Bob Vila’s Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

I don’t know about you, but this year I don’t want to saddle my kids with all sorts of large purchases that they need to fit in the car for the trip home from our holiday celebrations. Plus, it’s the green thing to do. So with this in mind, I’m focused on giving gifts of experiences instead.

Here are my top last-minute gift ideas:

For the Home-Improver:

• Pass on one of your heirloom hand tools to the new do-it-yourselfer in the family (or if that’s too difficult to part with, show them how to use it instead).
• Give a gift certificate for their local home center.

Why this is on my list: My father made furniture, worked on home renovations, and fixed things with just two toolboxes and a workbench. Over the years I’ve carefully assembled my own tools, ranging from traditional, tried-and-true tools to the latest innovations. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of creating something yourself, with your own hands, whether it’s a simple DIY project or your actual trade.

For inspiration:

• Watch video of my home workshop
• Watch video of making an armoire into an entertainment center 
• Check out my five rules for tools

For the History or Architectural Buff:

• Historic New England is the oldest and largest regional heritage organization in the nation. Membership benefits include free admission to see all their historic properties, exclusive member-only events, a newsletter, and a magazine. Give a gift membership. For an additional fee, members can get a one-on-one consultation with the Old House Maintenance Advisor. 

Why this is on my list: Buildings, especially homes, are my life’s work. I’ve studied architecture and had my own remodeling and design business. Old houses have a lot to teach us about the people who built them, lived there, and were part of a given community. They offer us a glimpse of history that helps explain how we’ve come to live how we do.