Let me just put this out in the open; I am a Do-it-yourself queen. “That’s great” you might think. But I have it so bad my friends and family make fun of me. Nonetheless, I don’t let that bother me. Armed with my hot glue gun on one hip and staple gun on the other, I march forward, ready to conquer, re-purpose or recover anything that gets in my way. Ok that was a little dramatic, but you get the picture. Save money and do it myself? Bring it on!
I am one of those people who likes to be prepared for any task that might be sprung on me suddenly. I sometimes get in midnight crafting frenzies and a run to the store is out of the option As much as possible, I like to have all the tools I need to get the job done. I haven’t personally had the opportunity to do any big DIY-projects like chair re-upholstery or anything but here’s the tools I like to keep around.
1. Hot Glue Gun
The hot glue gun is one of my favorite and most used tools. It is perfect for gluing fabric onto small objects and seems to hold really well. I have a quick dry gun and sticks but actually prefer my gun and glue that takes longer to dry. This gives me a little more time to fix something if I’ve glued it wrong.
2. Mod Podge
If you want to create your own beautiful decorations for that luxury condo or just recover smaller items, mod podge is a great thing to have around. From covering shoes to creating beautiful canvases, the possibilities provided from this great little substance are endless.
3. Hammer and Nails
These are kind of a no-brainer and most people usually have them around. They’re very handy especially for wood projects.
4. Staple Gun
Like I said, I haven’t really done any re-upholstering myself but my husband was a furniture repair man for a while and used his staple gun constantly. I’m glad to know his is ready and waiting should I ever need it! It also comes in handy for connecting wires to the back of picture frames and other little projects like that.
5. Thumb Tacks
This may sound a little out of place here, and I admit, it’s a little off category, but I do use these handy little trinkets often! You know the way people reference using duct tape to hold things together? Well it is probably safe to say that thumb tacks are my alternative to duct tape most of the time. Thumb tacks work great for hanging pictures and can even keep stuff together temporarily while you’re working on a bigger project.
6. Paint Supplies + Sandpaper
If you’re going to be refinishing dressers and nightstands and coffee tables and anything else you can get your hands on (because let’s face it, once you become a do-it-yourselfer, you tend to get a little carried away) you’re going to want to keep rollers, paint brushes, paint thinner, primer and a small supply of paint on hand. I’m going to throw sandpaper in here as well because chances are you’re going to be doing a lot of sanding before you apply paint.
Whether you live in Austin luxury condos or in a small house outside of town, you can become a great interior decorator for yourself by having the right tools on hand.
© Copyright 2012 Jenn, All rights Reserved. Written For: Simply Shawn & Jenn
