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Why I don't bother with a level for casual DIY anymore
I used to think every wall item needed a level to be straight. Now I just eyeball it, and no one has ever said anything looks crooked. Do we really need to be so exact for simple decor?
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ryanc481mo ago
Seriously, though. For a picture frame or a shelf in the guest room, who cares if it's off by a tiny bit? The whole point of 'casual' DIY is that it shouldn't feel like a second job. If you stare at anything long enough you'll find a flaw, but guests just see a nice room. The level just adds stress for no real payoff (in my opinion). Perfect is the enemy of good enough, especially for home stuff.
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max_johnson1mo ago
You know what, @ryanc48 is onto something. I spent twenty minutes last week trying to get a shelf "level" only to realize my floor is slightly sloped, so now it's technically level but looks wrong to the eye. My guest room looks like a funhouse because I followed the bubble instead of just eyeballing it. My aunt came over and didn't notice the shelf, but she did ask if I was stressed about work. The level isn't a tool anymore, it's a therapist telling you nothing will ever be straight.
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taraross1mo ago
Oh man, my friend hung this whole photo collage in her hallway with just her eyeballs. Her husband came home and said it looked great, but then he got out a level and started pointing out tiny gaps. It honestly looked fine before, but now that shelf is all she can see!
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