Recently I have been reminded that the ‘glitter and glam’ of decorating is only as good as the tools you have on hand to assemble them.  Over the last week I have been working on decorating a foyer for Christmas – on a couple of occasions my assistant remarked that she absolutely loves my toolbox and that its the best toolbox ever.  It’s nice of her to say so, but any toolbox that has the tools and materials that happen to be needed for the job at hand will always appear to be the “best ever”.   Having said that it is often one of the things people forget about when decorating for an event, so I thought I would open my toolbox and share a few of my favourite items with you.

1.  Scissors

This may seem a little obvious, but they are absolutely essential, and there are a few things you should consider.  Firstly if you have a sizeable group of volunteers helping with set up it will be worthwhile having 2- 3 pairs.  Event set ups are usually done under time constraints and the last thing you want to be doing is wasting time looking for a pair of scissors.  Secondly, you need to consider what you are going to cut and whether or not the scissors you have will actually do the job.  Some scissors just can’t handle cutting fabrics, so it pays to check.  Also, while they aren’t strictly scissors I have a pair of wire cutters in my toolbox too.  I find they are useful for when scissors just aren’t strong enough for the job.

2. Double Sided Tape

This is another essential. It is my firm belief that in most decorating circumstances tape should not be seen – therefore double sided tape is perfect.  It can be used just about anywhere and for anything.  Just be aware that not all double sided tapes are created equal.  Some of the cheaper varieties turn into clumpy messes when you try and remove them, which is why I choose to use the Sellotape brand which you can buy in most supermarkets and stationery stores.  The other brand I also like it Impact, which is available from Warehouse Stationery.  The backing paper on this brand seems to be thicker than others, which makes it easier to peel off.

3. Cable Ties

If your decorating involves a lot of tying or hanging, then cable ties can be a quick and easy alternative to fumbling with knots.  I’ve found that a lot of the $2 variety type stores sell the smaller sizes rather cheaply.  Mitre 10 and The Warehouse have the bigger sizes if you need them, but be prepared to pay more.

Well that’s my first 3 Toolbox favourites.  Over the coming months I plan to reveal a few more.  If you need help figuring out how to assemble your event décor then feel free to email us with your questions.