Yuma, Arizona (NAPSI) - Restore, refinish, repurpose: The R’s have it when it comes to decorating your home. You can give used furniture new life with some imagination and a little bit of elbow grease. From turning a discarded door into a stately headboard to making a coffee table out of a wooden pallet, the possibilities are endless when you do it yourself.

Your local flea market, or even your own attic, is a great place to start. Keep an open mind during your search for the perfect piece, and remember that even the dingiest furniture can be easily transformed with the right tools.

To help, wood finishing expert Bruce Johnson offers these tips:

• Check the wood for excessive dryness or splintering. A light sanding and dust removal will prepare the piece for refinishing.

• For beautiful results in a short amount of time, choose a one-step product such as PolyShades—it’s a rich stain color and clear protective finish, all in one. It can be used on bare wood or over an existing polyurethane finish.

• Using this product, as with all stains, let the first coat dry completely before applying additional coats.

• For quick and easy touch-ups of nicks and scratches, use Minwax Stain Markers in a color that matches your wood. Follow with Minwax Paste Wax for a hand-rubbed finish.

By following these simple tips and keeping in mind the three R’s, you can give your home a distinctive look that is full of personality. Best of all, you will be able to say “I did that!”

Learn more at www.minwax.com.