Category: JRCC Furniture Depot

Decluttering is a process where one decides to organize items in their space.  

There are many reasons to why decluttering is beneficial. Here is a short list why you should declutter; 

1. Decluttered living is a peaceful living – when your space is clean and free from unused items, it allows you to perform daily tasks more efficiently as you are able to easily find what you need.  

2. Decluttering reduces stress – a cluttered room may lead to anxiety, embarrassment, stress, etc… It is known that when you relieve the problem and learn to throw items away, you feel better. Unnecessary stress and anxiety can lead to many health issues. Life is stressful enough, our homes need to be calm and peaceful places for us to recharge. 

3. Decluttering = Donating = Helping the community – while decluttering, you may find many unnecessary items in your space. In order to help yourself, you may donate such items, and help your community.  

One may find decluttering as a hard process. Getting rid of personal items may sometimes be uncomfortable and make you worry you will not have enough when you need it. In order to make this process easier for you, here are some tips and tricks to help you declutter.  

• View your home as a first-time visitor  
• Start with 5 minutes at a time  

• Donate one item each day 
• Create a decluttering checklist 
• 12-12-12 challenge- locate 12 items to throw away, 12 to donate, and 12 to be keep 
• Take before and after photos to make you feel satisfied with your progress 
• Four box method – use 4 boxes with different labels; trash, give away, keep, relocate and start sorting.  

The JRCC Furniture Depot encourages you to recycle your furniture, and donate it. You’re helping the environment, you’re helping yourself, and you’re also helping others. If you are interested in donating your furniture to the JRCC Furniture Depot, call 416-222-7105 x500 today! 

Dining + coffee table 

Solution #1; If you like to paint and draw, you may do so on your old table. Draw an appealing design, such as flowers, faces, food items, or other objects to give the table a fresh look.  

Solution #2; Disassemble the legs from the top of the table and wrap or simply paint the top with the paint you like. When done, you may use clear paint with polyurethane to give the table a shiny look.  

Chair 

Solution #1; You may reupholster the old chair. To do so, you will first need to pick a type of fabric you like such as cotton, linen, wool, leather, polyester, or olefin.  

Step #1; measure the seat cushion with 3 extra inches of fabric on all sides and cut the fabric accordingly.  

Step #2; Remove the old cushion fabric or simply lay the new fabric over the old  

Step #3; Staple the new fabric to the seat using a staple gun. 

Step #4; Trim and wrap fabric around corners. Don’t forget to stretch the fabric while carefully stapling the fabric to the chair 

Step #5; Trim any excess material  

Step #6; Reattach all pieces back together 

*A big tip is to add cotton batting before applying the new fabric. This will make the seat feel cushier. 

Solution #2; Spray paint your chair using a designed paint.  

Dresser  

Solution #1; Change old knobs and new ones . 

Solution #2; Wrap each drawer separately using contact paper you like. 

Solution #3; If you do not like the look of contact paper, you may paint the dresser using cabinet paint.  

For this, you will first need to disassemble your dresser. Then, using sanding paper, sand the surfaces you are wishing to paint. Later, using a synthetic brush, apply primer as a base for your paint. To finish, apply the paint with the colour you would like your dresser to be.  

Sofa 

Solution #1; Using a paintbrush, you may recolor the sofa using “Angelus leather paint” .  

Solution #2; Adding a cluster of new cotton/linen/wool,  can make droopy sofa cushions look much bouncy 

Solution #3; Wrap cushions in fabric  

Solution #4; Scratched legs may be concealed using many fringe trims.  

Solution #5; For couches facelift, “simple spray” dye may be used.  

If you are more inclined to replace your furniture, the JRCC is more than happy to accept your gently used furniture donations. If you are in need of furniture to create your warm environment, contact us at 416-222-7105 ext. 500 and we will help you.  

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could bring furniture back to life? Well, I have great news for you! There are so many ways to change the look of your furniture to give it a fresh, new, and vibrant look. Here are some helpful tips that you can utilize to transform your furniture into whatever your heart desires:  

Tip 1: Determine what aspect of your furniture needs to freshen up 

Before changing up your furniture, you have to get a good sense of what exactly needs to be altered. Ask yourself the following questions: “Do I like the colour? Does the furniture have any scratches or visible cracks? Does the furniture fit well with the room? Do I like the style? Are there any stains?” Once you have a clear sense of what needs to be fixed, you can now solely focus your attention on that.  

