Oooeeey! Do I have a fun post in store for you today! I am so excited to be sharing my DIYer’s Holiday Gift Guide. This is in no way a comprehensive list of all of the tools that a DIYer could benefit from having in their arsenal but I’ve included what I think are the most important items to have that will take you to the place where DIY dreams are made of. Dramatic much? Maybe. But I can’t help getting excited about tools and DIY stuff. All of these tools are items I have worked with, absolutely love and am proud to stand behind.
Anywhoo, let’s get to the goods because I am super excited about the giveaway at the end of the post. So stick around for that! You won’t want to miss it!
*This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
1. Hammer
A hammer
2. Multi-bit Screwdriver
Here’s another basic but absolutely vital tool. While a good drill can accomplish much of what you need, a screwdriver can fit into the tightest spots to secure those hard to reach screws. Having a multi-bit screwdriver is just the icing on the cake. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fasteners, so having the versatility of the many different sized bit heads is mucho importante.
3. Needle Nose Pliers
I can’t tell you how many times I reach for my pliers when working on a DIY project. From the bar codes that are stapled to lumber to the broken off nails that get stuck when a project goes wrong, they always have my back when I’m in a pinch (pun intended 🙂 ).
4. Power Drill/Driver
Save your wrists from the torment of twisting and turning that 3 inch screw into place and grab a power drill to get the job done. A good drill can give you the manpower you need to join in holy matrimony even the toughest of materials together. But don’t just grab any drill. I love my Porter-Cable 18 Volt Drill. It’s powerful and the battery lasts forever so I don’t have to worry about it dying on me midway through a project.
5. Finish Nailer
Now we’re talking! If I had to use my hammer for every project I would have gone absolutely bonkers by now. My BOSTITCH Finish Nailer
6. Miter Saw
This is by far my most valuable and favorite tool. Sure you could get by with a miter box and saw but you will be sawing away for days and icing your sore biceps at the end of it all. When I use my miter saw, my projects not only are finished faster but with better precision and beautiful results. I can’t say enough about my Kobalt Sliding Compound Miter Saw
7. Measuring Tape
You’re nothing without a good tape measure. You know the saying “measure twice, cut once”? It’s so important to have accurate measurements and without one of these you are shooting in the dark. I like to buy them in sets that have different lengths. I keep the smaller ones in the house and leave the big boys out in my toolbox in the garage. Just don’t leave the tape extended out, laying on the ground.That’s a good way to frank it up and it’s just not right.
8. Stud Finder
If you plan on hanging anything heavy on your walls, you’re going to need to screw it into the studs. How are you going to find them without your trusty stud finder? You can grab your basic stud finder or even get a combo one that detects electrical wires, as well as studs. Don’t leave the fate of your drywall to chance. Grab a stud finder and secure those objects to the studs.
9. Elmer’s Color Change Wood Filler
My life was changed when I started using Elmer’s Color Change Wood Filler
10. Purdy Paint Brushes
Let me tell you a little secret. Not all paint brushes are created equal. I have no idea what it is about Purdy brushes that make them so superior to other brushes. Magical powers, maybe? But they are unparalleled in their performance. When the job calls for a paint brush, a Purdy brush will get it done beautifully without all of those nasty brush strokes.
11. Frog Tape
Throw that blue tape into the garbage can and grab yourself a big fat roll of green FrogTape
12. Level
Whether you’re tiling, wood working, working with cement, etc., a level is an absolute necessity to ensuring accurate results. Grab your level and make sure that little bubble is centered because a small discrepancy can lead to a terribly off result in the end. Another benefit of a level is that it makes an awesome straight edge for drawing lines.
13. HomeRight Finish Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer
Holy fazoli, you guys! I will never look at painting the same after working with my HomeRight Finish Max Pro Sprayer. Throw away those annoying spray paint cans and spray to your heart’s content with this sprayer. The results are flawless. Forget about brush strokes and spending tons of time painting with your paint brush on those large projects. This tool is a DIY game changer!
14. Power Sander
There’s a time and a place to flex your muscles. Sanding 16+ boards for your board and batten wall treatment is not it. Plug in your power sander and be done with this dreadful chore in minutes while simultaneously saving your sanity. Just be sure to use proper respiratory safety precautions (i.e. respirator mask). Breathing in all of that sawdust and other crud is no joke. It’s bad for you guys. Stop trying to be a badass.
15. Utility Knife
Don’t laugh. I know some of you are thinking, “A knife? Really?”. Just hear me out. A good utility knife can score through old caulk lines with precision without gnawing up the surrounding materials. It can also effortlessly cut through cardboard instead of trying to scissor your way through it (been there, done that). Or how about that annoying clamshell packaging that everything is packaged in these days. It’s maddening. Slice through that crud with your utility knife and show that clamshell who’s boss.
Now for the super duper exciting part. HomeRight has graciously provided a Finish Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer for one of you lucky readers to win! Just complete the Rafflecopter below, cross your fingers and maybe say a prayer or two! The giveaway will run until Monday, November 24th at 8:00 AM EST.
Oh, but the fun doesn’t stop there. I’ve teamed up with 24 other fantastic bloggers to bring you our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway. Throughout the week, each blogger will be sharing their Christmas List with you and offering a giveaway for one of their featured list items. That’s 25 total prizes! The giveaway timeline and details are as follows. Each giveaway will run for one week from its start date. Please note that the post links will not be active until 8:00 AM EST of each specified day.
