Are you thinking about downsizing your home? Maybe your kids have moved out or you’re looking to save some money on your mortgage. Whatever the reason, moving to a smaller space can be a big decision.
When people think about downsizing it’s often a difficult idea to get your head around, as you’re used to the size of house and rooms you’ve lived in for some time. The thought of living somewhere else smaller can be daunting. However, you’ll find that it really is possible, with many people having moved to smaller homes, and others even choosing the life of living in RVs or tiny houses.
Many people are able to live in these much smaller homes for years, so downsizing your current home is easily achievable.
Let’s take a look at 8 tips to help you downsize, save money, and you too can begin to see that moving to a smaller home is possible.
1. Get Rid Of Anything You Don’t Use Or Need
So, you’ve decided you want to move to a smaller space, what’s first?
The first and most important step is to get rid of anything that you do not use or need. This goes for furniture, clothes, books, home decor, and anything else that is taking up space in your home. It can be difficult to let go of things, but it’s important to remember that you’re downsizing for a reason.
If you haven’t used something in over a year, then it’s probably time to say goodbye. The same goes for things that are old or damaged. People often have a bad habit of keeping items thinking that one day they’ll start using them or have them fixed, but this often doesn’t happen. You don’t want to move these items to your new smaller home, as they’ll just take up valuable space.
You could try using the KonMari Method. The KonMari Method is an organizational system created by Japanese author Marie Kondo. The system is based around the idea of only keeping things in your home that “spark joy.”
While this might seem like a difficult task, it’s actually quite simple. If an item doesn’t make you happy, then get rid of it. This method can be applied to everything in your home, from clothes to books to furniture.
If you’re struggling with the idea of downsizing, then using the KonMari Method is a great way to get started. Not only will it help you declutter your home, but it will also make it easier to let go of things that you don’t really need.
2. Don’t Be Afraid To Downsize Your Furniture
When people think about downsizing their homes, they often worry about not having enough furniture. However, you’ll be surprised at how much furniture you actually don’t need.
Start by taking a look at your living room. Do you really need that large couch that takes up half the room? Could you replace it with a smaller loveseat or armchair? What about your coffee table? Is it too big for the space?
In the bedroom, do you need a dresser that is four feet wide? Could you get by with a smaller one? Or maybe you could eliminate the dresser altogether and just use a chest of drawers.
You might also want to consider getting rid of any extra pieces of furniture that you don’t really use in the dining room. This could include end tables, buffets, or even your dining room table.
The key is to only keep the furniture that you actually need and use. Everything else can go.
3. Pack Away Any Seasonal Decor And Clothes
If you have a lot of seasonal decor or clothes, then it’s time to pack them away. This will free up a lot of space in your home, and make it easier to downsize.
Seasonal decor can take up a lot of space, especially if you have a lot of it. So it’s best to only keep out the decor that you’re currently using. For example, if it’s summertime, then only keep out your summer decor. And when winter comes, pack up your summer decor and replace it with your winter decor.
The same goes for seasonal clothing. If you live in a place with four distinct seasons, then you probably have a lot of clothing that you only wear part of the year.
Instead of keeping all of this clothing in your closet, only keep out the clothing that you’re currently using. For example, in the winter you’ll want to keep out your coats, boots, and sweaters. But in the summer you can pack all of this away and only keep out your shorts, t-shirts, and sandals.
This method can be applied to any type of seasonal decor or clothing. By only keeping out the items that you’re currently using, you’ll free up a lot of space in your home.
4. Keep Only What Fits In Your New Space
When you’re downsizing your home, it’s important to keep only what fits in your new space. This can be a difficult task, as it might mean getting rid of some of your favorite things.
However, it’s important to remember that you’re downsizing for a reason. You’re probably doing it because you want a simpler life or because you want to save money. And if this is the case, then you’ll need to be willing to let go of some of your things.
Start by taking an inventory of your new space. Make a list of all the rooms and the dimensions of each room. Then start going through your belongings and deciding what will fit and what won’t.
It might be helpful to make three piles: one for things that will fit, one for things that might fit, and one for things that won’t fit.
The first pile should be for the items that you know will fit in your new space. These are the items that you absolutely want to keep.
The second pile should be for the items that might fit. These are the items that you’re not sure about and will need to make a decision on.
The third pile should be for the items that won’t fit. These are the items that you’ll need to get rid of.
