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Stock your tool kit for quick redecorating
When I stage a house or complete a one-day redesign,
I bring a large tool bag filled with useful items like
a hammer, measuring tape, screwdrivers, wrenches, and
scissors. My husband is amused by the fact that I actually
enjoy cruising the aisles at hardware stores looking
for items to add to my tool bag. I thought I'd share
with you some of tools and supplies I have found to
be especially helpful. You may want to keep some of
these items on hand for your own household projects.
- Nails and picture hanging hooks in a variety of
sizes. Always make sure to use the right size of
nail or hook for the artwork you are hanging. Straight
pins can also come in handy for hanging quilts, linens
and even posters. Use specialized hangers for masonry
and plaster walls.
- A stud finder. When hanging heavy items like mirrors
or large pieces of art, it is very important to drive
the nail or screw securely into a stud.
- Wire and wire cutters. We use wire to wrap silk
flowers for a quick floral arrangement. Wire is also
useful for hanging unusually shaped items. For example,
during one recent redesign, we hung bunches of artificial
grapes on the wall inside empty picture frames. They
were unique additions to the dining room wall arrangement.
- Furniture moving glides in different sizes, for
both floor and carpet. These are "must-have" items
for those of you who like rearranging your furniture
on a regular basis. I am certainly not a big person
at just under five feet tall, but these glides enable
me to move heavy furniture pieces like sofa beds
and armoires. You can find these at stores like Bed
Bath and Beyond and Home Depot.
- Plate stands and plate hangers in a variety of
sizes, styles and finishes. For home staging and
redesign, we use plate hangers to hang platters,
trays, and trivets, in addition to the usual decorative
plates. We use plate stands to display books with
interesting covers, small pieces of art, platters,
bowls and trays.
- A level. One of my clients gave me a laser level
as a gift, which has come in very handy. Another
level I really like is the Johnson Mark-and-Mount.
It is an adjustable level that makes it easy to hang
artwork with two hooks, as well as crown molding
ledges and shelves.
- "Earthquake putty." We use this putty
to keep items like vases and figurines secure on
shelves and tables. A little bit on the back of the
frame keeps artwork from shifting on the wall.
This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper
Group papers on Sept. 2, 2006.
Go
back to the list of decorating columns.
All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna
Jacoby.
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