Check Out Brenna Darling’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenna Darling.

Hi Brenna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, and credit the supportive and encouraging soul of that city for shaping me into who I am today. I went to film school in Southern California (Chapman University) and moved immediately to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. As an auditioning actor, there’s a lot of hustle and not as much day-to-day creativity involved. To bring more daily creative energy into my life, I started my blog, DIY Darling, which focuses on DIY projects, interior design, and how to design your dream life on a dime.

As luck would have it, this would turn out to be my big break. DIY Darling led to me booking a hosting role on Taste made’s home makeover show, Weekend Refresh. I then went on to write a book for them, also called Weekend Refresh, which comes out this Spring 2023. I moved back to Colorado in 2021 and have enjoyed the balance of being close to my family, while still getting to work as a creative. And the view of the mountains doesn’t hurt either! I spend my days working as an interior stylist for private clients, making branded content on social media, and writing freelance.

I think making my content took the pressure off of my acting career, and I’ve since acted in multiple commercials, notably for brands like Hot Tools, Home Depot, and Bush’s Baked Beans. And I booked a sizable role in my first movie! (Keep an eye out for The Happy Camper on Hallmark). 2023 is gearing up to be my biggest year yet as I begin my next book with National Geographic and The Walt Disney Company.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
One of my favorite sayings is “don’t fight your life”. I could have never predicted the path my life has taken me. For the seven years, I spent as a professional actor in LA, I kept a death-like grip on my career or what I thought my life should look like. I racked up hundreds of “no’s” and the almost daily rejection took a hit on my confidence and self-worth. I couldn’t get an agent to save my life – it felt like no one believed in me.

I worked at a high-end restaurant in a fancy part of town and I would serve the rich and famous and think “why can’t that be me?” It wasn’t until I loosened up a bit and leaned into my true authentic self that things started to happen. I said “yes” to every opportunity that came my way. I started to let the natural flow of my life take over, and some pretty amazing things happened as a result.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
To me, life is a do-it-yourself project. I specialize in helping others make their homes look beautiful through intentional interior styling, oftentimes incorporating DIY projects to get an extra custom look for less. I like to encourage others to design their dream life, which shows up in my writing, blogging, and content creation. I love to entertain via social media and on the silver screen. My work as an author serves to inspire readers and highlight the beauty that life has to offer.

I’m proud of my first book, Weekend Refresh because it pushed me creatively and tested my perseverance and ability to self-motivate. Y’all, it takes SO MUCH WORK to write a book and it’s a very isolating experience. The biggest highlight, aside from the writing itself, was working as the interior stylist on set for all of the photography. I’m beyond proud of my team and the other producers, and it’s wildly gratifying to hold a book in my hands and know that I helped make it.

What are your plans for the future?
My biggest project to date is beginning as we speak – and that is my book with National Geographic. It explores and highlights small towns across the United States, complete with beautiful photography, that will hopefully inspire readers for their next getaway weekend. It’s a multi-year process and I’m embracing the adventure as it comes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://diydarlingblog.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diydarling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diydarlingblog