It’s time to start downsizing. You’ve had this home for a while now, and it suited you well when you had children. But, now, it’s just too much. What do you do? Well, downsizing is a process. You’ll need a step-by-step plan and ideas for furniture. In a sense, you’re adopting an entirely new life.
Be Optimistic
When you downsize, it’s easy to get depressed about your situation. You’re opting for a smaller home. It’s not going to feel large. In some ways, this can be comforting – like when it’s time to clean. But, there’s going to be an adjustment period. You’re going to wonder what happened to all of that space you used to have. Big homes are nice when you have lots of stuff. When you downsize, you’re going to become a minimalist.
Be Realistic
Being realistic is something else that many individuals have a hard time dealing with. Any way you slice it, you’re going to have to sell a lot of your current belongings. Some of those might have sentimental value. This is the hardest part of moving.
However, it can also be an exciting opportunity. With a smaller home, you naturally don’t have the space you have in a large home. Ditch that huge couch and opt for a really stylish alternative such as a Charles Eames lounge chair and ottoman which can be found at somewhere like http://www.swiveluk.com. If your living room is only a few hundred square feet, downsizing your furnishings will make the room look larger. No, you won’t be able to entertain large numbers of people. But, you will be able to live comfortably without a lot of maintenance.
Evaluate Your Needs Vs Wants
When you have a large house, the temptation is to fill it up with a lot of stuff. But, really, how much space do you truly need? Beyond the basics like a bed or a couch, what else do you need? In a bedroom, for example, you only really need a bed. You don’t even need a dresser. All of your clothes can go in a closet, even underwear if you have a hanging drawer system (hint: they’re much cheaper than dressers).
Economise
Think about how to make due with less when it comes to storage. For example, can all of the bathroom towels you own be hung up in the bathroom? In the kitchen, try hanging the pots up on a wall rack instead of using precious cupboard space. In the bedroom, the linens can be stored under the mattress.
Integrate
Integrating features into the house takes a little forethought and planning when you’re shopping for your new home. A bookshelf built into the wall is a classic example of an integrated furnishing. It takes up less space and serves a dual purpose. It’s both a wall and a bookshelf.
In the bedroom, this can be implemented using beds with frames that contain drawers. You can also use wall space to hang shelves, eliminating the need for more furniture.
Abby Campbell has moved house dozens of times in her life. As a military child and a retired military wife, she has all things moving related down to a science and enjoys blogging about her tips and tricks to smooth transitions.
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