You’re the only one who can answer that question, but keep three things in mind: your DIY experience, your patience, and how big of a project you’re looking to take on. Full kitchen renovations often mean you’ll be dealing with most, if not all, of your home’s systems—including plumbing, electrical wiring, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, not to mention appliances, flooring, cabinets, and countertops. “I find that a lot of my jobs actually come from people’s failed DIY attempts,” says H-Millard. “When people ask me up front for my advice, I usually say to try tackling a bedroom or living spaces first, because you’ll have a much higher rate of success.”
If you won’t be swayed and want to tackle some (or all) of the job yourself, start by calling your local building department or code enforcement department and asking which projects require permits, and which homeowners are allowed to do themselves. If your town allows it, and you feel up to the task, give it a try. “An E-designer can be a great option for those serious DIY types who have the tool skills, but maybe not the specific design knowledge,” says H-Millard. “The designer can work remotely to give you a really strong layout, and you can try to execute their plan on your own.”