Purchasing a new home is daunting. Purchasing a new home in desperate need of repairs? Now, that's a pathway to TikTok stardom... 

Los Angeles’ Angelina Murphy -- AKA @renovatingourhome on TikTok --  has done just that. She's built a dedicated following on TikTok by documenting the dozens of DIY home renovation projects her and her fiance, Skyler, have tackled over the last few years.  

Together, they've gained over 680,000 followers and have been featured in the Los Angeles and New York Times.

In this interview, we dive into Angelina's growth, her creative process, exploring topics "outside" of her niche, and how she spots inspiration for viral content. 

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How did you get started with TikTok, and what inspired you to become a creator? 

Before I was a creator on TikTok, I was just an avid viewer. I never posted but I loved watching TikToks. It wasn’t until we bought our first house that I thought it would be fun to document the renovation process. I didn’t expect a large viewership but our very first post went viral and we continued to grow from there! I’ve always loved storytelling, digital communities, and editing videos, so it really seemed like a natural place for me.

Can you walk us through your creative process for making TikTok videos? 

I am constantly taking videos of random moments, not just for my own memory's sake, but because I never know what may come in handy for content down the line. Sometimes a trend will come up and I will use footage of something from months ago because it fits so perfectly. I love favoriting trending sounds or inspiration for future posts when I’m having creator’s block. But my main creative process is telling a story in 60 seconds or less, which is why I love quick editing and voiceover features to convey our different projects!

You mentioned that you’re constantly taking videos in case it makes for good content later. Do you have a process for staying organized and planning future content?

To be honest, I wish I was more organized with my videos, it would save me a lot of time. I have started creating albums to store different content, but this is definitely an area I need to improve in as we expand more and more. ‍

How do you come up with ideas for your content, and what sources do you draw inspiration from? 

Because I love TikTok and Internet culture, I feel like I am constantly unintentionally consuming inspiration from other posts, sounds, jokes, and videos. I love being able to participate in trends and also trying something completely new that I haven’t seen someone else do (but wish I did!).

What strategies do you use to grow your following on TikTok, and how do you engage with your audience? 

I’ve recently been making a larger effort to also post on other platforms like YouTube shorts, which has helped me grow my audience significantly. I also try to respond to as many comments as possible and reply to DMs on Instagram. One of my favorite types of videos to make is responding to comments, so I also like to favorite comments– whether it is a compliment, an insult, or a question–to create content for at a later time.

How do you stay up-to-date with trends and changes on the platform, and what impact do these changes have on your content creation? 

Honestly, it takes little effort for me to stay up-to-date with trends and changes because I genuinely love the platform. It doesn’t feel like work for me to scroll or engage with other creators. I feel like TikTok is a great way to build community, stay connected with like-minded folks, learn about topics I otherwise wouldn’t have exposure to, and more. So because content creation and consumption is a genuine hobby, I love experimenting with different types of videos, especially the ones I personally enjoy to watch.

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‍How do you handle negative comments or feedback on your videos, and what advice do you have for other creators dealing with similar situations? 

Negative comments are always going to happen. I find myself laughing at them most of the time, because they are usually so ridiculous. Some of my viral posts are actually responding to the negative comments as well, so if nothing else, consider it inspiration and don’t take anyone too seriously!

What advice do you have for aspiring TikTok creators who are just starting out?

Have fun! Don’t be too concerned with going viral or gaining masses of followers– be your authentic self and create content that you genuinely enjoy making. I consider TikTok creation a creative outlet to express yourself and you can do that and find value in that whether you have 0 followers or a million followers. I have found that my account actually started growing the most when I stopped trying to gain followers and started to just post about things that I liked to post about.

We hear that content creators should “have fun” with their content creation all the time, but how do you have fun with it? 

I definitely try to have fun by posting what I want to post. I know that a majority of our followers come to our page to see DIY and renovation content, and while that is most of our page, I also want to post what I think is interesting! I started to post more outside of my niche, like wedding planning content, grocery hauls, organization videos, and more. They don’t usually do as well as my renovation content view-wise, but I end up having more fun and feeling happier when I post things because I want to post them, not just because I think they will perform well. 

How has Hype helped you in your journey as a creator?

Being able to link all of my important information in one space has been instrumental! Not only linking my social channels, but highlighting specific pieces of content, our feature in the New York Times, our product recommendation, and sponsored links is instrumental to our growth and monetization as a creator.

Lastly, what are your goals for your channel? Are you making money from your channel now? Do you currently have any goals to monetize further? 

If you asked me this question a year ago, I would say my goal is to reach a million followers and to keep growing! Now, I care less about the numbers. My main goal is to keep making consistent content that I enjoy making. I am super fortunate that I make money from various sponsored deals. We would love to continue to monetize our content by partnering with some of our favorite brands to share with our audience!

Follow @renovatingourhome to see Angelina and Skyler in action.

Check out their Hype Page, too!

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