If you’re thinking of how to downsize your home, you’re not alone. In the last several years, the average price of the American home has gone way up, as has its square footage. This has left many U.S. families feeling overwhelmed, cash-strapped, and ready to downsize. Fortunately, it’s not nearly as difficult as it might seem. If you’ve been dreaming of how to downsize your home, here’s your step-by-step guide:
Step 1. Get Rid of Everything You Don’t Need
This might seem excessively obvious, but it’s one of the most critical aspects of downsizing. The first step in moving your large home to a small one is to assess your needs and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit. For example, if you’ve been holding onto old boxes of your children’s clothing or toys, consider whether now is the time to give them away or donate them. If there are items of use in there, pull them out and re-appoint them accordingly.
Because purging your items can be difficult, utilize this rule: if you haven’t touched it in twelve months, it should go to someone else. This is as true for clothing as it is for household items and accessories. As you begin downsizing, attack your home room-by-room. Pick up every item in the said room and ask yourself if you’ve used it in the last year. If the answer is no, place it in a donation or throw-away pile. If you’re dealing with high-end possessions, consider handing them down to family or friends.
Step 2. Hold a Garage Sale
If you’re looking for an alternative to throwing away your unneeded items, consider having a garage sale. The perfect way to make some extra money and get rid of unwanted items at the same time, a garage sale is a must-do for anyone who is about to downsize. For best results, get together with your friends or neighbors who also have unwanted items, and hold a multi-family sale. Not only are these larger, but they typically attract a bigger crowd of people.
Step 3. Turn Your Attention to Your Furniture
Next, it’s time to evaluate how compatible your furniture is with downsizing. If you’re moving from a huge home to a much smaller one, for example, you might have to get rid of some of your items before you can make the move. To get a feel for how the move will affect your home furnishings, measure the square footage of your new space and then measure all your existing furniture.
From there, make a detailed floor plan laying out how all your furniture will fit into the next space. If you spot any problems (the couch won’t fit along the living room wall, for example), don’t wait until the last minute to start shopping for new items. Instead, get to work now and save yourself the stress and hassle down the road.
Step 4. Consider Getting a Storage Shed
By this point, you should have purged your belongings, replaced any furniture that’s too large for your new space, and potentially held a garage sale to make some extra cash from your unwanted items. What happens if you still have items you don’t want to move, though? If you find yourself in this boat, don’t panic. Lots of homeowners go through the same thing. Maybe the things you don’t want to move but can’t bear to get rid of are family heirlooms or keepsakes. Maybe they’re pieces of furniture you know you can’t use now, but want to save for the future. No matter what the case may be, getting a storage shed can be a smart solution.
Storage sheds are climate-controlled spaces where you can keep items for the short- or long-term. While the prices of storage sheds vary depending on their size and location, they’re typically very affordable. To learn more about your options, contact a local moving or storage company for a quote.
Step 5. Get Organized
Now that you’ve gotten rid of and stored the items you don’t want and can’t move, it’s time to start getting organized. As you begin packing, label all your items according to the room they’re destined for and the contents of the box. Be sure to group like items in boxes and never to, for example, mix items from the bedroom and the bathroom. Staying organized throughout the downsizing process makes it as simple as possible, and helps cut down on much of the stress you would feel.
Downsizing Made Simple
These simple tips on how to downsize your home are tried and true. By purging unwanted items, staying organized, and storing the things you don’t plan to move, you can downsize in style and simplify your life one box at a time. If you need help with your downsizing process, don’t hesitate to contact Colonial Van Lines. We offer free moving quotes and are always here to answer any moving questions you might have.
