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The thought of downsizing your home or apartment likely fills you with anxiety beyond the actual move itself. Many of us keep more than what we need, which complicates the transition to a smaller living space, but there are a few things you can do to make this process easier.
How to Downsize Without Any Added Stress
The trick to downsizing is starting early. If you start sorting through your things at the last minute, you’ll add on to the stress of the move or bring larger items with you that you don’t need.
Step 1: Start With the Biggest Decisions First
There are some items in your home that hold sentimental value for you that you’ll know you want to keep. Irreplaceable heirlooms, like inherited furniture, china, classic cars, or other gifts, should take up space on the moving truck, regardless of whether it can fit in your new space.
You don’t have to sell anything you want to keep because you can place your items in self-storage. For example, if you’re looking for temperature-controlled self-storage in San Antonio, Texas, you can use SelfStorageFinders to locate these facilities before you move.
Step 2: Moving Conditions and Space
Even if you have the square footage to put all of your larger items in your new home or apartment, you still have to consider other necessities and create comforts. Will you have space for your fridge, washing machine, workout equipment, television, etc., and your other items?
You also have to consider the moving conditions of your new space. Can you move all your items in 24 hours? Some apartment buildings will only let you use the service elevator for a day, so you also need to decide which large items you need right away and what to store.
Step 3: Unused Spaces and Furniture
When downsizing, you can find some easy wins in those nooks and crannies you rarely enter or use. You typically accumulate junk in the basement, attic, garages, spare rooms, closets, and cabinets. Separate these items into three sections: trash, give away/charity, and “to keep.”
After tackling your unused spaces, take a quick walk around your home and start measuring furniture you’ll need in your new space. Couches, beds, coffee tables, desks, and other items need to fit through doorways and possibly in service elevators, up stairs, or around tight corners.
Step 4: Necessities and Decluttering
Consider all of the small things you use everyday that are easily replaceable. Your coffee machine, cooking pans, and curling iron are all simple to find and purchase, but you’ll definitely need them in your next home. Keep them in an open box if you’re close to your move-out date.
It’s important to understand the difference between a necessity and a nostalgic item. When decluttering, you may get held up by the possessions in your home, and it can be hard to let things go. Try to only keep the truly special pieces and file them away in a small shoebox.
Step 5: Storage for Smaller Spaces
You can maximize the storage in a small room by installing wall racks behind doors, shelving above toilets, and storage underneath your bed. Bins, baskets, and hooks can keep clothing, kitchen items, toys, linens, and sentimental items off the ground and out of the way.
If you have the cash flow to purchase furniture that doubles as storage (ottomans, shelving units, desks, etc.), then you can keep even more items from your old home. It’s a good idea to buy smaller storage systems before the move and larger furniture after you’ve settled in.