ReStore Blog

Discover the Power of Paint: DIY with Jill O’Gorman

Posted by Guest Blogger on Nov 1, 2022 8:43:00 AM

Guest blog by Jill O'Gorman, professional designer

I believe decorating doesn’t have to be expensive. The savvy shopper in me, coupled with a stubborn “I can do it” attitude, led me to become a professional decorator and designer. But you may be surprised to learn that one of my favorite inexpensive DIY tools is paint! I’m not just talking about painting walls. Paint is a magical product that can transform a room or piece of furniture in a matter of hours. Sometimes all it takes is a gallon of paint or a spray can. Let’s discover some fun things you can do! Here are a few ways I’ve transformed projects with paint.

Topics: DIY, Upcycle, 2022

Fall Flip Contest 2022 Winners

Posted by Amy Weiss on Oct 24, 2022 2:09:00 PM

This fall, we decided to kickoff the new season with a fun upcycle contest: the Fall Flip! We asked you to show us your best DIY project, and 13 amazing ReStore supporters entered. Thank you, participants, for sharing your creativity. Without further ado, here are our 2022 Fall Flip Contest Hallo-winners...

Topics: DIY, Upcycle, 2022

Join ReStore's Fall Flip Contest

Posted by ReStore Staff on Sep 6, 2022 8:38:00 AM

Kick off autumn with a festive DIY contest!

Topics: DIY, Upcycle, 2022

DIY Reupholster Your Worn-Out Furniture [VIDEO]

Posted by ReStore Staff on Aug 8, 2022 8:56:31 AM

Jan demonstrates how to reupholster a cushion

Do you have old benches, chairs, or other furniture you just can't part with? Give old furniture new life with this simple DIY project. Reupholstering furniture can turn beloved (yet worn-out) furniture into the perfect piece for your home.

Topics: DIY, Upcycle, 2022

5 Creative DIY Fire Pit Ideas You Can Totally Make at Home

Posted by ReStore Staff on Jul 28, 2022 7:00:00 AM

Blog Update (7/28/2022): It was brought to our attention that a project idea using window wells in a previous update is not recommended. High heat can cause the zinc coating on galvanized metal to come off and be harmful if inhaled. Be mindful when DIY-ing, and learn something new everyday. We did!

There's a reason s'mores and smiles are all common sights around a backyard fire pit. The backyard fire pit is kind of a national symbol of warm weather togetherness: friends, family, and neighbors can all huddle around for warmth and welcoming conversation under clear skies.

Topics: DIY, Upcycle, 2022

View the 2022 Spring Upcycle Challenge Entries

Posted by Regina Eckes on Apr 27, 2022 9:33:03 AM

In honor of Earth Month and ReStore's commitment to keeping building materials and household items out of landfills, we introduced a Spring Upcycle Challenge! We invited crafty DIYers to submit their before & after photos of an item they've upcycled. We received a number of amazing entries, and we are so impressed with everyone's creativity and vision! Take a look at the entries below and gather some inspiration for your next project.

Topics: ReStore, DIY, Upcycle

Local DIY Master Gets Inspiration at ReStore

Posted by Regina Eckes on Mar 9, 2022 2:00:00 PM

Derek on his construction site in winter

Derek Lee Miller is a local Twin Cities carpenter, artist, theater set designer, and former professional puppeteer. He’s also an avid ReStore shopper. Over the years, Derek has completed many projects using materials and products found at ReStore Home Improvement Outlets. This DIY master shared with us his passion projects and what keeps him coming back to ReStore.

Topics: ReStore, DIY, Remodel, Upcycle, 2022

DIY Upcycling Ideas with ReStore [VIDEO]

Posted by ReStore Staff on Dec 16, 2021 2:50:00 PM

Looking for a creative outlet that doesn’t break the bank? Maybe during lockdown you busied yourself with remodeling a room (or many) in your home. Since then, you have been on a hunt for the perfect dresser (couch, table, what have you), but just can’t seem to find the right one. Instead of replacing your current furniture, you should consider all of the unique upcycling ideas.

The practice of upcycling is when you take a pre-owned item and turn it into something new! Furniture is a great place to start your upcycling adventures. While you are giving an item a second life, be considerate about what items you choose to upcycle. Take the time to select a quality piece of furniture either from your home, or a secondhand store, such as ReStore). Material quality, design, and structural integrity are three key things to look for when deciding whether or not a piece of furniture is worth upcycling.

Topics: ReStore, Videos, DIY, Upcycle, 2021

Have a seat! Refresh an old chair with these simple steps

Posted by Jared Laabs on Sep 8, 2021 9:43:09 AM

Guest blog by Rae Fleming, an independent blogger and DIYer in Minnesota.

Let's have a seat, rest, and catch up! It's been a busy summer for me: moving my folks to town, keeping up with baseball schedules, running to hockey clinics, a working teenager, starting a new job, and raising two teenagers. Even with everything going on, I'm thrilled to have partnered with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore again on this SUPER easy DIY project! Nothing is quite as easy as reupholstering a simple chair, so I'm hoping you give it a try.

Keep reading to see the steps I took to make the transformation with a $5 chair found at the ReStore in New Brighton.

Topics: DIY, Upcycle, 2021

Here are the winners of the Birdhouse Upcycle Challenge!

Posted by Jared Laabs on Jul 7, 2021 9:31:25 AM

We are amazed at the creativity and ingenuity of the entries in our Birdhouse Upcycle Challenge. Materials were old wood, metal, plastics, and the designs were modern to rustic. Thank you to all who contributed and shared your work with us.

We asked everyone to vote for the best on social media, then took the top three to WCCO's studio so on-air anchors, Jason DeRusha and Heather Brown, could rank them first, second, and third place. Here are the results:

Topics: ReStore, DIY, Upcycle, DIY Friday, 2021

The ReStoration Corner

Discover the Power of Paint: DIY with Jill O’Gorman

Fall Flip Contest 2022 Winners

Join ReStore's Fall Flip Contest

Kick off autumn with a festive DIY contest!

DIY Reupholster Your Worn-Out Furniture [VIDEO]

5 Creative DIY Fire Pit Ideas You Can Totally Make at Home

View the 2022 Spring Upcycle Challenge Entries

Local DIY Master Gets Inspiration at ReStore

DIY Upcycling Ideas with ReStore [VIDEO]

Have a seat! Refresh an old chair with these simple steps

Here are the winners of the Birdhouse Upcycle Challenge!

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

Posts by Tag

ReStore Hours

ReStore Locations

Subscribe to Hot Deals!

About Twin Cities Habitat

The ReStoration Corner

Kick off autumn with a festive DIY contest!

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

Posts by Tag

ReStore Hours

ReStore Locations

Subscribe to Hot Deals! hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "92650", formId: "9b56ef43-6f7c-4e6f-806b-cd899ad42770" });

About Twin Cities Habitat

Subscribe to Hot Deals!