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Another new regular post, I really am spoiling you… Welcome to Thrifty Thursdays, a fortnightly post bringing you great ways to live for less. Brilliant places to shop, fun ideas on how to reuse and recycle, plus (of course) crafty projects that cost pennies – or nothing!
This week, I’m taking a look at Habitat ReStore, a brilliant social enterprise from the NI branch of Habitat for Humanity, the charity dedicated to making safe shelter a reality for everyone around the world.
Habitat for Humanity NI was established in 1994 and works to deliver affordable housing solutions in our deprived communities, as well as partnering on Habitat’s international projects.
The first of its kind in Europe, the ReStore shop in Lisburn sells donated and used building and DIY supplies and furniture, at 50 – 75% of normal retail prices. They have an excellent Facebook page, which is where I first discovered their amazingly cheap furniture.
On the hunt for a large, sturdy table to use for fabric cutting in my sewing room, I paid them a visit on a Saturday afternoon and discovered an Aladdin’s cave of treasures.
There is every type of home furniture you could imagine – dining tables and chairs, display cabinets, wardrobes, coffee tables, sideboards and office furniture – as well as anything else you could need for home improvements. Fireplaces, windows, garage doors, kitchen appliances, lighting, toilets, baths, even an entire kitchen for £300 were on display.
Then there is the DIY section – shelves packed with tiles, lightbulbs, screws, adhesives, masonry… I think you get the idea.
The quality ranges from brand-new and good-as-new items ready to display in any home, to more obviously ‘previously-loved’, perfect for a lick of varnish or an upcycling project – but prices across the board are seriously low. There were office and school chairs for £5, a small filing cabinet for £10 and large desks/tables starting at just £15.
If you need anything for your home, check out Habitat Restore before B&Q, Ikea or Homebase. You’ll get far more for your money here, plus that money will go to a very good cause.
Contact Card
Habitat Restore NI, Riverside Centre, Young Street, Lisburn BT27 5EA.
T: 028 9263 5635
FB: facebook.com/HabitatRestoreNI Twitter: @RestoreNI