Female influencers and tradeswomen are taking charge of home renovation and repair, inspiring a new generation of women to take matters into their own hands.
- The explosion of DIY content has hit social media feeds over the last decade.
Who's Behind the DIY Revolution?
According to recent surveys, around three-quarters of Gen Z women enjoy DIY, compared to 60% of all female respondents. And it's not just about aesthetics – 82% of Gen Z women said seeing women doing more complex home DIY on social media had inspired them to do more themselves, versus 60% of women in general.
The Rise of Female Tradeswomen
Women like Bliss Cunneen, who walked away from an Anthropology university course in 2020 to train as a plumber, are leading the charge. Cunneen loves the freedom and flexibility of running her own business, but has experienced doubt from some customers when she turns up at their door.
Platforms like TaskHer, founded by Anna Moynihan, are connecting female tradies with customers who need jobs done. Moynihan felt frustrated when tradesmen she had booked for renovation work would address her husband rather than her, and set up the platform to address this issue.
Breaking Down Barriers
The explosion of content online has 'definitely helped' with broadening attitudes to women taking up DIY or a trade, according to Moynihan. And it's not just about breaking down barriers – industry surveys suggest people may feel more at ease with a woman entering their home, and may want to support women working in traditionally male roles.
One of the key drivers of this trend is the rise of female DIY influencers on social media. Women like Jasmine Gurney, a 33-year-old from Bedfordshire, have gained massive followings by documenting their DIY projects and sharing their expertise. Gurney's page really took off during Covid, when people couldn't get professionals in to do jobs, and she has since become a go-to source for DIY inspiration.
Gurney's impressive list of DIY projects includes tearing down partition walls, replacing flooring, erecting a fence, insulating and boarding her loft, building an outdoor workshop, making custom cabinetry, moving plug sockets, and making her son his first bed. She has also been building him a treehouse. Despite being trolled by people questioning her techniques, Gurney says that it just 'spurs her on more'.
The Future of DIY: Women Taking Charge
The demand for female professionals is rising, and it's not just about DIY. Women are changing careers to take up trades that they see as more AI-proof than their desk jobs. According to industry surveys, people may feel more at ease with a woman entering their home, and may want to support women working in traditionally male roles.
Platforms like TaskHer are connecting female tradies with customers who need jobs done. Moynihan's platform has seen a significant increase in demand, with enquiries more than doubling so far this year compared to 2025. The number of tradeswomen signing up has almost quadrupled, and Moynihan attributes this to the growing trend of women taking up DIY and trades.
The future of DIY looks bright, with women taking charge of home renovation and repair. As the demand for female professionals continues to rise, it's clear that the DIY revolution is here to stay. And with platforms like TaskHer connecting women with customers, it's easier than ever for women to take charge of their own DIY projects.