Once you’ve gone through all of your belongings, it’s time to make some decisions. With the items in the second pile, decide which ones you really want to keep and which ones you’re willing to let go of.
And with the items in the third pile, decide which ones you’re willing to sell, donate, or throw away.
5. Donate Or Sell Anything You Don’t Want
Once you’ve gone through all of your belongings and decided what to keep and what to get rid of, it’s time to donate or sell anything you don’t want or need.
There are a few different ways to do this. You can have a yard sale, sell things online, or donate them to a thrift store.
Having a yard sale is a great way to get rid of a lot of stuff quickly. And if you price your items reasonably, you might even make some money in the process.
Selling things online is another great option. There are a number of different websites and apps that you can use, such as Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace.
And finally, you can donate your unwanted items to a thrift store. This is a great option if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of having a yard sale or selling things online.
No matter how you choose to get rid of your unwanted belongings, make sure you do it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to change your mind and keep them.
6. Create A Floor Plan To Make The Most Of Your Space
When you’re downsizing your home, it’s important to make the most of the space that you have. And one way to do this is to create a floor plan.
A floor plan is a drawing that shows the layout of a room or home. It can be helpful when you’re trying to figure out how to arrange your furniture or what type of furniture to buy.
There are a few different ways to create a floor plan. You can use a piece of graph paper, draw it by hand, or use an online tool.
Once you’ve created your floor plan, take a look at it and see if there’s anything you can change to make better use of your space. For example, you might want to move your furniture around or buy new furniture that’s more space-efficient.
Creating a floor plan is a great way to make the most of your new space and ensure that you’re happy with your downsizing decision.
7. Use Storage Wisely To Maximize Space
When you’re downsizing your home, it’s important to use storage wisely. This will help you make the most of the space that you have and keep your home organized.
There are a few different ways to use storage wisely. First, you can invest in some quality storage containers. This will help you keep your things organized and make better use of your space.
Second, you can use furniture with built-in storage. For example, you might want to buy a bed with drawers underneath or a coffee table with a shelf.
And finally, you can get creative with your storage solutions. For example, you might want to hang shelves on the wall or put hooks on the back of doors.
No matter how you choose to use storage, make sure you’re intentional about it. This will help you maximize the space in your new home and keep your things organized.
8. Hire A Professional Organizer To Help You Downsize
If you’re finding it difficult to downsize your home on your own, you might want to hire a professional organizer. A professional organizer can help you figure out what to keep and what to get rid of. They can also help you create a floor plan and use storage wisely.
Hiring a professional organizer is a great option if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the downsizing process. And it’s a good way to ensure that your new home is organized and efficient.
9. Be Prepared To Purge Again As Needed
Downsizing your home is a great way to simplify your life and make your space more efficient. But it’s important to be prepared to purge again as needed.
As you live in your new home, you might find that you accumulate more stuff. And when this happens, you’ll need to go through the downsizing process again.
So try to keep this in mind as you’re downsizing your home. It’s not a one-time event. It’s something that you might have to do on a regular basis.
Summary
Downsizing your home is a great way to simplify your life and make your space more efficient. But it’s important to be prepared for the process.
First, you’ll need to decide what to keep and what to get rid of. This can be difficult, but it’s important to be ruthless. The goal is to declutter your home and make it more efficient. Second, you’ll need to create a floor plan. This will help you figure out how to arrange your furniture and what type of furniture to buy. And finally, you’ll need to use storage wisely. This will help you maximize the space in your new home and keep your things organized.
So keep these tips in mind if you’re thinking about downsizing your home. They’ll help you simplify your life and make the most of your new space.
Now you’ve thought about the downsizing process, are you thinking about selling your home? If you’re looking for a simple sale that doesn’t involve any of the usual hassles associated with home sales – like maintenance repairs, staging, or marketing – then consider selling your home to a cash buyer. With Simple Sell Home Buyers, our goal is simple – get a fair offer from us that you won’t want to refuse.
We understand selling a home doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. That’s why we offer cash in as-is condition without repair costs and will close when you are happy with our offer. If you are interested in getting into contact with us or to schedule a home tour, give us a call at (+)1-516 603 5748.
Image Credits
Meyers Movers / Google Stock Images
Life Space Practices / Google Stock Images
Megan’s Moving / Google Stock Images
iStock / Google Stock Images
Nextdoor Blog / Google Stock Images
Design Everest / Google Stock Images