Tip 2: Paint the furniture a new colour  

Oftentimes, all an old piece of furniture needs is a fresh new coat of paint. The colour of something can completely alter its appearance. Don’t be shy to experiment! I recommend going to the store in person and observing the different colours available to see which one really resonates with you. Remember when to wear proper safety equipment, including chemical-resistant gloves, when painting.  

Tip 3: Improve your hardware 

A great affordable way to improve your furniture is to upgrade the hardware. For instance, for your doors, you can install new stainless-steel knobs or door handles. Even such a slight change will make the world of a difference.  

Tip 4: Add or change the cushions of your chairs  

An excellent way to elevate the chairs in your home is to add cushions to them. This not only adds style, but it makes the chairs a lot more comfortable and fun. Moreover, if you already have cushions on your chairs, consider changing them as that will give the chairs a completely different look.  

Tip 5: Add plants to your home 

If you feel like your furniture gives the room a dark and dull appearance, consider adding some plants to your home. Plants give life to the room and make the house more vibrant and pretty. I recommend buying artificial plants as they give the same appearance as regular plants, but they don’t require any care and will last a very long time.  

Tip 6: Add mirrors 

Like with the plants, adding mirrors to a room can fill up the empty spots on the walls and make the room feel less empty. Nowadays, mirrors come in countless shapes and sizes, so pick something unique that will make the guests stop and look at themselves in the mirror.  

Tip 7: Add a tablecloth to your tables 

If your table is scratched and has a poor overall appearance, consider adding a tablecloth. A new cloth will give the table a completely different appearance and will hide all the imperfections.  

These are just some tips and suggestions of what you can do to your room and furniture to give it a new look. However, don’t be afraid to try something else and experiment to see what best suits your needs and your home! 

Many see second-hand furniture as only being a way to save money. While that is certainly a massive benefit, there are countless other advantages that have nothing to do with the cost of the items.  

1) It preserves natural resources  

Our furniture industry is extremely wasteful. On average, over 10 million tons of furniture waste end up in landfills annually in Canada and the United States. So much furniture is wasted as we tend to always buy brand new furniture from the store as opposed to purchasing furniture that already exists in acceptable condition. Continually buying new furniture requires a lot of resources, which is problematic as the depletion of natural resources is on the rise.  

2) It minimizes the environmental footprint 

The media is great at persuading individuals to buy more and consume more. The media makes it seem that our future has an expiry date, and past a certain time, the furniture item is no longer acceptable. Ontario disposal depots are predicted to attain capacity in the next ten years. Buying used furniture ensures good and quality items stay out of landfills.  

3) More special 

What’s special about buying furniture everyone has access to at the store? We all want our homes to look unique and special, thus purchasing used furniture provides a perfect opportunity to find a remarkable and rare piece. Moreover, when you buy second-hand furniture, you get more than the item itself. Every piece of used furniture has a back story and history that you have yet to uncover.  

4) More community friendly  

We often buy furniture from large national and international chains, which depend on supply from external countries. Second-hand stores are more local, thus by purchasing from them, you would be supporting your local community economy instead of continuing to the growth of already large and established furniture businesses.  

If you are interested in donating your lightly used furniture to help those in need, the JRCC Furniture Depot is the perfect place. Please contact us at 416-222-7105 x500 for more details.  

There are many different things needed to design and furnish a home. However, furniture is an indispensable and arguably the most important part of a house. It is what makes a house unique and complete. There are many different benefits of furniture, however, the most important advantage is its practical use.  

Without furniture, all you would have is a house with four walls. There would be nowhere you could sit and relax, eat, sleep, store items and the list is endless. Your home should be a place where you can rest and live a healthy life, both mentally and physically. However, that is not possible without any furniture as you cannot be comfortable and at ease in such a home. To add on, without furniture, your house will look very dull and lifeless, which can significantly decline your mood.  

Moreover, your furniture defines the look of your house. It is the first thing guests notice when they come inside your home, and it is what they remember when they leave. Thus, having quality and visually appealing furniture is critical as it is a reflection of the house owner. However, you don’t need to own luxury furniture to make your home more attractive, all you need is to select the appropriate colour, design, and size.  

