Tools of the Trade: Moving Day Essentials We Love
Installing a house full of luxurious art and furniture sounds glamorous. In practice, it’s a lot of heavy lifting, some minor chaos, and a trusted bag of tricks our team would never leave home without.
Over the years, we have carefully assembled an install kit that is stuffed with tools we can’t live without that every install (and honestly, every home) deserves.
Here’s our must-have lineup.
From easing creases out of draperies to de-wrinkling bedding, we cannot do without a handheld steamer on install day. The Conair Extreme Steam is our current favorite. It heats up fast, and you can get about ten good minutes of steaming before you need to refill the water reservoir.
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No more leaning Tower of Pisa energy from your tapers. A quick schmear of these candle dots at the base of your candle, and they stay perfectly upright in their holders. We consider these a photo shoot essential.
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Another endlessly useful adhesive: Bard’s Tacky Wax. It’s perfect for keeping tchotchkes in place, or for temporarily setting almost anything without reaching for glue. We love to apply a small dab on the back of a frame to keep art from shifting on the wall.
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What gets stuck must get unstuck, and we think the OG Goo Gone does it best. From dissolving price tags on dishware to lifting labels off mirrors, this adhesive remover is a staple that earns its spot in the kit.
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Recommended to us by a client, this handy furniture moving kit has become one of our favorite finds. A simple dolly system makes moving even the heaviest pieces a breeze.
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This simple digital measuring tool has quickly become an indispensable time saver. Pocket sized with point and shoot ease, we reach for it more often than a standard measuring tape.
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Amazon, BOSCH Laser Distance Measure, $42.99
We use our small level more often than you might guess, whether we’re hanging art or settling the age old debate of whether it’s the floor or the furniture that’s off kilter.
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Okay, so we may not be able to fit a stepping stool in our install kit, but it travels with us almost everywhere. The 3-step variety is a workhorse, and the Gorilla is stable, lightweight, and easy to carry.
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Home Depot, Gorilla 3-Step Aluminum Step Stool, $74.97
Nicks happen. The Weiman Wood Repair Kit makes it all better. We’ve used it on furniture, sure, but it works just as well on wood wall paneling, cabinets, or even a scuffed pair of shoes in a pinch!
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Super fine steel wool is surprisingly useful. We’ve used it to smooth splinters on a rustic wood farm table and to gently buff excess grout off the edge of a tile.
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Felt furniture pads are probably the single most important item we bring to installs. We use them on chair feet to protect flooring, but they are just as handy for leveling furniture on an uneven surface.
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Amazon, Scotch Felt Pads, $8.19
Similar to felt furniture pads, cabinet door bumpers protect surfaces from chipping. We also love them for keeping frames flush against the wall or protecting a tabletop from the rough underside of a vase.
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Lowe’s, Scotch Rubber Cabinet Bumpers, $11.98
On install days, we open a lot of boxes. The Milwaukee Fastback Folding Utility Knife is top notch, easy to use and built to last. It also comes in handy for trimming peony stems before a photo shoot!
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Home Depot, Milwaukee Fastback Folding Utility Knife, $16.97