Monday
making it in the mountains
Delineate Your Dwelling
Little Red Brick House
Elizabeth Joan Designs
Tuesday
DIY Passion
Canary Street Crafts
Average But Inspired
New House, New Home, New Life
Child at Heart
Wednesday
Dwell Beautiful
Little House of Four
Meet the B’s
Anything & Everything
Table + Hearth
Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body
Thursday
Shambray
Joy in Our Home
Occasionally Crafty
Paper and Fox
Fresh Crush
Friday
Houseologie
Brepurposed
Dandelion Patina
Dwelling in Happiness
BD Design
Awesome list! Amazing prize!
Great list! I agree, my miter saw is probably my favorite big tool. There’s a couple on here I don’t have yet so I’m sending this list to my husband for Christmas ideas!! 🙂
Sarah, this is an AMAZING gift guide! I do not have some of these products and I might add them to my Christmas list! I am so excited to try and with the sprayer, too! Happy holidays!
Oh, and I’d use the sprayer on EVERYTHING!!! 🙂 No surface is safe!
My husband would love it if I won! 🙂
How awesome! I’m added every single one of these to my list for Santa!!! And killer giveaway my friend!
Everything 🙂
What a great DIY list, I probably need every single one of these items!
Love all the tools in the guide – maybe Santa will bring me the miter saw… or atleast I might win the sprayer! My daughter’s room has been painted and redecorated except for the dresser and her desk. And it would be awesome for a few other pieces in the house needing some TLC too!
We have some tables that need to be sanded and sprayed and I would to refinish our kitchen cabinets
I love all of your picks! Plus, I totally wanna win that sprayer!!!
I don’t see the rafflecopter…am I missing something?!
Just kidding! 🙂 Just took it forever and then some to load!
This is my kind of wish list! You’re speaking to my heart girl with this HomeRight Sprayer 🙂 It would make my life SO much easier!
I’d use the sprayer for everything! 🙂 I have been wanting to paint a kitchen table for a while, so I think this would help a lot!
I would update some old furniture i have
I’ve got some old bedroom furniture that deserves a new life!
Thank you so much for your kind words about the Finish Max Pro Sprayer. We are so excited to be apart of the gift guide and offer one as a giveaway.
Laura Clark
HomeRight
Thank you, Laura! I can’t express how appreciative I am to have partnered with HomeRight.
Seriously this is the type of stuff on my wish list this year 🙂 Will have to pass this along to the hubs! That sprayer is awesome, I could have used that months/years ago! Great Holiday guide!
LOL, Tara! It really is the stuff dreams are made of. 😉
I think the finish sprayer would be a big help in redoing our kitchen. I just got buy-in from my husband to change our dark brown kitchen cabinets to white to brighten up the space. A finish sprayer would save me so much time!
I totally feel you, Linda. We are about to paint our kitchen cabinets, too and I wouldn’t even think about attempting it without this sprayer. Thanks for stopping by!
Getting ready to refinish our kitchen table. This sprayer would make it so much easier! Also, need to repaint a changing table for my new granddaughter. And then there’s the bench my father made back in the early 70s that needs some work….
Sounds like you’ve got quite the load, Karleen! 🙂
Wow… this is a fantastic list! That sprayer would sure come in handy for all of my outdoor crafts!!
I would love to win this HomeRight Finish Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer – I have a lot of DIY projects ahead of me. =) Win!! Pick me!
Oh there is a lot of things I would do with all those tools.
Oh I would use it all the time but right now I have a couple of chairs that need a makeover and this would come in so handy!! Would love to win this!!
I would use the Finish Max Pro Fine Finish Sprayer on my bedroom walls, I really want to repaint in there.
I would use the sprayer on my bedroom door, we just finished putting in a pocket door and it is unfinished, it needs to be painted.
I’d use the sprayer on everything i want to makeover.
Id use it to re-do several pieces of vintage furniture!
Thanks for the great tool list. I like knowing the brands you recommend. Hoping to win the sprayer as painting furniture takes forever.
Cool gifts! Can’t go wrong with a Purdy paintbrush! They are all I use! Nice roundup Sarah!
Aren’t they the best? Thanks so much Michelle!
Fantastic gift guide Sarah! I could pick lots of thingß I need! And that frog tape would make the best stocking stuffers! So fun!
Thanks, Kendra! Such a great idea about the stocking stuffer! I’ll have to forward that to my hubby. 😉
The question is, what WOULDN’T I use that sprayer on? I love your DIYer gift guide!
I would spray ALL the things! 😉
We need to redo some cabinets in our house so I’d use it for that
I love this list!! I have most of these things but could definitely add a few to my collection. We have an old dresser from my hubby’s grandma we’ve been meaning to get around to painting and this would be perfect for that!
I would use the sprayer on all of my aspiring DIY projects!! I have had my eyes peeled for a wood dresser that I can strip down and repaint … this would be a great tool for that!
I would LOVE to have a sprayer! Cabinets, furniture, siding…. ohhhhh the possibilities!
Goooood giveaway girl!!! And that miter saw and sanderrrr……
Who couldn’t use everything on your list, AND, a sprayer like that?? Amazing!
GREAT list, Sarah! I seriously need ALL those tools. I would totally use this sprayer on our front porch deck, it needs some help!! Thanks for an awesome giveaway!
i would use it on the walls of my room
I would use it to paint the kitchen cabinets.
I will use it to paint my kitchen cabinets!
I would paint my husbands Fish Shed with it, it needs help!
I would use the Finish Max Pro Sprayer to give my kitchen table a new look.
I couldn’t agree more. I am a DIYer and I need all these things often. Great gift guide!
Gallery wall.
Dining table and chairs.
Our living room needs painting – badly.
Hello, I have an old dark stained huge 70’s pine dining table that is ugly and in need of new life with paint. That is the item I would tackle first with a HomeRight Finish Max Pro. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I would paint my spare bedroom!
Awesome giveaway Sarah!