You Can Learn Anything

Rachel OG
Mar 24
6 min read

Updated: Apr 9

YouTube University is real. TikTok University is real. And together, they are fully accredited in the school of figuring it out.

Here are the creators, websites, and in-person resources I'd point any new homeowner toward.

📺 YouTube Channels Worth Bookmarking

1. See Jane Drill — Leah Bolden — First on the list for a reason. Leah is a journeyman carpenter and certified building trades instructor with over 20 years of experience, and her whole mission is making sure nobody feels left out of DIY. Her tutorials address all skill levels and her tagline says it all: "I CAN DO THIS." Over 1.1 million subscribers. @SeeJaneDrill
2. Renee Renovates — A self-taught DIYer renovating her 1914 Craftsman home entirely on her own and documenting every step. Foundation repair, kitchen makeovers, outdoor living spaces, built-ins — she doesn't shy away from the big stuff. Incredibly relatable and genuinely impressive. @ReneeRenovates
3. Pretty Handy Girl — Brittany Bailey — Brittany is a licensed general contractor, artist, and designer whose entire platform is built around empowering people to tackle their own projects. Her mantra: "If someone can do it, there is a 95% chance that I can do it too." Step-by-step guides, tool tutorials, and zero gatekeeping. @PrettyHandyGirl
4. Lindsay Dean — Frills and Drills — Lindsay started by documenting how she transformed her cookie-cutter Florida house into a custom dream home and built a following of over a million people doing it. She lists every material and product she uses so you can replicate her projects exactly. @FrillsAndDrills
5. DIY Hip Chicks — Girl power and power tools, covering flooring, tiling, painting, HVAC basics, and more — all with an emphasis on empowering women to lead their own home improvement projects. Great energy, practical content. @DIYHipChicks
6. The Sorry Girls — A Canadian powerhouse duo who've turned DIY into a full-fledged business. Full room makeovers, furniture transformations, and creative home projects on a budget, with top-notch production quality. A great starting point if you want inspiration and instruction. @TheSorryGirls
7. This Old House — The gold standard, and has been since 1979. A massive library covering everything from small repairs to full renovations, presented by experienced tradespeople. If you only subscribe to one channel, this is a strong contender. @ThisOldHouse
8. Home Repair Tutor — Jeff Patterson — Jeff walks you through bathroom repairs, plumbing, tiling, and drywall in plain language that actually makes sense. Great for the "I have no idea what I'm doing" phase of homeownership. @HomeRepairTutor
9. The Idaho Painter — Everything you need to know about painting: how to roll a wall, cut in a ceiling line like a pro, patch drywall holes, and more. If you're about to paint anything — and you will — watch this first. @TheIdahoPainter
10. Champagne Chaos — Real renovations, real budget constraints, real chaos. This channel documents the honest, messy, rewarding home improvement journey that most of us actually experience — not the perfectly staged HGTV version. @ChampagneChaos
11. Lowe's Home Improvement — Yes that Lowes and it's actually excellent. How-to videos, DIY projects, lawn and landscaping basics — all beginner-friendly with step-by-step instructions. @Lowes

📱 TikTok Accounts to Follow

1. @seejanedrill — Leah from See Jane Drill is just as good on TikTok as she is on YouTube. Short, practical, and confidence-building. If power tools feel intimidating, start here.
2. @liz.diy — Liz has built a following of over 200K by answering the exact questions new homeowners actually have: how to remove a wall anchor, what size drill bit to use, how to change a ceiling fan. She also runs a "Tool Talk 101" series breaking down specific tools for beginners. Exactly what you need.
3. @kyliekatich — Kylie is renovating her home room by room and no job is too big or intimidating for her. Her content is as much about mindset as it is about method — she makes you believe you can do the thing before you even pick up a tool.
4. @sarahflipsit — Sarah documents her renovation and house flipping projects with more than 400K followers. Real projects, real budgets, and the kind of before-and-after transformations that make you want to go home and start tearing things apart immediately.
5. @frillsanddrills — Lindsay Dean is on TikTok too, and her short-form content is just as approachable and detailed as her YouTube channel. Great for quick tips and project inspiration on the go.
6. @nikandliv.diy — Nik and Liv document their full home remodel with humor and honesty. Real mistakes, real results. Their video covering 100 projects in one go has hundreds of thousands of likes for good reason.
7. @homerepairtutor — Jeff from Home Repair Tutor brings his YouTube energy to TikTok with over 600K followers. Quick, practical tips on everything from finding a stud to keeping your drywall mud fresh between sessions.
8. @rrbuildings — Kyle Stumpenhorst — Contractor-level content, not watered-down DIY fluff. Tool reviews, metal roofing, concrete, and real on-the-job projects from start to finish. Over 1.7 million followers. Great for understanding what professionals actually do.
9. @krugerconstruction — Murray Kruger highlights innovative tools and shares the kind of tips that make you go "wait, why didn't I know that sooner?" Especially helpful if you're starting to build out your tool collection.
10. @champagneandchaos — The same honest, budget-focused renovation energy from YouTube in short-form. Real talk for real homeowners.

