In These D.I.Y. Groups, ‘You Don’t Have to Prove That You Belong’
The New York Times
With help from online tutorials, Facebook groups and in-person workshops, home improvement is becoming far more inclusive to people beyond straight men.
Kayla Nelson was perched on a ladder in her bedroom installing picture-frame molding in a recent Instagram Reel. The rhythmic guh-gunk of the nail gun she was using was overridden by the soundtrack of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Where Them Girls At.”
One of her followers remarked on being scared of messing up such a job, which led to indecision over whether to try it alone or pay someone else to do it.
“You get those tools out,” Ms. Nelson replied.
Ms. Nelson, an interior designer by training who goes by @homediyary on Instagram, has built a loyal following as she showcases fun, approachable do-it-yourself projects — including a cased opening for her living room and a revamped linen closet.
“After college, I had all of these things that I wanted to do in my home,” said Ms. Nelson, who grew up in the Bronx but now lives in New Jersey. “But as a graduate, you don’t have money to hire a contractor. So I watched YouTube videos to learn the skill, and with every project, I would build my tool bank.”
It was with her mom’s encouragement that Ms. Nelson started posting her home-improvement projects to social media in March 2020, just as the world was locking down for the pandemic. And she wasn’t alone.
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