Inside content creator Fiona Gould’s D.I.Y. playbook

Fiona Gould is best-known for her UGC-style content showcasing styling hacks while renovating her Mid-century Modern home.

Her Instagram is filled with interior design inspiration easily achieved by the everyday D.I.Y.-er with her digestible “how to” hacks.

In a sea of content creators, Fiona’s experience working as a Style Editor for some of the most reputable brands in Australia, gives her an edge with her social media sharing her knowledge with a capacitive audience: those who love D.I.Y., interior design and styling.

Fiona takes us behind the scenes of being a social media content creator and how her renovations and styling tips engage her followers.

• Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

At a glance: Tips on how to become a content creator

• Lock in your “before” and repeatable angles: Shoot clean “before” photos and a five to 10 second video from the same doorway or corner; mark your tripod spot with tape so every update and the final reveal matches perfectly.
• Capture the process daily in tiny bites: Film three to five short clips each day (demo, deliveries, paint going on, a hiccup, a small win); add a time‑lapse for repetitive tasks and a one to two second “day card” (“Day 12: tiles in”) to stitch the story together later.
• Keep lighting and audio simple: Shoot near windows or turn on all practical lights, wipe the lens, and stabilise with a cheap tripod; record voice‑overs in a quiet wardrobe or with a basic lapel mic; always add on‑screen captions for silent viewers.
• Batch, organise and template: Set a weekly 60-90 minute block to sort clips into albums by room/stage. For example: kitchen‑demo, kitchen‑tiling.
• Post with purpose and engage locally: Aim for three short Reels/TikToks per week plus a few Stories, open with a 3‑second hook (“Budget bathroom makeover under $2,000”), overlay costs/sources, tag tradies and locations, use niche and suburb tags. Ask a question, and reply to every comment.

Who is Fiona Gould?

An interiors and photographic stylist renovating her Mid-century Modern home, who shares styling ideas and D.I.Y. projects online.

How hard is it to be a stylist?

There’s a disconnect between how interior stylists are viewed and the reality of the job, which is a lot dirtier, heavier and more D.I.Y.-focused than one might expect.

Fiona (@fiona_gould_stylist) says styling shoots for magazines and brands is often all about building fake walls in a studio and finding crafty ways to make a photo look like a real space.

But it’s been excellent training for her current life, which combines professional styling (for clients including Bunnings) with renovations on her own home and documenting the process on social media – all guided, she says, by her favourite motto: “How hard can it be?”.

• Tip: The Bunnings Workshop community has also been invaluable, adds Fiona. “The Bunnings Workshop people always give the most detailed, helpful responses, so I go there before I go anywhere else,” she says.

How did Fiona become a UGC content creator?

• Quick answer: Blogging and capturing footage of her D.I.Y. projects is how the stylist first found her way into interior styling.

What Fiona says:

“D.I.Y. content is actually how I found my way to interior styling. Back when blogs were in their heyday, I had a craft and D.I.Y. blog which introduced me to the world of content creation.”

That blog led to her first editorial styling job in 2015. It was only when Fiona and her young family moved into their current home that she started sharing her D.I.Y. adventures again, with the house providing plenty of material. “It is a run-down Mid-century house with lots of hidden issues, but the bones and the location were exactly what we wanted for our little family,” she says.

Why showing the reality of renovating works

• Quick answer: Authentic content creation - from the raw reality of a renovation to the final project reveal - engages audiences interested in the D.I.Y. and styling genre.

What Fiona says:

The D.I.Y. squares on Fiona’s Insta feed are committed to showing the unglamorous reality of renovating – as well as the stunning results. Their first project involved updating a dreary swimming pool, which saw Fiona wading in waist-deep water while painstakingly laying waterline tiles.

“We really pushed ourselves installing the stripe waterline tile but I’m so glad we did – I look at it every day from our deck and I feel such a sense of satisfaction,” she says.

Fiona’s tiled outdoor kitchen and gardening projects

The content creator recently pulled out the power tools for a tiled outdoor kitchen, which involved safely using an electric tile saw, hired from Bunnings. “I felt very cool using a giant saw in front of all the neighbours!” she laughs.

Future plans include vegetable beds and exterior rendering, before moving on to the interior. “I’m always looking for ways to make a space feel interesting and new,” she says. “It’s both a blessing and a curse as I navigate how to complete these ideas!”

• Tip: Did you know we have a great range of equipment ready for your next project through our Hire Shop?

Keep in mind...

• All pools and pool fencing must conform to your local authority’s safety regulations and guidelines.
• Paint colours may vary on application.

Ready for some more D.I.Y. inspo?

Revamp your outdoor space with our article on three different sized outdoor kitchen styles.

Photo credit: Fiona Gould. 

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