DIY the home of your dreams.
FOMU, or the fear of messing up, is a condition where someone avoids a DIY project out of the fear that they’ll get it wrong—or make a costly or even dangerous mistake. Symptoms of FOMU include hiring professionals to complete jobs that you could easily complete yourself and avoiding projects altogether out of the concern that attempting them could lead to disaster.
FOMU is widespread: In the BHG 2024 DIY Trend Report, we found that 70% of people admit to hiring a pro because of their fear of messing up. Their reasoning varies. Some people don’t trust themselves to complete a project correctly, some are afraid they’ll make a costly mistake, and some are worried about potentially dangerous consequences of their DIY efforts.
In severe cases, FOMU can hit with projects of all effort and experience levels, but there are some projects that are relatively FOMU-proof: According to our Report,
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, the chances are high that you’ve come across color analyses. From beauty to clothes, people are turning to the pros to find out which colors best suit them (any other cool springs out there?)
Did you ever wonder what it would be like to get exclusive access to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show? Well, your dreams have come true because in this exclusive interview we got an all-access pass to THE horticultural event of the year thanks to Annie Guilfoyle, a 2024 judge. Annie is co-founder of Garden Masterclass in the UK and an award wining garden designer who earned a Silver Medal at Cheslea years ago for her innovative landscape design. Annie is just back from the show this year and shares details from her favorite gardens, interesting new plants that caught her attention, and even some celebrity gossip from those stars that were in attendance at the show. (Spoiler alert: she did not see Lady Whistledown at the Bridgerton -themed garden). We discussed how native plants and sustainable practices played a role in this year’s event and talk about themes of water conservation and hardscape upcycling.
Have you ever planted something in your garden and years later regretted it? There are several plants in my garden that fit that bill. One such plant is horsetail or scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale). Over the years, it has spread rapidly in a shady, wet garden area and now it pops up in my lawn.
Does location still matter most? Should you remodel your home to suit your tastes, or for resale value? Are starter homes still a thing? We all have plenty of questions about the ever-changing world of real estate. In our Ask an Agentseries, we’re partnering with experts at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate to answer your biggest questions about finding, buying, and selling a home.
Eugene Gologursky / Stringer / Getty Images
Pruning shears are a gardener’s best friend when nurturing a healthy and visually appealing garden. In our gardening journey, we’ve found them indispensable for making precise cuts, shaping plants, and removing dead or overgrown branches. When selecting the ideal pair of pruning shears for your gardening toolkit, always prioritize quality and durability over cost. A well-crafted pruner can save you money in the long run by avoiding the need for frequent replacements. After conducting thorough research and using popular brands and models for years, we have shortlisted a range of the best pruning
Collaborative post
The goal from a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show is to come away with your head full of ideas and inspiration. Sometimes the show gardens can feel unattainable – too esoteric, too wild or too zany for your own back garden. This year however there are plenty of clever, stylish and down-to-earth gardens that offer ideas for real gardens. Here are a few of the best.
James Carriere
Left: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images; Right: Stuart Dee
Summer is nearly here, and with it, comes plenty of time spent out on the green. From picnics to parties to barbeques and everything in between, having a lawn is a pretty lovely way to incorporate some summer fun into your life—but keeping your lawn green and happy isn’t always quite as fun, and green turf isn’t quite as soft and enjoyable, either. That’s what has us so intrigued by the new trend of “lazy lawns.”