In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert quoted her mother, “Done is better than good.” I think the more popular quote is “Done is better than perfect,” but I like her thinking even better. The best-selling author herself said, “…if you can just complete something…you’re already miles ahead of the pack.” She also mentioned General George Patton’s quote, “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” I agree with all of them. When people ask me how I do what I do, I see this belief system as the only difference between me and them. When it comes to all manners of transitional home-improvement projects, I jump right in, even if I will have to figure some things out I as I go along. I know I will finish once I start, even if I have to stop and cry at some point during the process, and I won’t let the perception of perfection yield my progress.
Author Rebecca Solnit said, “…the perfect is not only the enemy of the good, it’s also the enemy of the realistic, the possible, and the fun.” On my personal kitchen cabinet refinishing project in 2018, I took a time out on sanding layers of old paint to fall to my knees and sob. My arms cramped and I swore if I was ever faced with splurging money on new cabinets or refinishing them myself, I would happily take on the debt. What I didn’t know then is that I was trying to sand decades of paint down to perfection (just to cover the wood back up with primer and paint.)  I’ve since heard that most people sand too much. I’ve also since learned that projects completed in joy turn out the best. Literally nothing would ever get painted again if every square inch of it had to be perfected before and along the way and at completion. Perfection is simply impossible and the human with that as the goal would die from an attack induced by anger and disappointment at failed attempts.
Once, I saw a few hairs sticking out of my knee while riding shotgun. (If I’m being honest, this happens A LOT and this was just one of times I remember what happened next.) Sunlight has a special way of illuminating unwanted hairs. I confessed my faux pas to my friend who was driving, wondering if a razor or tweezers were tucked away in his car. He exclaimed, “EWWW! You cut corners.” After laughing, I quietly contemplated. He was right. If there was an easier and quicker way to complete a task, that was usually the way I did it. Somewhere along the way, I had learned that there’s not always time to follow directions to the T. And, honestly, meticulousness, was nearly never necessary. Sometimes even when I didn’t cut corners, perfection wasn’t achieved, so why not save some minutes and get it done mostly right?Â
For a recent project, I was asked if I would be able restore a kitchen table, chairs and bench back down to wood. This is exactly opposite of what I do for nearly all of my other projects. I said, “Of course!”
I had lots of layers to sand through, so I began with a low grit (40). I also used paint stripper to get rid of any paint in nooks and crannies. I sanded again, using an 80 grit, and decided the surface was smooth. I cleaned and then jumped into staining. I knew Wood Conditioners were a thing but I had tried them before on a stain project and they didn’t seem necessary. Oops! The uneven absorption of stain let me know that new wood and wood that already had an “absorption history” must be treated differently. Luckily, I’d been around the block enough times that I knew to start the process with just the small piece. I sanded off the stain with an 80 grit and the followed with a 120 grit to smooth the wood even further. Then, I applied, waited, and wiped off the excess of the Wood Conditioner, having discovered that this was one of those times that following the directions to a T was actually necessary. I followed with staining and clear coating, with a beautiful result.
I immediately wanted to share my new knowledge and this blog post idea started forming in my head: Hey, friends! If you are going to paint over wood that you are sanding, make sure any peeling or old paint is sanded smoothly, but no need to be perfect or use wood conditioner. However, if you are wanting to restore pieces back down to wood, follow all of those nagging steps of gradually moving up the grit scale and use that wood conditioner for an even stain. Â
So, yes, there are times that cutting corners won’t bite you in the butt and times that it will. And, if you don’t quite know which time is which…you have just read one example, but for the most part, that gets figured that out as you go. Like going to the gym, if you can just make the one small step of starting, momentum will help you along. If you don’t really know what you are doing and think you might mess up, you probably will, but everyone has messed up before and there’s an endless number of videos out there showing a zillion different methods to try. I’ve never known a project that didn’t veer somewhere between Point A and completion, so with every start and stop and repeated step, realize you are in good company with other try-ers and messer-uppers and eventual succeeders.
And just another couple tidbits…like cooking, work on the project when you are happy. Work on it when time isn’t constraining. And, if you sincerely get to a point that you just can’t find the time or energy to finish – there’s no shame in getting help to cross the finish line. (If you are reading this, you know how to contact me and the baseball mom in me adores being The Closer.)
While deciding where to categorize this blog, I realized it might not be best to place under “Paint Projects” where paint customers could come across me openly admitting to thinking non-perfection is okay. So, it landed under “Spiritual Strength” because I truly encourage others to explore creativity. The results are too rewarding to hoard the feeling all to myself. All people should be so lucky to feel fulfilled and delighted at the work of their own hands and mind. Also, letting go of the idea of perfection is deeper than home improvement projects. Progress is the actual perfection.
I can relate to this, only in a quilting theme….I think it was Jenny Doan, well known in the quilting world that always says, “a quilt is better done than perfect!”
And the Amish purposely put a mistake in all their quilts! Only God is perfect! Carry on!! Get er done!😘😘
Hi, Miss Ina! I LOVE it! I didn’t know that about the Amish. I wonder if they follow the same principle into their carpentry as well. Thanks for sharing! I smiled the entire time I read your words. I appreciate you taking the time to read mine.
So true, & u explained everything beautifully! I love reading ur blogs…
Thank you, lady! I always feel floaty after I’ve taken time to sit and write. 🙂