Many people decide to move to a smaller house or apartment for various reasons. Smaller spaces usually cost less. Sometimes parents feel the house has gotten bigger since their kids left for college. Decluttering your house after years of hoarding can be a tricky business.
Here are a few downsizing tips to consider before moving to a smaller home.
Create a System
It’s a good idea to start the whole process at least a couple of months before the move. This gives you time to build a system of categorizing your belongings. You’ll have to prioritize essential items first and then move to less important objects. Create your basic keep, donate, and throw away piles, and start dividing everything in your house between them.
Go Paperless
You’ll probably find a lot of papers stored in your filing cabinets. Keep the most important ones in a folder, and scan the rest. It’s also a good idea to do that with your pictures as well. Storing documents and photos online is the best way to ensure they won’t get lost. You can do that with old CDs or DVDs as well; get rid of anything you can digitize as it will save you a ton of space.
Be Smart with Furniture
You may be forced to get rid of some of your furniture as it won’t fit in your new place. A good suggestion is to self store some of your most valuable furniture in a storage unit. Buy multifunctional space-saving furniture. There are plenty of designs of beds with storage space within and foldable tables that can be put away when they’re not being used.
Get Rid of Unused Objects
Whenever you look at any item, try to remember the last time you used it. If you can’t, then it’s time to dispose of it. You can either give it to a family member or a friend who might use it or donate it to a charity. Another good idea is to have a yard or garage sale; you’ll make some extra cash that can help you out with the moving costs.
Store Vertically
Aim for vertical spaces as they will make your house feel less compact. When all of the horizontal areas are filled, choose vertical storage like standing shoe racks and overhead compartments. You want to create an open area where you can walk around your house without obstacles.
Go Easy
Start the process early to give yourself plenty of time to follow your system. Decide what to do with your large furniture first like your living room and bedroom sets. Take measurements of your furniture and new home to know what will fit in it. Don’t leave everything to the last minute as the pressure won’t do you any good in the moving process.
In the end, remember that what you’re left with are the most valuable things to you. Living in a smaller space encourages you to only keep things that you use and make sense to you. You’ll easily find yourself relieved from your old cluttered lifestyle and happier with the new one.
