Going back to University this September? Or maybe it’s the first time you’ll be living away from home? Whether you’re house sharing or living in a student flat on campus, there’ll be something that needs fixing along the way – and what better time to learn how to do some simple home maintenance.
Although DIY may not be at the forefront of your mind right now, it’s useful to know what tools may be needed for any minor repairs or incidents in your new student accommodation. Whether it be changing a lightbulb, hanging a picture or assembling flat-pack furniture, you don’t want to have to wait for your landlord or uni maintenance team if you can do it yourself.
The DIY experts at Toolstation have put together a list of essential tools that won’t break the bank that are worth investing in for simple home maintenance tasks.
1) Screwdrivers – A set of screwdrivers will be essential for many home-maintenance tasks. They will be used for everything from assembling furniture to opening a tin of paint. If you invest in anything – make sure screwdrivers are top of the list.
2) Tape Measure – A must-have in your toolkit. If you’re looking to add some extra furniture to your student digs and spruce the place up a little, a tape measure will make sure it definitely fits. When you’re on a tight student budget, you don’t want to waste money buying furniture that you’ll have to send back.
3) Smart light bulbs – Smart light bulbs will make a great addition to any student accommodation. With plenty of settings and colour presets, you can set the mood for any occasion, whether it be studying or a freshers party. Lots are dimmable so you can save money on buying lamps and even sync them with smart devices so you can control them by voice. Plus, if you’ve gone out to lectures and accidentally left it on, you can turn it off from your device, perfect if you’re keeping an eye on your energy use.
4) Smart plugs – Smart plugs are not only great for saving energy, but can keep you and your flatmates safe by allowing you to remotely turn off devices that might overheat or that you accidentally left on whilst in lectures.
5) Claw hammer – A claw hammer is an essential tool for various DIY projects and general home maintenance. The head is used for driving in the nails needed to hang things like hooks and photo frames which will come in useful if you want to hang any pictures in your new accommodation.
6) Allen Key Set – Allen Keys,also known as Hex Keys, are needed to assemble a lot of flatpack furniture or even clothing rails, and although sometimes provided with the new furniture – it’s best to have your own just in case.
7) Torch – Although not strictly a tool – having a torch in your home incase of an emergency is a good idea. If there is a power-cut or you need to find something in a dark space, a torch will be very helpful.
8) Step stool – Another useful item to have in your new home, a step stool can come in handy for all sorts of DIY tasks including painting ceilings, changing light bulbs and hanging pictures. You should never stand on a chair or wobbly surface to reach something as you could easily fall, so a step stool is worth investing in. You may even use it for day to day tasks like reaching to the top of cupboards!
9) Duct tape – will come in useful for quick fixes and minor repairs. You could also invest in some double-sided tape which is a great alternative for hanging things such as pictures and mirrors.
10) Toolbox – although not necessary, a toolbox won’t cost you a fortune and is useful for keeping all of your tools organised and in one place – which will be appreciated in a freshers flat.
11) Multi-purpose filler – If you decide to hang shelves or artwork using screws in student accommodation, wall-filler is a great way to cover up any holes at the end of the year. Also, assuming the tub is properly sealed, filler can have a shelf-life of years so will last well past your time at university!
12) Smart assistants – Smart assistants can come in handy for setting alarms, reminders and timers which can improve overall time management, as well as playing the all-important party playlist. You may want to consider investing in a smart assistant so you can chill out in your room away from the chaos of university life!
“Beth Priestley, hand-tools expert from Toolstation said ‘It can feel overwhelming investing in and using tools for the first time. That’s why we’ve provided an easy starter kit for the new term so university students can become familiar with basic tools and how to use them.
‘When using any tools, we’d advise to use them safely and appropriately. With any project, big or small, you should only give it a go if you feel confident doing so.’
