You’ve come a long way, baby! Besides bringing home the bacon, you’re buying the home and fixing it up, too. According to Fannie Mae, the number of single female homeowners will rise from 17 million to 30 million, (a 76 percent increase), from 2004-2010. What’s even more astounding is that now, many of these women are tackling home repairs - doing everything from painting, to putting up drywall and changing out their plumbing.

Whether it’s the wealth of new home improvement products designed especially for women or trail-blazing female role models, it’s easier than ever to unleash your inner handywoman and make improvements like a pro.

Gear Up
Just like any project – you need to be sure you have the right tools. And now, those can be as close as your own living room. Based on the age-old Tupperwear Party, companies have capitalized on the women’s DIY revolution by offering Tool Parties. These parties can be researched and even scheduled online at your convenience. Then just invite your girlfriends and get ready for a girl power session.

If a tool party is not your cup of tea, there are an increasing number of custom-made women’s tools on the market. A Good Housekeeping survey on women-worthy gadgets recommends the Barbara K Power-Lite Cordless Drill. Other favorites include the Barbara K 30-piece do-it-yourself kit for women.

Roll with Your Role Models
Once you’ve got the right tools, you’ll need help getting started. Magazines are a great source of inspiration but it’s also the perfect time to turn to the experts. Female carpenters and designers such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s Paige Hemmis, DIY’s Lynda Lyday and TLC’S Leslie Segrete all have personal websites that show females how to take renovation projects into their own hands.

Segrete, who has commandeered thousands of projects on home makeover shows such as While You Were Out and Trading Spaces, offers a variety of project advice on her website, www.lesliesegrete.com as well as on her radio show website, www.themoneypit.com . Women will find tips on how to do everything from sewing to sawing.

Start Small
Much like anything, you won’t become a home improvement guru overnight – which is why Segrete advises focusing your renovations one room at a time.

“When it comes to renovations, the bathroom is a great place to start,” said Segrete. “It’s a small, manageable space and it’s the one room in your home that everyone is guaranteed to visit, so you really have the potential to make a noticeable difference.”

Start by adding a splash of your favorite color paint for an instant update and to bring out your personal design style. Next, Segrete recommends changing out your bathroom accessories. “It’s the little details that make a big difference,” said Segrete. “With so many options and accessories available you are able to create a well-designed look that can be carried out in all areas of the bath.”

For a clean, sophisticated look in the bath, Segrete recommends the new Iso™ bath accessory collection from Inspirations^® by Moen^®. Offering sleek styling and a contemporary chrome finish, the Iso bath accessory collection includes a variety of unique accessories such as a robe hook, pivoting paper holder, towel ring, single and double towel bars, pivoting decorative mirror and a glass shelf. An attractive wall-mounted toothbrush/tumbler holder and wall-mounted soap dish round out the offering.

“The best part of many of the accessories from Inspirations by Moen is that each are so easy to install – even a guy could handle it!” said Segrete. The new Iso bath accessory collection, for instance, features Moen’s EZ 2 Install Mounting System which eliminates the need for a set screw – the most tedious part of accessory installation.

Finally, Segrete suggests updating the shower. “Nothing gets your day off to a better start than a good hot shower so swap out an old, showerhead with a new, upscale showerhead, like Moen’s Inspire™ multi-function showerhead, it really can help you get in the frame of mind to tackle anything the day can throw at you,” said Segrete.

Next, try creating your own inexpensive shower curtain (as demonstrated on Segrete’s website) out of a flat sheet and grommets. “And be sure to showcase your new self-made shower curtain with a Curved Shower Rod from Inspirations by Moen,” said Segrete. “Not only will it highlight your design and make a beautiful statement in the bath, it is easy to install, available in all the popular finishes and will also give you six more inches of elbow room in the shower which can make a huge difference in smaller bath situations.”

So when you’re ready to take home improvement into your own hands, remember that with the right tools and the right knowledge, you can do it!