DIY is a craft activity that takes place at home.
Bricoage is a concept that comes from the French bricolage . This is the name given to the home activity that consists of creating, repairing or modifying something without professional assistance .
DIY can be developed out of necessity or as a hobby . The practice provides multiple benefits to those who develop it, although the results of the intervention are not always satisfactory.
Creativity, the basis of DIY
The notion of DIY is very broad and can be linked to carpentry , masonry and art , for example. It involves the use of creativity to take advantage of elements that are at hand, giving them a new life and thus satisfying a need.
To engage in DIY, no technical or scientific knowledge is needed. Neither are any investigations carried out or laboratory tests carried out. In DIY, skills are acquired through practice.
Suppose a chair breaks: it is possible to take it to a carpenter to repair it or resort to DIY. In this second case, the person will look for glue , use nails or devise some method to restore the functionality of the furniture. There are no rules or precepts for DIY.
do it yourself
Although its origins are remote and impossible to pin down, DIY as a movement began to take shape in the mid- 20th century in Great Britain as a response to mass production and industrialization .
DIY, in this sense, promoted a return to craftsmanship . Compared to standardized and mass-consumption products, the creation of items with unique characteristics was promoted.
In this way, DIY is associated with the idea of do it yourself (in English, do it yourself or DIY ). Thus it is positioned as a countercultural action , since it dispenses with the market to satisfy needs.
DIY can be linked to repair or restoration tasks.
DIY benefits
By deciding to DIY, an individual can save money . It is usually cheaper to repair or make something at home than to buy it in a store. Of course, for the practice to make sense, what is arranged or created must meet certain quality parameters.
DIY, on the other hand, can become a hobby . Crafts help reduce stress and help you cope with boredom and apathy.
Depending on the task, DIY is also a healthy physical and/or mental exercise. In any case, it is important to take care of safety measures to avoid damage, especially in higher risk tasks (such as those involving electricity or the use of sharp elements, to mention two possibilities).
How to learn
We said above that DIY does not require scientific or technical knowledge; nor does it require professional training. Although practice is key, there are numerous resources to learn how to successfully dabble in DIY.
For a long time, television programs, books and magazines were the main information resources. Today there are a huge number of websites with DIY tutorials. Even on the famous YouTube audiovisual content platform, videos that teach techniques and provide advice are multiplying.