Whether you’ve moved into your forever home or your “for now” home, the right tools make it possible to care for and personalize your space. If your current toolkit is a collection of loose hex keys that came with your college Ikea furniture, it’s time for an upgrade.
Having the right tools before you actually need them makes it much easier to resolve unexpected issues, perform routine maintenance, and avoid damaging fixtures in moments of panic or improvisation. Pre-assembled toolkits range tremendously in size and price, so before you commit, it’s important to consider your current needs and plans for your home.
Here are our top five essential and five “nice to have” tools that you’ll want to keep on hand for whatever life throws at you.
When it comes to home care, approximated measurements are the leading cause of bad results. A quality tape measure will allow you to take precise dimensions so you can make sure pictures are centered on the wall before you start making nail holes, and that sectional you’re planning to buy will actually fit through the doorway.
Tape measures vary a lot in price, but you don’t need a state-of-the-art model to meet your needs. Look for a lockable version with a steel tape that stays rigid when extended — it’s hard to get accurate measurements if your tape measure sags.
Screwdrivers that come with interchangeable bits are always handy, but at a minimum, make sure you have both a flathead and a #2 Phillips screwdriver in your toolkit.
While the little Allen Wrench that’s often included in furniture assembly kits technically performs the same function, screwdrivers with ergonomic handles will give you much more control so you can drive screws with less force. Save your wrists and add them to your collection.
Want to hang pictures, put together furniture, or tackle small wood-working projects? The hammer aisle of your local hardware store probably has an overwhelming array of options, but a 1lb hammer is typically the best choice for renters and casual DIYers.
The heavier the hammer, the less force is required to deliver a blow, but the easier it is to unintentionally damage a project. A 1lb hammer is hefty enough to drive a standard nail without bending it or marring walls and furniture.
Slipjoint pliers are ideal for gripping objects, removing staples from wood, and anytime you need leverage to grasp, turn, or pull.
The advantage of slipjoint pliers is a mechanism that allows you to change the width of the pincers without changing the width of the handles. This means that the same pair of pliers can be used to grasp different sized objects without requiring you to squeeze the handles in an awkward position.
Where pliers are great for grip, a wrench is important for leverage. Choosing an adjustable wrench makes it possible to turn and tighten different sizes of nuts and bolts without changing tools.
Your slipjoint pliers and adjustable wrench work well together for many furniture assembly and plumbing projects: the pliers grasp fixtures and hold them stationary while the wrench loosens and tightens bolts.
If you ever plan to wall-mount your television or hang a piece of art that weighs more than a pound or two, you’ll need to make sure you’re anchoring it to the stud, not the drywall.
Studfinders work by detecting either changes in density or the presence of the drywall screws, so you can be sure you’re attaching heavy fixtures to solid wood. They are a fairly inexpensive investment that can potentially save your walls (and your new flatscreen).
If you want to tackle drywall projects or easily open packaging without sacrificing your kitchen knives, a utility knife is great to have around. Just be mindful and replace the blade whenever it becomes dull or damaged — a sharp knife is a safe knife.
Your cellphone flashlight is great for finding the keys at the bottom of your bag, but it won’t help you under the sink.
A properly illuminated workspace makes all the difference, especially when the task at hand involves dark or cramped spaces. A good work light can be mounted, hung, or set up on a sturdy base and aimed at your project so your hands stay free.
A painter’s tool may look like a glorified spatula, but there’s a reason professionals keep one on their hip at all times.
This multitool includes a beveled edge ideal for scraping gunk or removing adhesive, a straight side for smoothing spackle, a small flat edge that can open paint cans and turn flathead screws, an angled side for pulling caulk, a teardrop cutout that can quickly remove nails, and a crescent-shaped edge ideal for scraping excess paint off of rollers.
Inexpensive and extremely handy, we’ve never met anyone who regretted adding a painter’s tool to their kit.
If you have DIY ambitions of any kind, have protective gear handy. If your project involves anything with a running motor, ear plugs or earmuffs prevent long-term damage to your hearing — so wear them!
Even if you’re not venturing into power tools, take an extra step to keep harmful debris out of your eyes. Airborne particles, tile shards, and splashed paint and chemicals can take you from the garage to the emergency room if you neglect to wear safety glasses. Pick up a pair or two the next time you’re at the hardware store so you won’t be tempted to work without them.
Want to own the right tools and use them with confidence, too? The Tool Skills portion of our Maintenance Ready series teaches you how to put your tools to work on common household projects, how to build a tool library, and when to borrow vs. purchase specific tools. With a little hands-on practice in our low-stakes lab environment, you’ll be ready to bring your new skills home in no time.
We get it. Let’s hop on a quick call to help you feel confident about your next step.
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