Additionally, furniture can enhance the space of the house. If placed correctly, furniture can make a room look more open and complete. Likewise, furniture can divide a certain space into categories, allowing the room to look more organized and bigger. Furniture also provides a flow of movement to your guests. More specially, it helps direct and guide individuals through your house.  

Lastly, furniture can bring out one’s individuality. If you simply follow the rules provided in interior design manuals, your home will not have any unique aspect to it, making it look boring and bland. Furniture is not the only thing that gives a house its look, it’s also the people living there. If you love the furniture in your home, that love will spread to everyone who walks into the house!  

I bet we all have furniture lying around the house that we do not want or need anymore. However, we often just keep those unneeded items somewhere hidden in the garage or basement as we don’t have time to sell or deal with them. What if I told you there is a way to get rid of your furniture that requires limited effort and time, all while supporting your local community. Donating your used furniture to a charitable organization can have more benefits than you can imagine. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  

Personal benefits of donations 

When you choose to give to a charity, you are not only helping those around you, but you are also rewarding yourself. Helping others makes you feel good, accomplished, and fulfilled, which in turn makes your life better. Life is like a chain reaction, if you do something kind for others, that gesture will ultimately return back to you. Furthermore, getting rid of large furniture can be a very time-consuming and physically demanding task. Fortunately, when donating to a charity, they have workers who will come to your house and deal with moving the furniture themselves.  

Business benefits of donations 

Many charities, including JRCC Furniture Depot, are listed with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Why is that relevant, you may ask? These organizations receive a registration number, giving them the authority to provide donors with an official donation receipt. That receipt can result in a notable tax credit, which can significantly benefit you when you do your income tax and benefit return.  

Environmental benefits of donations 

We have all heard the phrase “reuse, reduce, recycle”. Why shouldn’t that also apply to furniture? If you want to make a difference in the environment and preserve wildlife, donating furniture is the solution for you. By giving your furniture to a charity, you help decrease the number of items in the landfills, and you reduce the number of resources required to build new furniture.  

Community benefits of donations  

Above everything else, when you donate your used furniture to a charity, you are helping transform the lives of lower-income families. In 2021, the JRCC Furniture Depot has provided 2900 pieces of furniture to families in need. Moreover, 94% of total clients did not have basic furniture prior to receiving furniture from the JRCC FD. All of the work we do is not possible without our donors, and it is only because of people like you that we are able to continue to improve the lives of those in need.  

If you want to play a positive role in the community and help clear your house of some unnecessary furniture, contact us at 416-222-7105 x500 and we will help you. 

Furniture is the essence of any home. It can significantly elevate the appearance of a house and make a home more welcoming and cozier. However, furniture shopping can be a hassle for many as there are a lot of different factors to take into account. Fortunately, second-hand furniture shopping does not have to be so difficult if you follow the checklist below! 

1) Establish a good sense of the size of your home  

It is important to have a good idea of how big or small you want your furniture to be. Your furniture should be able to fit in your house, while leaving an ample amount of space to walk and move freely. If the furniture you buy takes up the majority of the space in a house, it can make the room feel dull and dark, even if it is the most beautiful piece of furniture. The same applies to furniture that is too small for the house, as it can make the room feel very empty.  

2) Pick a style and color 

One reason people often avoid buying second-hand furniture is the limited number of items available to choose from, and they are afraid the items won’t match each other. However, that should not be a deal-breaker as you can always buy some paint and remodel your furniture to make it match the tone of your house!  

3) Check the material and construction of the furniture 

It is imperative to ensure the second-hand furniture you are buying is durable and sturdy as if you buy poorly made products, they will break in a short amount of time. Thus, it is critical to conduct a bit of research on the material the furniture is made of. Furthermore, when assessing the quality of the furniture, ignore any minor surface imperfections, such as chipped paint, as those are very simple to repair and don’t impact the integrity of the furniture. Rather, look for dovetailed joints or any broken parts that cannot be easily fixed.  

4) Be creative! 

Lastly, never be afraid of experimenting and trying new things! Oftentimes, when purchasing second-hand furniture, there will be minor adjustments and touch-ups you will need to make. Thus, don’t be afraid to unleash your imagination and make your furniture unique. If you love the furniture in your home, everyone else will as well! 

