After reading what Interior Stylists have in our toolboxes, I thought it would be handy to do a roundup of the must-have items we keep close at hand on every shoot. I have a few I want to share with you here now. Which ones will you be adding?

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Pink Hammers

I know, I know! It’s a total stereotype, but here are three reasons why pink tools are a great idea. 1. No set builder will accidentally take your tools home. 2. They look cute in your toolbox. 3. I like pink! There. I said it.

I’ve had my set of pink tools for many years – right up until my daughter started doing construction at uni. Now I only have a hammer and pliers left! They may not be the best brand, or even made to a high standard, but they do the job and bring a smile to my face every shoot.

This set has everything you need to start you off

Eco Parcel Tape

Although this bee tape is far too beautiful to use on any old prop box, it is worth a mention as we move towards being much more eco-friendly on our shoots.

Photography can create a mountain of waste, and it’s often up to us stylists to set the tone. Any little thing we can do to improve recycling is a good thing. I take pop up garden bins on shoots now so the team and I can recycle as we go.

When it comes to parcel tape, the brown paper ones have come a long way. They’re much stronger than the first versions. If I had a shoot budget big enough, I’d wrap everything in this bee design, but alas I shall have to keep this one just for my personal use. The boring ones – bought in bulk- will suffice for the clients. These ones are extra wide AND biodegradable

Sara Bird mentioned double-sided tape in this post and I have to say this one is super sticky. Great for all sorts of jobs

First Aid Kit

Although the urge to share my mini toolbox first aid kit – in its IKEA sandwich bag, is strong, I’ll resist and share an official one with you here. One that the ‘professionals’ reading this would approve of.
This St John Ambulance Universal first Aid kit grab bag  has everything you need to get started when it comes to first aid. You aren’t supposed to give people medicines like paracetamol or even use regular wipes on a person in case they are allergic, so if in doubt, stick to this kit.

After my last first aid training for Scouts, I bought individual sterile saline pods and 100 alcohol-free sterile saline wipes  to carry a few around in my rucksack and add to my shoot tool kit. I now feel ready to help someone when I need to and have the right kit to do it. Having said that – I will always carry pain relief, hayfever tablets and tweezers in my kit for personal use. I’m also tempted to take Laura North’s lead and pop a tin of cute plasters in my kit – just for laughs

Scissors

There are so many scissors you need on a shoot that I could write a whole post on them. I’ll stick to a few of the absolute essentials.

1. Pretty prop scissors. I picked up these gold beauties from Søstrene Grene years ago, and they’ve always been a perfect prop. They are also mega inexpensive. See if you can find beautiful scissors for under a fiver anywhere else? They’re also really sharp.
2. Super sharp – the embroidery scissors are your essential ribbon-cutting pair. Tiny, very sharp (some might say lethal with those points!) and a total must-have. They come in such pretty colours and designs, but these swan ones from John Lewis are a fave.
3. Fabric scissors. I couldn’t do a scissor round-up without mentioning the orange-handled ones. Is there a house in the land where a mum didn’t say, “don’t cut paper with those – they’re my fabric scissors”? And yes, I became that mum! I’ve had this exact pair of Fiskars for fabric for over 10 years. The originals are still the very best.
4. Stationery Scissors. Ones that can cut anything, and you don’t have to worry if you misplace a pair because you have two more in the bottom of your toolbox for cutting tape/cardboard/paper and anything else that comes your way. And as Charlotte Boyd said – choose bright ones so no one can slip them in their bags “accidentally!”.
   

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Secateurs

Another interior stylist recommendation, this time from Jess Metcalf. Secateurs are invaluable on a shoot whether you’re cutting down long, strong, floral stems, Christmas tree branches, or off for a forage in the shoot location garden.
These ones from Annabel James are gorgeous to look at (hello accidental prop) but are strong and sharp. I’ve had a pair of these for years for personal use, and whenever I can’t find them, I remember I took them on a shoot!

Spirit Level

This is so cute; it can literally fit into your jeans pocket! At just 8 cm, this is the perfect toolbox size. Made by Stanley and available at Toolstation, it won’t add a ton of weight or take up space in your kit, and you’ll never have a wonky piece of art again.

Removable hooks

I’m sure by now you’ve seen the 3M Command removable hooks? They’re a part of every interior stylist’s kit, but have you seen the new garland hanger? They’re very useful outside of Christmas as they have a loop design, are rubbery and can be used inside or out. They’re available in Tesco, B&Q, Sainsbury’s, B&M, Amazon and many more. They work in the same way the little clear hooks do – with a removable backing that you pull down carefully to leave no trace.

Clear Pencil Cases

Okay, strictly not a “MUST HAVE” but I love these little pencil cases for keeping everything together and visible. I bought mine from Wilko – oh, how I miss Wilko- but I have just found the exact same ones on Sainsburys.com, so you can get them delivered with your food shop.

I keep labels, pens, sewing kits, batteries and little things I want to keep together in them. I have to admit that seeing them all lined up neatly in my toolbox does spark joy. I’m not alone in this, am I?

p.s. I did try and find them on the Wilko website – it’s still going, you know, but it wouldn’t load.

So, that’s it. Do you have something you would add to this list? Please share in the comments so others can see.

Till next time

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