Search #WomenWhoBuild and #HandyWoman — These hashtags will open up a whole world of women tradespeople, contractors, and DIYers sharing their knowledge. Some of the most practical, no-nonsense repair content on the entire platform lives under these tags.
Search #DIYHomeRepair and #HomeOwnerTips — The broader catch-all. An endless supply of useful content from homeowners and tradespeople alike. If you have a specific problem, search it here before you panic.

🌐 Websites That Are Actually Worth Your Time

1. ThisOldHouse.com — The website matches the quality of the YouTube channel. Detailed guides, project walkthroughs, buying advice for tools and materials, and decades of credibility. One of the most trustworthy names in the business.
2. FamilyHandyman.com — One of the best step-by-step tutorial sites on the internet. Written for real homeowners, easy to search by project, and practical without being overwhelming.
3. BobVila.com — A trusted name in home improvement for decades. Great for DIY tips, renovation guidance, and honest advice on when to hire a professional versus when to tackle something yourself.
4. HouseLogic.com — Maintained by the National Association of Realtors, this site helps you understand how repairs and improvements affect your home's value. Smart homeownership strategy alongside practical how-tos.
5. TheSpruce.com — Covers home repair, cleaning, maintenance, decor, and yard care all in one place. Well-organized and a great first stop when you don't even know what you're searching for yet.

🔨 Learn In Person: Free Workshops at Lowe's and Home Depot

Here's something most people don't know: you can learn basic DIY skills for free, in person, at your local hardware store.

Lowe's offers free monthly DIY workshops held one Saturday a month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Their current program is primarily focused on kids ages 4–11 through their Kids Club — a genuinely great way to get families building together from an early age. Register free at Lowes.com/KidsClub.
Home Depot runs workshops for adults too, covering things like tiling, flooring installation, basic plumbing, and more — many of them free or very low cost. Check your local store's events calendar at HomeDepot.com to see what's coming up near you.
And never underestimate Ace Hardware. Many independently owned Ace locations offer their own classes and clinics, and the staff are often remarkably knowledgeable. Walk in with a question, and you will almost always walk out with an answer.

⚠️ A Warning

Following these accounts — and honestly, watching HGTV in general — will make you think you can do anything. And my friends, that is not always the case.

Some projects look deceptively simple on screen. You watch a 60-second TikTok, think oh, that seems pretty easy, and then you're three hours in at midnight wondering what on earth you were thinking and why you own so many incompatible drill bits.

I have many, many personal examples of this. The shower curtain rod I tried to install by myself at 1 AM comes to mind. It did not go well. It involved a broken rod, a minor breakdown, and a number of hours of sanity I will never get back.

Maybe ask a friend to help. Maybe don't start the cute little shelf installation at 11 PM on a Tuesday just for funsies. Maybe — and I say this with love — have a little more patience than I did.

That said, these accounts will give you a kind of delusional confidence that, honestly? You kind of need to own a house. So maybe just go for it. Just... do it during daylight hours. With a friend. And the right drill bit.

You Can Learn Anything

YouTube University is real. TikTok University is real. And together, they are fully accredited in the school of figuring it out.

Here are the creators, websites, and in-person resources I'd point any new homeowner toward.

📺 YouTube Channels Worth Bookmarking

5. DIY Hip Chicks — Girl power and power tools, covering flooring, tiling, painting, HVAC basics, and more — all with an emphasis on empowering women to lead their own home improvement projects. Great energy, practical content. @DIYHipChicks

6. The Sorry Girls — A Canadian powerhouse duo who've turned DIY into a full-fledged business. Full room makeovers, furniture transformations, and creative home projects on a budget, with top-notch production quality. A great starting point if you want inspiration and instruction. @TheSorryGirls

7. This Old House — The gold standard, and has been since 1979. A massive library covering everything from small repairs to full renovations, presented by experienced tradespeople. If you only subscribe to one channel, this is a strong contender. @ThisOldHouse

8. Home Repair Tutor — Jeff Patterson — Jeff walks you through bathroom repairs, plumbing, tiling, and drywall in plain language that actually makes sense. Great for the "I have no idea what I'm doing" phase of homeownership. @HomeRepairTutor

9. The Idaho Painter — Everything you need to know about painting: how to roll a wall, cut in a ceiling line like a pro, patch drywall holes, and more. If you're about to paint anything — and you will — watch this first. @TheIdahoPainter

10. Champagne Chaos — Real renovations, real budget constraints, real chaos. This channel documents the honest, messy, rewarding home improvement journey that most of us actually experience — not the perfectly staged HGTV version. @ChampagneChaos

11. Lowe's Home Improvement — Yes that Lowes and it's actually excellent. How-to videos, DIY projects, lawn and landscaping basics — all beginner-friendly with step-by-step instructions. @Lowes

📱 TikTok Accounts to Follow

1. @seejanedrill — Leah from See Jane Drill is just as good on TikTok as she is on YouTube. Short, practical, and confidence-building. If power tools feel intimidating, start here.

