DIY Gift Guide – Best Tools & Practical Gifts for Renovators & Old-House Lovers
Our 2025 gift guides are here! Find holiday hopping ideas for home lovers, gifts under $50, and the best tools and practical gifts for DIYers and old home lovers.
If you have a DIYer, tinkerer, or old-home enthusiast in your life (or you are that person), this gift guide is for you. Renovators are a special breed - we love a tool that solves a problem, a clever upgrade that saves time, and a classic material that brings old-house charm back to life. This year’s guide marries both sides: the highly practical (tools, safety essentials) and the timelessly charming (custom home drawings, unlacquered brass details). So whether you’re filling stockings, spoiling a weekend warrior, or helping someone warm up their drafty old house (we see you!), these 16 gifts are tried-and-true favorites in our own renovation life.
DIYers & old home lovers gift Guide
1. a beautiful and practical interiors book
A beautiful, design-forward book filled with Nate’s guiding principles for creating a collected, layered home. A perfect pick for old-home lovers who appreciate timeless style.
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2. Swiss Army Knife
The tool that does everything - tightening loose hardware, opening packages, quick fixes on the go. Classic, compact, and endlessly useful for anyone on your list.
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3. natural Gas + Carbon Monoxide detector
A compact safety essential that monitors both CO and natural gas leaks - peace of mind for everyone, especially those in older homes.
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4. Block Print blanket set
This cozy block-print set will add instant warmth to a drafty bedroom.
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5. stud finder
A fast, accurate stud finder that shows the whole stud - not just a beep. A true upgrade from the old unreliable versions.
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6. Custom Home Portrait
A sentimental favorite - a hand-drawn or printed illustration of your home, framed and ready for gifting. Perfect for the person who truly loves where they live.
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7. Multi-Bit Screwdriver
One handle, multiple heads, and all the durability Milwaukee is known for. Garrett bought this essential this year and uses it all the time for quick fixes.
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8. Heavy-Duty Tool Apron
For the serious DIYer: pockets for everything, comfortable straps, and built-for-life construction. Great for woodworking, painting, electrical, or weekend projects. Garrett wears this exact one.
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9. Drill/Driver Combo Kit
The power-tool set every homeowner dreams of - compact, powerful, and a massive upgrade for anyone using outdated tools.
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10. Under-Sink Filtration System
A surprisingly great gift for anyone with questionable plumbing. We love these filters - they remove the bad stuff and improve water taste right under the sink.
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11. Unlacquered Brass Magnetic Door Stop (a Poplar Cottage Favorite!)
The prettiest door stop on the internet. Holds doors open, keeps them from slamming shut in drafty houses (via a magnet), and gets better with age.
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12. Rolling Tool Chest
A dream-piece for serious DIYers. Tons of storage, heavy-duty drawers, and a solid wood top that doubles as a workstation. Bonus: it’ll look great in anyone’s garage or basement!
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13. Voltage Tester
Small but mighty and essential for any DIYer or old-home owner. This little gadget safely identifies presence of voltage at an outlet or wire and helps keep renovators safe.
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14. Custom Monogram Doormat
Charming, classic, and personal - a beautiful monogrammed doormat that instantly elevates the entry of any home.
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15. Painter’s Tape (4-Pack)
Yup painters tape! Once you use this, you never go back. Crisp paint lines, clean removal - a perfect stocking stuffer for any DIYer or old-house enthusiast!
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16. Rechargeable Magnetic Headlamp
Hands-free light that clips anywhere - tool belts, shelving, electrical panels, attic joists. Perfect for low-light old-home situations. Garrett uses this one all. the. time!
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Happy holiday shopping!
xx
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