“It’s been fun to personalize our new home with pre-loved and repurposed items. By saving money and reducing waste, we’ve created a home that really reflects our values.” – Debbie, NW Portland

Here are some of the many local resources to help you get what you need for the space you call home. Check out our interactive map for a full listing!

Plan ahead

Moving is a good time to stop and ask whether you need or want to keep everything you have in your home.

For items you don’t want to take with you, having a garage or yard sale can be a great way to reuse your stuff.

If you live in a multifamily apartment community, you could talk with your property manager or the owner about the possibility of setting aside a common space one weekend and inviting all interested residents to participate. Even if your neighbors aren’t moving, chances are that they have something they’d be happy to sell or donate.

For items left over after the sale, many organizations accept household, craft or clothing items (and are an excellent resource for finding new wares for your home as well):

• City Liquidators
• Community Warehouse
• Finders Keepers
• Goodwill
• Hippo Hardware
• SCRAP (School & Community Reuse Action Project)
• Teen Challenge of Oregon
• The Salvation Army
• Thrift Shops Directory
• Village Merchants
• William Temple House

Once you’ve downsized your stuff, it’s time to think about packing. AlienBox offers durable, reusable plastic boxes for rent. Used Cardboard Boxes sells affordable, previously used boxes that meet their strict quality standards.

Settling In

Often after moving in, we find items that aren’t functioning properly. Rather than replacing them, extend their life by fixing them instead.

A-Z Blinds Cleaning and Repair (7920 NE Glisan St, 503-252-9909), Oregon Service Center and Reliable Appliance Repair offer options for window treatments and various home appliances.

Feeling inspired to do-it-yourself? Tool libraries offer opportunities to try new equipment at no charge:

• Green Lents Community Tool Library
• North Portland Tool Library
• Northeast Portland Tool Library
• Southeast Portland Tool Library

Renting the tools you need is another cost-effective option:

• Home Depot Rentals
• Interstate Rentals, Inc

Looking for unique or vintage building materials? These salvaged materials and hardware stores have many options to choose from:

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Hippo Hardware
• Rejuvenation
• Salvage Works
• The ReBuilding Center
• W.C. Winks Hardware

Want to make new curtains or reupholster an old chair? A class can help you get started:

• Bolt Fabric Boutique
• Fabric Depot
• Modern Domestic
• Montavilla Sewing Centers
• Palmer/Pletsch Sewing Classes
• PDX Seamsters
• Portland Community College Community Education

Get a little help from the pros

No matter what the age or type of home you’re in, sometimes it pays to consult a professional.

Get a quick assessment of your home’s energy use online, by phone or at your home with the Energy Trust of Oregon’s free Home Energy Review.

The Regional Green Building Hotline provides free green building resources, promotes local programs and incentives and offers technical assistance to residents and businesses in the metro region.

Where do you go to Be Resourceful? Share your favorite Portland community resource.

The City does not endorse or assume responsibility for businesses, companies or organizations listed by the Be Resourceful program.