3. @kyliekatich — Kylie is renovating her home room by room and no job is too big or intimidating for her. Her content is as much about mindset as it is about method — she makes you believe you can do the thing before you even pick up a tool.

4. @sarahflipsit — Sarah documents her renovation and house flipping projects with more than 400K followers. Real projects, real budgets, and the kind of before-and-after transformations that make you want to go home and start tearing things apart immediately.

5. @frillsanddrills — Lindsay Dean is on TikTok too, and her short-form content is just as approachable and detailed as her YouTube channel. Great for quick tips and project inspiration on the go.

6. @nikandliv.diy — Nik and Liv document their full home remodel with humor and honesty. Real mistakes, real results. Their video covering 100 projects in one go has hundreds of thousands of likes for good reason.

7. @homerepairtutor — Jeff from Home Repair Tutor brings his YouTube energy to TikTok with over 600K followers. Quick, practical tips on everything from finding a stud to keeping your drywall mud fresh between sessions.

8. @rrbuildings — Kyle Stumpenhorst — Contractor-level content, not watered-down DIY fluff. Tool reviews, metal roofing, concrete, and real on-the-job projects from start to finish. Over 1.7 million followers. Great for understanding what professionals actually do.

9. @krugerconstruction — Murray Kruger highlights innovative tools and shares the kind of tips that make you go "wait, why didn't I know that sooner?" Especially helpful if you're starting to build out your tool collection.

10. @champagneandchaos — The same honest, budget-focused renovation energy from YouTube in short-form. Real talk for real homeowners.

Search #WomenWhoBuild and #HandyWoman — These hashtags will open up a whole world of women tradespeople, contractors, and DIYers sharing their knowledge. Some of the most practical, no-nonsense repair content on the entire platform lives under these tags.

Search #DIYHomeRepair and #HomeOwnerTips — The broader catch-all. An endless supply of useful content from homeowners and tradespeople alike. If you have a specific problem, search it here before you panic.

🌐 Websites That Are Actually Worth Your Time

1. ThisOldHouse.com — The website matches the quality of the YouTube channel. Detailed guides, project walkthroughs, buying advice for tools and materials, and decades of credibility. One of the most trustworthy names in the business.

2. FamilyHandyman.com — One of the best step-by-step tutorial sites on the internet. Written for real homeowners, easy to search by project, and practical without being overwhelming.

3. BobVila.com — A trusted name in home improvement for decades. Great for DIY tips, renovation guidance, and honest advice on when to hire a professional versus when to tackle something yourself.

4. HouseLogic.com — Maintained by the National Association of Realtors, this site helps you understand how repairs and improvements affect your home's value. Smart homeownership strategy alongside practical how-tos.

5. TheSpruce.com — Covers home repair, cleaning, maintenance, decor, and yard care all in one place. Well-organized and a great first stop when you don't even know what you're searching for yet.

🔨 Learn In Person: Free Workshops at Lowe's and Home Depot

Here's something most people don't know: you can learn basic DIY skills for free, in person, at your local hardware store.

Lowe's offers free monthly DIY workshops held one Saturday a month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Their current program is primarily focused on kids ages 4–11 through their Kids Club — a genuinely great way to get families building together from an early age. Register free at Lowes.com/KidsClub.

Home Depot runs workshops for adults too, covering things like tiling, flooring installation, basic plumbing, and more — many of them free or very low cost. Check your local store's events calendar at HomeDepot.com to see what's coming up near you.

And never underestimate Ace Hardware. Many independently owned Ace locations offer their own classes and clinics, and the staff are often remarkably knowledgeable. Walk in with a question, and you will almost always walk out with an answer.

⚠️ A Warning

Some projects look deceptively simple on screen. You watch a 60-second TikTok, think oh, that seems pretty easy, and then you're three hours in at midnight wondering what on earth you were thinking and why you own so many incompatible drill bits.

I have many, many personal examples of this. The shower curtain rod I tried to install by myself at 1 AM comes to mind. It did not go well. It involved a broken rod, a minor breakdown, and a number of hours of sanity I will never get back.

Maybe ask a friend to help. Maybe don't start the cute little shelf installation at 11 PM on a Tuesday just for funsies. Maybe — and I say this with love — have a little more patience than I did.

That said, these accounts will give you a kind of delusional confidence that, honestly? You kind of need to own a house. So maybe just go for it. Just... do it during daylight hours. With a friend. And the right drill bit.

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