Why I put wheels on (almost) everything

If you stand still long enough in my house I’ll probably screw some wheels onto the soles of your shoes. Because I really believe that almost everything is better with a set wheels on it. It’s probably because I’ve worked for so long as a stylist and set designer on shoots that I appreciate the value of an easily moveable piece of furniture. If my team can easily slide a table a few feet to the left rather than pulling a muscle lifting it then we are a happy bunch. And in some of the best shoot location houses I’ve worked in, the owners have taken this into consideration, putting larger items on wheels - at the very least the kitchen island, assuming there is no plumbing connected to it. Like so many things I’ve learned on the job, making furniture mobile works just as well at home as it does on a photo or film set.

Watch and see a bit more about why I’m such an advocate for the wheel/caster.

(I realised too late that I need to shoot my videos landscape - so next time that’s what I’ll do, but for now here you go!)

I’ve employed the same trick in my office (/guest bedroom/shoot studio/prop room/zoom conference room/you get the picture) where I seem to be moving things around every week from necessity and from constantly changing circumstances. Currently it is a hard working room which benefits greatly from being flexible. Putting wheels on my IKEA Ivar cabinets has been a game changer - especially because I frequently overload them with props, making them impossible to easily shunt even a few inches without wheels.

Watch for the moment I say “It’s easy if you know how to use a drill…”

I bought these for the small Ivar cabinets and I’d suggest something similar to these for a larger piece where you want brakes.

As always I take so much inspiration from the creative homes I visit for all my books. Spot the wheels on furniture in these shots from my latest book Create.

And this last one is the reason I want to put little wheels on my massive dining table - you have to look closely at the table on the right but they’re there.

One more tip is to use wheels under large house or outdoor potted plants. You can buy some plant bases already with wheels or if you’re handy with a power tool you could make your own by cutting a piece of wood and attaching casters as above. Last year I spotted this dolly trolley at Aldi for a tenner and thought they’d make perfect mobile plant bases if you don’t mind the more industrial vibe. As always, the trick is to see think creatively and seek out alternative uses for everyday objects.