21 Essential Tools For Home Decor Diy Projects
Having the Essential Tools For Home Decor Diy Projects will make life so much easier. They will save you time and money but also keep you safe at the same time.
For any project, you must use the correct tool for the job.
You wouldn’t use a handsaw to slice a loaf of bread nor would you use a kitchen knife to cut a piece of wood.
Knowing that you have the correct tools will give you the confidence you need to start and complete your projects.
We will have a look at the following 4 areas.
- Safety Tools
- Basic Tools
- Decorating Tools
- Advanced Tools
Safety Tools
Before you start any project, you need to make sure you have the correct safety gear that you need to stay safe. The last thing you want is to hurt yourself.
Spending some money on safety gear is a MUST for every diy-er.
Safety Goggles
Safety goggles are designed to keep your eyes safe from dust, debris, and liquids such as paint and wood stains, etc.
They might not make you look cool, but they will protect your eyes from getting hurt. If you can’t see then you pretty much can’t do anything, so invest in a good pair of safety goggles.
How Do I Choose Safety Goggles?
Here are some features you should consider when purchasing safety goggles.
- Comfortability
- Fit around your glasses
- Anti-fog
- Anti-dust
I have heard some people say they do not wear safety goggles because they wear glasses, but I highly disagree with this statement.
Dust and debris can still find a way to reach your eyes even if you wear glasses.
Avoid cheap goggles that you can purchase from the dollar store, they don’t last long.
Work Gloves
Not only do work gloves keep your hands safe from splinters and cuts but they also give you a better grip on the materials that you are working with.
You can even get work gloves that absorb vibration from hand tools such as drills and sanding machines.
What Should I Look For In Work Gloves?
- Good fit
- Elasticated Cuffs
- Breathable Back
- Strong grip
- Washable
A lot of people don’t have gloves in their DIY toolkit because they convince themselves “I’ll be fine” but it’s better to be safe than sorry later.
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional diy-er or just a beginner. Having a good pair of gloves is a must-have for your DIY toolkit.
You should also have some disposable gloves in your diy toolkit.
Disposable gloves are great, you use them once and throw them away no need to clean or wash them.
They usually come in a box of 100 and cost next to nothing. They are perfect for painting and staining wood etc.
Dust Mask/Respirator
The role of a dust mask is to prevent you from inhaling harmful particles such as dust and fumes you get from woodwork or painting etc.
Just because you cannot see the dangerous particles flying around in the air doesn’t mean they don’t exist. We need our lungs to breathe so keeping them healthy is a BIG priority.
Wearing a suitable dust mask will prevent any dangerous particles from entering your lungs.
How Do You Choose A Dust Mask Or Respirator?
- Good ventilation.
- Good Protection from harmful dust and other particles that cause respiratory problems.
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear.
- Reusable.
You can also get disposable dust masks that are perfect for small jobs. These can be picked up for cheap and come in packs of 2 or more.
Basic Tools
Hammer
A claw hammer is every diy-ers best friend well not their thumbs. Ouch!
You will use this tool more often than you think and it does much more than just hammer nails.
The head is usually made from steel, one side is used to drive nails into the wood and the other side is used to pry out unwanted or bent nails.
Types Of Hammers
- Rubber Mallet – Soft blows without damaging surface.
- Ball Pein – Shaping metal.
- Cross Peen Pin Hammer – Light joinery.
Screwdrivers
We all underestimate how useful screwdrivers can be. This is one tool that I use every single day If I’m building a piece of furniture or just tightening a few screws.
This tool is quick and easy to use, you don’t always need a power drill.
A screwdriver is made of 3 sections:
- Handle
- Shaft
- Tip
There are many types of screwdrivers depending on the design of the tip or the size of the handle/shaft.
Common Types Of Screwdrivers
- Phillips screwdriver
- Flathead Screwdriver
You can purchase individual screwdrivers but they usually come in a set which is great for different projects.
Dust Sheet
The last thing you want is dust and paint on your floors when you are working on your projects.
Having a good set of heavy-duty dust sheets will save you the stress of having to clean any paint that has got away from you.
You can buy dust sheets next to nothing, but these are usually thin plastic sheets that tear easily, so avoid the cheap ones.
Paying a little more and you will have dust sheets that will last for years to come and best of all they can also be washed when needed.
Dust sheets are available in different sizes. No point in having a huge dust sheet when a small one will do. So, having a few different sizes in your collection is a good idea.
Measuring Tools
Can you imagine building a coffee table without a tape measure?
Measuring tools come in all shapes and sizes. The most common ones include:
- Tape measure
- Steel ruler
- Square triangle ruler
I recently finished building our new dining room table and for this project, I use all 3 of the above measuring tools.
Mechanical Carpenters Pencil
Mechanical carpenters’ pencils are strong, and the tip always remains sharp.
Have you ever used a normal pencil to mark wood, the tip usually breaks easily under pressure?
These pencils are great to have in your toolkit. You can pick these up for around $5, so it’s money well spent.
Glue Gun
When you think of a glue gun, you normally associate it with paper crafting but you will be surprised how many uses it has.
A glue gun is a small device that is shaped like a gun that takes hardened glue sticks that are melted by the heating element inside the device.
Glue guns are available in both cordless and corded. The cordless glue guns are a little more expensive, but they give you more flexibility. Plus, you don’t have to worry about finding the closest power outlet.
Handsaws
Like most tools, handsaws come in all shapes and sizes. What type of handsaw you will need will depend on what you need cutting.
Common Types Of Handsaws
Rip-Cut Saw
A rip-cut saw is also known as simply a “hand saw”. This type of saw is designed for cutting wood and is great for most jobs.
Backsaw
A backsaw is commonly used alongside a miter box but it is great for small straight cuts.
