8 Tips for Downsizing
Downsizing your home is no easy task. It comes with a lot of organizing, planning, parting with old items, and being honest with yourself. But if you’ve decided to downsize, remember the benefits outway these tougher aspects. After you downsize, if done correctly, you’ll be left with a cleaner, more organized space (if you’re used to cleaning a large home, this can feel like a huge relief for you!).
When getting started downsizing, there are a few things you’ll need to do to stay on track and make the most out of it.
Be realistic.
Plan for the life you have, not the life you think you may eventually have. What’s your normal lifestyle like? If you have things lying around that you haven’t used in years (but you think you “might” someday need), it’s time to say goodbye.
Measure twice, then measure again!
Before you move into your new smaller place, measure the space and measure the items you wish to take with you. If any of the items don’t fit, don’t try to force them to fit. Get rid of the large items that will take up too much space. Even if your sectional doesn’t look that large in your current living room, know that it’ll look way larger in a smaller room.
Sell, trash, donate, or store.
Go through all the items that you don’t need. These are the items you haven’t used in years, the ones you likely forgot you had, or the ones that you know you could live without, which are just taking up space. Use a color-coding method or create piles for items you can sell, trash, donate, or store.
Eliminate clutter.
When downsizing, clutter can be your biggest enemy. Moving from a large home to a smaller one means less space, which can mean more visible clutter. As you’re downsizing, don’t just get rid of the big items and furniture; get rid of the little things that build up as well, like unnecessary documents, unused cables, and outdated clothes.
Get rid of duplicate items.
The kitchen is the place where you’ll find a majority of these items. Two pots the same size? Downsize to one! Multiple spatulas? Keep only your favorite one.
Invest in multipurpose items.
To be the most successful at downsizing, finding multipurpose items is extremely helpful. Maybe it’s an end table with some hidden storage space or a small table that extend to a larger dining room table when needed.
Choose quality over quantity.
This might be the most important thing to keep in mind when downsizing. Rather than multiple chairs and a full living room set, choose one solid couch that accommodates you and your spatial needs. Make sure it’s something that will last since it will get more use than an entire set would.
Store items.
It can be tough to say goodbye to a bunch of items at the same time, especially if any of them hold any nostalgia for you. There’s nothing wrong with storing items until you’re able to find what works in your new home and make space for those items. You might even learn to live without them and decide to sell or donate these items later, but it’s okay not to make that decision just yet. If you’re looking for some storage in your area, check out our locations.
When you’re downsizing, it’s important to remember that it’s just stuff. Some things may hold sentimental value, but most things will be forgotten shortly after you get rid of them. Downsizing means making room for the things you need, not the things you want. Once you’re able to see the difference and the importance in this, you’ll have a much easier time downsizing!