How Impending Tariffs Could Affect Budget-Friendly DIYs
For many people, DIY projects are much more than fun crafts. Sure, they are a great creative outlet and can help you achieve your dream home design, but they're also an important method of sticking to a budget. Many projects are meant to help people save money on otherwise pricey tables, chairs, and other home furnishings. If you're someone who loves a budget-friendly DIY, you may want to brace yourself for some upcoming changes due to President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs. These tariffs, announced in September of 2025, will impact some of the most important materials needed for your favorite DIY projects, which may result in a price change in the following months.
Set to come into effect on October 14, 2025, tariffs will be placed on softwood timber and lumber, upholstered wooden furniture, and kitchen cabinets and vanities. Based on these impending changes and the tariffs already in place, there are quite a few popular home items and upgrades that could get pricier under Trump's new tariffs.
Companies will have to try to adjust to the additional taxation on imported goods. While the impact will vary by store based on their ability to offset the tariffs, some effects could include higher prices and reduced inventory, making once-budget-friendly DIY projects more costly and harder to achieve. So, in order to keep up your crafting without overspending, you may need to adjust your shopping plans and habits.
Impending tariffs could mean higher prices for materials
While consumers may not have yet seen the major price spikes they feared when tariffs were announced at the beginning of 2025, the prices of tariffed goods have risen. This is less than ideal for budget-conscious shoppers, who may have previously been able to avoid higher prices on particular items by creating DIY versions. Plus, with tariffs already affecting goods like yarn, oil paints, and more, the money-saving benefits of DIYing items may decrease. On the plus side, price changes may take a couple of months to occur.
So, the next time you decide to upgrade your home with a DIY project, things might be more expensive than you anticipate. With up to 30% of softwood lumber in the United States being imported from Canada alone, it is likely that your future wallet will feel the effects of the tariff, depending on the project. American-made items are not subject to tariffs, but increased demand may drive even U.S. lumber prices up as well.
If you want to build a DIY bench, for example, you may have trouble sourcing the wood you want at the price you want due to supply shortages resulting from the decreased ability of stores to stock the wood, and you will likely have to pay more for it. Additionally, screws, often made of steel, may also have higher price tags based on previously imposed tariffs on steel. Suddenly, your DIY bench is pretty pricy.
Keeping DIY projects budget-friendly
Ultimately, what Trump's tariff on lumber imports means for the future of furniture is complicated, but it could be disappointing to budget-conscious DIYers. Luckily, all of the crafty, budget-friendly DIY creatives out there will likely continue to find ways to build their own versions of the items they want without overspending.
If you're trying to keep your DIY project prices low despite the changes, there are a few things you can do. The first option is to focus on upcycling projects that use materials you already have at home. Another option is to go to a secondhand store. While you may think of them as places for buying already assembled items or furniture, you should make sure you never overlook the thrift store for all your DIY supplies. From fabrics to wood furniture that you can repurpose, thrifting is a great way to get affordable materials. You can also check online and in your neighborhood for leftover materials from others.
Another option is to stock up on wood, cabinets, vanities, or any other item before tariffs are placed on them. This is especially good for those who already have projects planned but were waiting a few months and those who frequently use imported softwood timber or lumber for projects. Just be sure not to panic and purchase things you don't need. While baseline prices on important DIY materials may be increasing a bit, there are ways to continue to save and make what you want on a budget.