It's sod's law. Anything that can go wrong in your home, will go wrong. Things will break, you will curse.

Once you've accepted that fact and addressed it, you can breathe more easily.

In the same way that you keep an umbrella in the cupboard for a rainy day, so it is a good idea to have the basic essentials of D-I-Y tucked away should a fuse go or a door knob fall off.

Unless you are planning major renovation work or are hoping to take part in the next series of Channel 4's Grand Designs you won't need to invest in the contents of a hardware store. But there are a few useful tools that no home should be without.

Flat-head screwdriver: slotted screws on faceplates, switch covers, terminal connectors and furniture are commonplace. You never know when you'll have to tighten something and a flat-head screwdriver works a lot better than a butter knife or the blunt end of a nail file.

Phillips screwdriver: this is the screwdriver with the little cross on the end. Vital for dealing with household items such as computer equipment, toasters, VCRs and for taking the back off some remote controls.

Scissors: not strictly a tool but a pair of good, sharp scissors can come in handy in all sorts of situations.

Duct tape: very, very sticky, very, very ugly but a roll of this silver tape is also very, very useful. It will stick just about anything to anything else.

Pliers: Look out for the insulated two-in-one tool - flat nose regular jaw for gripping and turning, needle nose jaw for tight work spaces

Small wrench or adjustable spanner: a must for loosening or tightening nuts and bolts. A pipe wrench is useful if the plumbing starts playing up.

Hammer: a basic 16oz claw type hammer for removing nails and hitting them home.

Saws: hack-, jig- or crosscut-, a toolbox that contains all three should see you through any home emergency - but a junior hacksaw will suffice.

Stanley knife: not just for carpets. But beware it's basically a razor blade with a handle.

WD-40: the wonder liquid. Gets rid of squeaks, helps when you're trying to extract tight screws and loosens up metal such as hinges. Oh... and much, much more!

Drill: not quite an essential for simple running repairs but, whether cordless or electric, a drill will make D-I-Y life much easier.

Spirit level: shelves, pictures, mirrors - thay all make more sense when they are straight.

Five metre tape measure: you'd be surprised how much easier it is buying anything if you have an idea of how much you need.

Odds and ends: assorted screws, nails, washers, nuts and bolts. Pencil, different grades of sandpaper, a selection of fuses (3 amp, 5 amp, 13 amp), picture hooks, curtain hooks, a torch and batteries.

And for when that urge to redecorate comes over you: set of five paint brushes: 1in, 1.5in, 2in, 2.5in, 3in. Roller and tray with three removable roller heads.

Last but not least, there's many a slip 'twixt drill and bit, so keep a basic first aid kit handy!