As
the calendar turns a page toward spring, we naturally turn toward thoughts of
spring cleaning, revamping, and seasonal makeovers. You may not want to be focusing on the deep
cleaning projects around your home just yet, but we could ease into it with a
restocking of your decorating tool kit.
Power
tools may be the go-to for the typical tool box, but savvy home stylists need
some other tricks up their gloves. Think
versatile and handy. Painter’s tape
covers doorframes and edges you want to keep paint free. But it also marks off areas of a wall to act
as a gallery border, allowing you to hang up frames, canvases, and other
artwork with the outside edge clearly labeled.
Once each piece is hung, simply peel off the tape and admire your clean
lines. If you’re moving around furniture
for a new look, painter’s tape can also mark off the corners of to-scale
furniture pieces on the floor after you have done the measuring to give you a
visual about what will and won’t fit where, all before sliding heavy
items.
Clip
rings are a great little tool to have on hand.
They make hanging, moving, and changing out drapery panels quick and
easy. Without having to ensure fabric
panels are custom fit to each drapery rod, you can change out what borders your
windows with flat (ironed) sheets in a style you like, fabric-by-the-yard you
have hemmed, or any packaged drapery panels.
No loops or pockets – just clips that chomp down on the fabric’s edge and
a ring that slides onto drapery rods – can help you take fabric wherever you
want it displayed. That can include
making fabric room dividers or creating your own extra closet space behind a
fabric cover.
Cleaning
wipes can be a tool you want to add to your repertoire if you haven’t
already. They make cleaning up
countertops, fixtures, and other surfaces quick and simple for not just
cleaning but picking up around the house.
Storage baskets in various milk crate sizes go beyond a storage solution
to decorative accents when used to hold remotes, magazines, toys, towels, and
more. Brass picture hangers that use two
small pin-like nails for each piece of hardware give you a leg up on getting
wall art level the first time, helping to reduce those second hole
attempts. Keep a candle lighter on hand
in the drawer by your kitchen scissors to light a candle or two for quick home
fragrance and a little dinner ambiance.
Though
not part of what we ordinarily consider “tools,” you can use these and develop
your own list of go-to materials to help out around your home to get things
neat, straight, and decorated to your liking.
Keeping the right supplies on hand can be the key you need to make such
a big job a little simpler.
DesignInMind column; appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 3rd.
