Family ... House and Home
Reign in Your Relocation: Downsizing Tips for Seniors - Part 2
from Jessica Kohler, founder of Home Again Move Management
The upside to downsizing is having less to clean, less to maintain, less to worry about. Nobody misses these things.
In fact, they add up to more time to do things you enjoy (including napping.)
The trouble starts when it comes to making decisions about what you can live without.
“Downsizing sounded like a great idea until I had to get rid of all my stuff.”
That’s the consensus about midway through most downsizing projects. It’s a shame because downsizing can be a very positive & cathartic experience.
Start with what you love. For me it’s my books, my photo albums, my art & a few mementos. These are items that it would break my heart to live without. Lucky for me, my prized possessions are small in scale. If yours are larger you may have to sacrifice something else to keep what you love. What will bring you the most pleasure? You can’t say “everything.” That’s cheating & defeating.
Next, move on to function. Wherever you’re moving, you’ll likely need a bed. Also, your clothes, a place to sit, a place to eat, & a place to store the things you love. Remember that you’re moving to a smaller space. The goal is to lighten the load so select pieces that serve multiple functions or offer storage. This is your chance to get creative & look at your possessions in a new way. It may also be a chance to go shopping!
At this point your new home is furnished & has all the things you cherish. Are you surprised at how well you can live with less? This is a good time to fill in the blanks. Accessorizing your new place with things you already own will really make it feel like home. Keep in mind that you want your home to be comfortable & safe. It doesn’t serve you well to have a home cluttered with more stuff than can fit so be judicious in your selection process.
Things that are often overlooked when downsizing:
- Closets. It makes perfect sense that the stuff in your old bedroom closet will be moved to your new bedroom closet. The question is . . . will it fit? The best way to figure that out is to measure. Determine how many linear feet of hanging space are in your new closet & reduce your wardrobe until you reach that number. This principle also works for kitchen cabinets & bathroom vanities.
- Built-ins. Built-in shelving/cabinetry are lovely & practical. It’s a shame we can’t take them when we move. Unless you have similar storage at your new place, you’re going to have to make a decision about what to do with the stuff inside the built-ins. The same goes for any large storage piece that you’re not taking with you i.e. large entertainment units, china cabinets, & armoires.
My Favorite Downsizing Tip
Your new place doesn’t have room to store your wedding china. Passing it on to your daughter is an option. A better, more fun, option is to ditch the daily dishware & start using that old china again. It’s beautiful, it’s functional, & it represents something wonderful. What is the down side?
