The Right Tools

Do-it-yourself home decorating not only saves money and allows you to stay within your budget; it can also be a fun and exciting experience and, once completed, can give you the satisfaction of a job well done. The first step in do-it-yourself decorating is having the right tools.

For those on a budget, do-it-yourself projects are a great way to decorate your home. There are many projects that will allow you to create an entirely new and professional look for home and remain within your budget. In order to ensure that do-it-yourself projects go smoothly, a great idea is to have a decorating tool-kit, with all the tools and accessories close at hand for a quick do-it-yourself pick-me-ups and redecorating that is more involved. You can use a large wicker picnic basket or other decorative basket or tote and your toolkit instantly becomes an addition to the décor in your home. Here are a few things to have on hand:

Basic tools:

Tape Measure - a 25-foot measuring tape will work for measuring a tablecloth to measuring an entire room

Screwdrivers - an assortment of screwdrivers including flat head and Phillips head in a variety of sizes from tiny to large

Pliers - an assortment of pliers including needle-nose, heavy grooved pliers, and wire cutting pliers

Level - this tool is essential for ensuring that items such as pictures and towel bars are hung straight as well as many other jobs

Vice Grip - for times when you need more grip than pliers allow

Hammer - most decorating jobs can be accomplished using a medium weight hammer, although some more delicate jobs may require a small hammer

Nails and Screws - an assortment of nails and screws are handy to have available for hanging pictures and making minor repairs throughout the home

Wire Cutters - wire cutters come in handy in many household decorating projects, including electrical repairs

Pencils - from marking drill holes to recording measurements, pencils are a must for your toolkit

Blue Painter's Tape - this tape, which can be removed from most surfaces without damage, comes in handy in many home-decorating projects - from masking areas to avoid overlapping paint onto them to marking studs for picture hanging

Cordless Drill - a cordless drill is another tool that can be used in many projects and makes inserting and removing screws a breeze

Utility Blades - these come in handy for a variety of tasks, from opening boxes to delicate craft projects

Spackle - keep a small container handy for filling nail holes and repairing small scratches or dents in sheetrock walls

Putty knife - use a putty knife to apply spackle, scrape up paint, and smoothing down corners when repairing wallpaper

Paint Can Key - this little tool will save a lot of trouble and possible mess when opening paint cans

Glue - keep a selection of glue (super glue, white glue, and carpenter's glue) handy for quick repairs or projects

Solvents - a tube of a solvent, such as Goof Off or Goo Gone comes in handy for removing scratches, paint smudges or tape residue, and other sticky substances from most surfaces

These items are great to have on hand for a quick facelift for any room in your home:

Wired Ribbon

Linens - tablecloths, doilies, place mats and runners

Baskets in a variety of shapes and sizes

Vases in a variety of shapes and sizes

Serving pieces

Candles and candleholders

Low-wattage light bulbs

Cocktail size paper napkins in different designs

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