[Inkscape-user] small screen

My laptop has a small screen, and as a result it fits in my briefcase and I can take it just about anywhere.

Usually that's a feature, but not whan I use Inkscape.

When I use inkscape (or the Gimp for that matter) there's very little effective drawing area because most of the screen seems to fill up with icons to do various things to my drawing. Is there any way to reduce the clutter, and to see them only when I need them? Or to usually see only the ones I use often?

-- hendrik