There comes a time for most people when we think, “I have too much stuff.” Whether your home feels cluttered, it is time to move to a smaller home, or you just have too many things you can’t use, downsizing makes a great deal of sense to simplify what you have and make your move easier.
Here are a few simple tips to downsizing that can help you achieve your decluttering goals so you can move from a large to a small home without missing much.
Maximize Storage Space
When you get to your new, smaller, cozier home, you will need to make the most of every corner. Be imaginative and utilize hanging racks in your closets and cupboards. Store your bulky items away under beds or build a shelf in the garage.
In many cases, it is not easy to go from years of accumulation in a large home to trimming it all down to fit into a downsized home, so you can even rent a Red Deer storage unit either temporarily while you figure out what to do with your remaining items, or you can rent on long-term. That way you can keep what you truly love but just will not fit and you can visit any time you like.
Inventory Everything
The first thing to do when downsizing is to take stock of everything you currently have. You may have heard of the four-pile approach to taking an inventory in your home, Keep, Sell, Donate, and Trash.
Be honest with yourself when doing this exercise and remember, if you have not used it in months, you probably never will so it is up to you to decide which pile it goes in, hint… donate.
Taking Care of Duplicates
Duplicate items are great when it comes to socks but for most items around the house, not so much. When it comes to things like multiple sets of dishware, 10 pots when you only ever use two, or so many furniture pieces that you have them mismatched in your basement, the decisions are made for you.
Get the “Free Stuff” Sign Ready
If you are like a lot of people, you have amassed some things that may have some worth to you but may not be interesting enough for anyone else to want. Unless of course, you put a sign on it that says it is free. People love free stuff no matter what it is, so simply putting it out on the curb can get it out of your home and into someone else’s that same day. Sometimes it is just not worth the effort to try and sell it.
Fit the Furniture In
Don’t forget that you got furniture that fits into your larger home, so make sure you carefully measure what can come with you to your smaller dwelling. There is no worse feeling than moving your 12-foot sofa to a room that is only 10-feet wide.
Downsizing does not have to be difficult. Make it fun and exciting. After all, you are moving to a new home.
