Lots of people are downsizing today, moving from larger homes and apartments to smaller spaces. In principle, it’s a great idea. You save money because you’re not paying as much in rent or for a mortgage. You gain more time because you’re not spending all of your free time on the upkeep of your space. You additionally gain more mental clarity because you don’t have to think about all the things that go into keeping up a big space. Still, it’s a big mental adjustment for you to make. The following four tips are designed to help you move through the big move as easy as possible.
Start With a Declutter
Your big move will be a lot less overwhelming if you throw out or give away stuff that you no longer want or need. By doing this, you’ll significantly reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack and move. If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at decluttering systems, like the one that Marie Kondo designed. Look through each of your items. Keep only those that bring you joy. Get rid of the rest.
It probably goes without saying that you should start this step several weeks, if not months in advance of your big move. If you don’t, then you may be tempted to just toss items into boxes just to get them packed, whether you need them or not.
Measure the New Rooms of Your Space
One of the issues with downsizing is not knowing if you’re going to have enough room to bring the items that you do keep over to your new place. To get around this, you can hire door-to-door movers & apartment movers suggest measuring each room of your new place. If it’s a studio, then measure the basic room. Otherwise, you may find yourself with stuff that won’t fit no matter how you arrange it.
Size Up Your Furniture and Large Items
This is a corollary to the tip above. Once you know how big your new space is, you need to know if the furniture you do intend to take with you will fit. If not, that may need to go. One way to ensure that you still have a comfortable living situation is to invest in pieces that do double duty. For example, if you do move into a studio apartment, sell your sofa and invest in a futon or a daybed. During the day, the futon or daybed becomes the couch. At night, it’s your bed. It takes up the same amount of space but has more function.
Invest in Wall-Mounted Shelves and Other Like Items
If you’re concerned about not having enough storage space for the stuff that you will keep, consider buying wall-mounted bookshelves and other items. In big cities, when builders can no longer build outward, they build upward. This principle works in smaller spaces, too. Even if you don’t get hangable shelves, having a good bookcase or two, with some drawers at the bottom helps you make the most of your new space.
The key to having a successful downsize move is to plan ahead. Know how much space you’re moving into verses out of and plan accordingly. Additionally, buy furniture that does double duty and utilize wall space to expand storage possibilities. Finally, toss out or give away items that no longer serve you. This one step will help you the most when it comes time for the big move because you’re not packing up and moving with stuff that you no longer use.
