Habitat’s Charlotte Region ReStores are magical places for home décor thrifters and bargain hunters

If you’ve never wandered into a Charlotte-area ReStore before, allow me to introduce you to a magical world.

Since I was little, I have always loved the thrill of thrifting. I remember spending many Saturday mornings hopping from garage sale to garage sale with my mom. Even now, there aren’t many weeks that go by that I’m not out hunting for the perfect item to adorn the various nooks and crannies of my apartment.

Whether you’re a fellow thrifter or just looking for budget-friendly furniture and home décor, here’s everything you need to know about Habitat’s Charlotte Region ReStores.

First of all, there are 7 Charlotte-area ReStores. Their flagship location can be found off Wendover Road and it’s impressive.

Their other locations are Wilkinson, University City, Pineville, Cornelius, Mooresville, and Statesville. You can find the one closest to you here.

The stores, which are open to the public, sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, home décor, and even building materials.

“We get a great mix of new and used items,” says Caitlin Greenwell, Vice President of Retail Operations for all of the Habitat Charlotte Region ReStores. “We work with some of the nation’s largest retailers as they cycle things out, so some things are new.”

Either way, customers can snag items at 50 percent of the retail price or way less. “You can find name brand items in there on the cheap,” says Greenwell.

The ReStores offer a surprising variety of home products, ranging from antiques to brand new appliances.

They have a wide selection of living room and dining room furniture. Plus, they even have a whole section for lighting and rugs.

There are also boxes of tile and other building materials, appliances (sometimes brand new), and full-on kitchen cabinets, perfect for renovation projects or house flipping.

“If you find something you like, snag it,” says Greenwell. “The inventory changes every day.”

I personally spent way too long in the tableware section looking at glasses for my bar cart and almost bought this adorable brass candleholder as Thanksgiving decor.

The absolute best part of shopping at the ReStores is that the proceeds go back into Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region, which helps build affordable housing opportunities for families in our community.

“It’s hard to find affordable housing in a growing city like Charlotte,” says Greenwell. “But what money is raised in the Charlotte region, stays in the Charlotte-region. The funds really do go into changing our own community.”

Proceeds from ReStore sales have helped build and repair more than 200 homes in the Charlotte region.

Shopping the ReStores is also a way to be environmentally conscious about where you’re putting your dollars.

“We divert tons from the landfills every year,” says Greenwell. Buying secondhand is much more sustainable than buying new. It’s one of the reasons I love to thrift.  And with so many possibilities with upcycling, you can really breathe new life into old pieces.

Check out the Habitat Charlotte Region ReStore’s blog for some crafty upcycling ideas.

With a constant flow of shoppers, the ReStores also need a steady influx of item donations.

If you’ve spent quarantine purging your home, consider donating to your closest ReStore. First, check out their list of accepted items. And make sure you drop off items during store hours so they can be sorted and avoid damage from the elements.

If you have a large item to donate, like a couch or dining room table, you can request a pick-up so you don’t have to worry about moving it yourself. Just fill out a request form.

If you’re planning on stopping by a ReStore soon, know that they’re taking lots of safety precautions to protect customers from Covid-19.

Face masks are required of customers and employees. They disinfect every item as it comes in and they are cleaning the stores thoroughly every single day. There are also one-way aisles to promote social distancing.

Ready to start your own treasure hunt? Find the closest ReStore to start shopping or donating.

This content was created in partnership with Habitat Charlotte Region ReStores.