Coping Saw
This saw is used when precision and intricate cuts are needed.
Hacksaw
Hacksaw is a fine-toothed saw that is usually used for cutting thin materials such as plastics, metal tubing, and wood.
Step Ladder
We have all been there, instead of grabbing a ladder to change the light bulb we grab a chair instead.
Step ladders are much safer to use and can prevent you from overstretching and falling off.
They are easy to store thanks to their folding mechanism and are lightweight to move around.
Some ladders even have a small shelf on the last step which is great for your tools or paint.
Toolbox
Everyone needs a toolbox, no matter if you have lots of different tools or just a few. It will keep your tools together and keep you organized. The best thing is, it has a handle so you carry your tools with ease.
Toolboxes usually have different compartments which are perfect for storing screws, nails, and washers, etc.
Decorating Tools
Paint Brushes
If you are serious about home décor, building your own furniture, or even small crafts, then having a good quality set of paint brushes is a must.
Paint brushes are available in different sizes so you are sure to find a brush to suit your projects.
You can buy them very cheaply however the cheap ones don’t give you the best finish plus they don’t last long.
Paint brushes range in price, I would not recommend the cheap ones. I find that the bristles fall out easily and get into your paint giving you a bad finish.
Spending a little extra money will get you brushes that give you a good finish that you are happy with and also don’t fall apart when you clean them.
Paint Rollers
Paint rollers are a great way to quickly paint a wall or any other wide surfaces quickly.
Even though their finish is not as good as a paint brush, they still do a good job and save you a lot of time in the process.
Paint rollers hold a lot more paint than a paint brush and can evenly distribute a layer of paint in less time.
Paint rollers come in 2 sections the handle and the roller. The handles will last you a long time if used correctly and the rollers can be easily replaced.
Painters Tape
If you are like me when it comes to straight clean lines then painter’s tape is a must for your toolkit.
It is used to mask an area that you don’t want any paint on.
Such as:
- Painting Skirtings
- Painting Accent Wall
- Painting picture frames, etc
Not only is this a great tool to have for your Diy projects, but it is also very cheap. You can usually find a roll of painter’s tape for under $2.00.
Turpentine or White Spirit
For any DYI painting projects, it is essential that you also have turpentine or white spirit in your toolbox.
It is perfect for cleaning your paint brushes and paint rollers, as well as your hands.
But it is important to remember that turpentine can cause headaches or other physical symptoms. You don’t need to use it a lot at a time, and if possible, try to use it in a well-ventilated area.
Advanced Tools
Electric Drill
Owning an electric drill will save you so much time on your projects.
Can you imagine how long it will take you to manually screw 20 – 30 screws with a screwdriver, a looong time, however, with a drill, it would take a fraction of the time.
Corded drills are known to have more power whereas a cordless drill gives you more flexibility.
When choosing your drill, you need to ask yourself, do you want a drill that gives you more power or one that gives you more flexibility around your projects?
Level
Have you ever put up a shelf and said yeah, it looks good but when you step back you notice that the shelf isn’t straight?
Yup, we have all been there!
This is exactly what a level prevents from happening. It helps you check that everything is straight so you don’t need to redo everything.
Levels come in many sizes, so you won’t have any problem finding the perfect one for your projects.
Stud Finder
This is a fantastic tool to have around for those projects that need to be attached to the walls such as shelves, heavy mirrors, or tv brackets.
This tool tells you where the studs are in your walls so no need to do any guesswork or make any unnecessary holes that you need to fill and repaint.
True story.. when we moved into our home, we decided to paint the accent wall red which took days because of the high ceiling. It was worth the time and effort because the results were amazing.
But then we decided to hang our TV on the wall.
I didn’t have a stud finder at the time, and you can imagine what happened.
I can still remember my wife’s facial expressions every time I made a hole in our newly painted accent wall to find the stud. Still to this day she reminds me of that. lol
Miter Saw
If you want to cut wood quickly and straight, then a miter saw is a must. Not only does it give you a nice clean cut but it will also save you so much time.
I’m not the best at cutting straight with a hand saw so I’m so thankful that I have a miter saw at hand for those projects where having straight cuts is a must.
What Should I Look For When Buying A Miter Saw?
- Cutting capacity
- Angle cutting options
- Compact & lightweight design
The prices vary, you can get a great one for over $500 but you can easily find a decent one for much cheaper.
Electric Sander
If you want to save time on your wood projects, then this is the tool for you.
I just finished working on a dresser for my wife.
There was so much sanding involved. If I didn’t have an electric sander, I think it would have taken me much longer.
Types Of Electric Sanders
Detail Sander
Detail sanders are great for reaching those awkward areas such as corners. They have self-adhesive sandpaper that can easily be replaced.
Orbit Sander
Orbit sanders either come with a rectangular, round, or square base plate. This sander is perfect for giving your projects a smooth finish and for rounding off any sharp edges or corners.
Belt Sander
Belt sanders are known to remove material a lot quicker than other hand sanders. With this sander, you need to make sure you sand with the grain of the wood otherwise you risk leaving deep sanding marks on your projects.
Final Thoughts
We covered the following areas in this article:
- Safety Tools
- Basic Tools
- Decorating Tools
- Advanced Tools
You don’t need to go out and buy every tool that was mentioned in this article, it all depends on the projects you will be working on.
No matter which project you are working on, I highly recommend you purchase the safety tools. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
I’m sure there are plenty of other tools that could be added to this list. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes to use the correct tools for the task.
Using the correct tools will not only keep you safe but will also save you so much time.
We hope this list of essential tools for home decor diy projects has given you an idea of what tools are available to help you with your projects.
Please share in the comments if you have any tips or advice on the topic.
Let’s share and learn together!
Happy Crafting!.