Our homes should be safe, secure spaces where we are able to relax and be ourselves. They should be warm and comfortable, furnished with the essential items we need to take care of ourselves and our families.

Sadly, many Canadians do not have access to a comfortable home. Women and children fleeing domestic violence, or newcomer refugees, for example, often do not have the economic resources they need to find and furnish their homes. They may feel like they have to stay in unstable situations because establishing a new home seems like an overwhelming task. This is where charities like the JRCC Furniture Depot come in.

By providing functional, quality furniture to those in need, the JRCC Furniture Depot allows people in less fortunate situations to create safe, comfortable spaces to call their own. In some cases, this may be the first time they are able to do so.

Being able to furnish a home provides both tangible and psychological benefits. It can validate the decision to seek help, confirming for those who need assistance that they have access to the resources they need to get out of dangerous situations. Establishing a new home is a huge achievement that helps people feel that they are on the right track, towards safety and independence.

Donating to the Furniture Depot is a charitable and environmentally-friendly way to repurpose old furniture. If you are redecorating your home or even just upgrading some furnishings, consider those who are not in a position to do so and contact the JRCC Furniture Depot today.

Since its founding in 1985, the JRCC Furniture Depot has grown exponentially, into what is now the second largest furniture bank in Canada. Originally a small community network, the Furniture Depot now has a dedicated warehouse space and employees dedicated to facilitating the donation and distribution of used furniture, providing services to a much greater area and population. Our service area now spans almost 2,400 square kilometers of the GTA, with over 4 million residents.

Over 200 social workers, who work across over 60 social service agencies throughout York Region and the City of Toronto, are able to refer clients to the Furniture Depot’s services to help them get access to quality furniture.

These agencies help those suffering from a variety of issues including domestic violence, mental health issues, addiction, chronic illness and disabilities. Through working with these diverse organizations, the JRCC Furniture Depot is able to help a wide array of clients in need.

Since 2014, the Furniture Depot has served over 14,000 clients and 4,500 households, with over 30,000 furniture items given to families in need. 99% of our clients live below the poverty line, 70% are newcomers to Canada, and 60% of families served have young children.

Every month the Furniture Depot conducts client satisfaction surveys, to ensure that we are meeting our clients’ needs. Our results show that the Depot’s work reduces our clients’ expenses, by helping them furnish their homes while saving money that would have gone towards expensive new items.

Our clients state that their new furniture makes them and their children feel good. Donating to the JRCC Furniture Depot is an excellent way to contribute your old or unwanted furniture to a great cause that will improve the lives of those who need it most.

Furniture is one of the most expensive purchases that many people will make in their lifetimes, along with buying a home and car. The cost of basic furniture, like a kitchen table, chairs, or a mattress can often be surprisingly high. Combined with the increasingly unaffordable housing market in major cities like Toronto, establishing a new home can be an extremely expensive undertaking.

Unfortunately, the problem of home insecurity has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many workers have been laid off or had their work hours reduced, resulting in widespread unemployment or under-employment. People whose work is affected by the pandemic may have much less income to put towards essential expenses like rent, groceries, or medication, let alone purchasing quality home furniture.

Social assistance programs already do not realistically reflect the cost of living in the GTA. Many people already struggle to afford basic household expenses, and the coronavirus pandemic has only made the situation more dire.

New immigrants to Canada who arrived before the outbreak of the coronavirus may also be struggling to survive in this unprecedented situation, and not yet have developed the support system that they need to maintain safe and healthy homes. Now more than ever, these people need the support of community organizations like the JRCC Furniture Depot to try to relieve some of the burden of setting up a new household.

Domestic violence is another factor that causes people to leave their homes and try and establish new ones. Domestic violence has risen worldwide during the pandemic, as people have been forced to stay home. Loss of income, stress, and isolation are all factors that may contribute to these increased numbers, all of which have become much more common during the COVID-19 outbreak. The JRCC Furniture Depot works with several social service agencies across the GTA that support victims of domestic violence, providing free furniture to those who are leaving unsafe environments or temporary housing situations.

People who are losing their regular income during the COVID-19 crisis, newcomers to Canada, and those escaping domestic violence all face different obstacles in trying to weather this pandemic. It is vital that we take care of those who are vulnerable and support them in setting up new, safe homes. Donating furniture can go a long way in ensuring their success away from dangerous situations.