Tape measure
The main measuring tool. A rigid blade with a lock that does not sag along the wall is the most convenient.
Tools
Tools
You do not need a workshop to think through a room or a plot. Almost everything is done with measuring tools, paper and samples you can hold in your hands. Below is the kit we consider enough, without naming specific models or programs: any reliable option that suits you will do.
A pencil and graph paper forgive more mistakes than any program.
How this section works: we list tools by purpose and do not name brands, models, programs or costs. Check how to use them in the manufacturer's instructions.
For the home
What comes in handy for measuring and choosing finishes.
Laser distance meter
Speeds up measuring large rooms and high ceilings. Never point the beam into the eyes of people or animals.
Level
Shows how even the floor and walls are. This matters for built-in furniture and laying floor coverings.
Graph paper and a pencil
The quickest way to draw a plan to scale and try out different furniture layouts.
Floor-planning programs
They help you see a room in three dimensions and switch between options quickly. Choose whichever you find comfortable to work in; the principles are the same everywhere.
Paint and fabric samples
Swatches, fabric scraps and pieces of finish need to be seen in your own room under different light. Without them, a mood board stays just a picture.
For the garden
What helps you transfer the plan to the ground.
Stakes and string
Use them to mark out paths, flower beds and zone boundaries. It helps to leave the markings for a few days and walk around them.
Compass
Helps you work out the cardinal directions and predict where the house, fence and trees will cast shade.
Garden hose
A flexible hose laid on the grass lets you quickly try out the smooth outline of a flower bed or the curve of a path.
Conifer bed (in Russian)
Read next
- How-to
How to draw a measured floor plan of a room, put together a mood board and lay out a garden path.
- Materials
Light, color, textures, textiles and furniture as the building blocks of a design: what to look for when choosing. The article catalog is here too.
- Plot planning
Archived address: how to plan your own plot, with zones, paths, flower beds, a rock garden and a pond.
What we rely on
- Manufacturers' instructions for materials and equipment
- Mydiz editorial materials
The advice in this reference is general and based on material manufacturers' instructions and widely accepted safety rules for the home and garden. Check paint composition, installation methods and work requirements in the instructions for the specific material and with your building management, and leave electrical work, remodeling and complex installation to professionals.