If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I’m a big fan of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
If you’re not familiar, the Habitat ReStores are not for profit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell building materials, appliances, furniture and home goods. Sales support the work of Habitat for Humanity. You can donate surplus goods (which keeps them out of the landfill), score awesome deals for your house, PLUS you’re supporting the work of a terrific organization. Win, win, and WIN!
Not sure what to do with your ReStore treasures? I’ve put together a ReStore Round-up of incredible transformations, including a couple of my own favorite projects . The ReStore Round-up will be an ongoing series that runs 6 times a year.
ReStore Lighting
The ReStore is always a treasure trove of crazy dated light fixtures just begging for a little creativity. There is so much potential! Light fixtures cost as much as a mortage payment these days, so it’s worth checking your local ReStore for DIY lighting materials.
Sarah at Sadie Seasongoods made this magical DIY metalwork hurricane inspired by Anthropologie.
No-Anthropologies: DIY Metalwork Hurricane
She even came up with a really neat painting trick that involves a balloon….so clever!
Carrie at Lovely Etc. created this cool and stylish DIY Industrial Light for her living room:
Giving a ReStore light fixture a whole new look is often as simple as removing the shade or globe and giving it a fresh coat of paint. This is a great look and the new shade is perfect. Love it!
This Restoration Hardware inspired makeover is incredible:
Restoration Hardware Rope Planetarium Chandelier Knock-off
Would you believe that Shannon from Anythingology made this out of hula hoops, rope and an old brass light fixture? Whaaat? Genius.
Light fixtures don’t have to stay inside the house…you could turn a dated chandelier into an outdoor solar light for your garden like Gail at My Repurposed Life did:
This is an easy project – I did something similar and hung it over the hammock in my back yard, and I always get compliments on it.
ReStore Building Materials
Vineta from The Handyman’s Daughter turned a junky old cabinet sporting chipped pink Formica and stained contact paper into a stylish and useful addition to her kitchen.
She even made a nifty pull-out trash can for a fraction of the price of buying it ready made. How cool is that?
My Pantry Between the Studs has been one of my most popular DIYs to date, and it was made possible by the pair of lightweight bi-fold doors I found at the ReStore for just $10.
I made them into sliding barn style doors using spray painted black iron pipe for the hardware. The pantry adds a ton of useful storage space just outside my tiny kitchen.
Those doors weren’t so pretty when I bought them:
How about that awesome shade of 1970’s orange???
If you’re wondering what became of the orange cabinet, I turned it into a liquor cabinet for my dining room. Adding new hardware, wooden feet, a big pile of corks, a glass top and a lot of paint gave it a whole new look:
ReStore Cabinet Upcycle – Meet My New DIY Liquor Cabinet
If you need a storage cabinet for a small space, check out upper kitchen cabinets at your ReStore. The adjustable shelves were the perfect solution for storing tall liquor bottles.
Deborah and Tom from Salvage Sister & Mister turned a metal panel into a super-cool DIY magnetic chalkboard:
When you look at the finished product, would you ever guess what it looked like when they bought it? What an amazing transformation.
Sarah at All things with Purpose decided to get rid of her awkward kitchen pantry and install a stylish and useful coffee bar:
Pantry Converted to a Coffee Bar!
After she ripped everything out, she found a used cabinet at the ReStore for just $20 and it made the perfect base for her new coffee bar. What an improvement!
Did you know that Habitat takes old and unwanted paint and turns it into Everybody’s Paint?
I had never heard of it before, but Chanell over at Hobnail House used it for her ORC Rustic Living Room and Earthy Sunroom Refresh:
She was thrilled with the quality of the paint and it’s definitely worth checking out if your local ReStore carries it.
NOTE: Not all ReStores carry furniture and home goods – mine only occasionally has furniture and never carries smaller household items. The focus is on building materials and appliances. I’m guessing it’s an issue of how much space they have available. But – I have a serious case of ReStore envy after seeing some of these furniture projects!
ReStore Furniture Transformations
Crystal at The Weathered Fox scooped up this beauty at her ReStore and transformed it using watered down chalk paint on the upholstered part of the headboard.
Painting Fabric with Chalk Paint
Did you know you can paint fabric??? Yup, and it’s easy too. The end result is gorgeous! Can you believe how swanky and high end this piece looks now?
Debra at Shoppe No. 5 actually volunteers with her local Habitat ReStore – she’s civic-minded AND smart! She picked up this adorable bench:
Spoiler – it wasn’t nearly this charming and cute when she bought it.
Lynn at Fern Avenue rescued a pine hutch that was in SERIOUS need of some elbow grease and TLC:
She transformed it into a snazzy new bookshelf:
Pine Hutch Flip Using General Finishes Lamp Black
It’s hard to believe it’s the same piece….WOW!
Which project in the ReStore Round-up is your favorite? I hope my baker’s dozen of creative transformations inspires you to stop by your local ReStore and find your own “diamond in the rough”.
If you’d like to be featured in a future ReStore Round-up, send me a link via email or if you’re a member of the Blogging over Breakfast Facebook group you can add it to the thread there.
I’m linking this ReStore Round-up at some terrific blog parties – you can find my complete list of places I party HERE.
If you liked these ReStore upcycle projects, be sure to check out my “ReStore & Thrift Store Upcycles” gallery – you can find it HERE.