Spirit level
Helps you put up a shelf, hooks and a rail straight. Even a slight tilt is visible to the eye and makes the shelf harder to use.
Tools
Tools
You do not need a workshop to keep your home in order. A small set of simple tools and a few containers to keep things together is enough. Below is what genuinely comes in handy and why, with no ties to any manufacturer.
The most underrated tidying tool is a marker pen and a roll of masking tape for labels.
How this section works: we list tools by purpose and do not name brands or models. Use power tools strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions and with protective equipment.
The basic kit
Tools and items that help both with decluttering and with installation.
Tape measure
Tells you whether a basket will fit in an alcove or a wardrobe between two walls. Measure before you buy, not after.
Wire detector
Shows where a cable or metal may run inside the wall. It is not a full guarantee, so combine it with common sense and knowing where the sockets are.
Screwdrivers
A set with different bits is useful for tightening hinges, handles and drawer runners. Often this solves the problem without calling anyone out.
Boxes and containers
Matching ones with lids and space for a label work best. Clear ones suit small items; opaque ones suit things that should look tidy.
Markers and labels
Labels on boxes, drawers and shelves save the whole household time and help everyone put things back.
Read next
- How-to
How to put up a shelf without hitting hidden wiring, and how to declutter without regrets or exhaustion.
- Care
Caring for wardrobes, hinges and drawer runners, airing them out and protecting your things from damp.
- Planning
How to plan storage: an inventory of your things, how often you use them, zones and a place for each group.
What we rely on
- Furniture and fixings manufacturers' instructions
- 78Online editorial materials
Our advice is kept general and is based on furniture and fixings manufacturers' instructions and on common household safety rules. Always check the fixing method, permitted load and the right wall plug for your wall in the instructions for the specific product, and leave complex installation to a professional.