How to Downsize Your Belongings

The main objective in downsizing is getting rid of the things you don’t need while still keeping what you really need. This may sound quite simple but in reality, it is not. If you are moving or de-cluttering your home, you should start working in concentric circles. Therefore, you should start de-cluttering rooms and areas that are farthest from the heart of your room e.g. basement, attic and storage rooms because most items that are not in use are stored in these areas.

When you are done with these areas, you need to start de-cluttering your kitchen, family rooms and bedrooms. To make the entire process easy and orderly, pack all the items you are planning to sell, donate, throw away or give to relatives or friends. As soon as you are done packing the things you don’t need, get them out of your home and dispose of them as planned to avoid changing your mind. The second thing you should do when downsizing is to involve your family. You will not only benefit from extra hands but also get opinions and ideas from your family members.

If you don’t know how to downsize your belongings, these tips from Express Movers Inc. might help you, especially if it is your first time.

1. If You Are Moving, Big Stuff Comes First

If you are moving to a smaller house, you need to get rid of the big stuff to save on costs and space. Moving large household items cost more because they consume a lot of space and time during the moving process. Therefore, if your new home doesn’t have enough space, you can sell some furniture to create more space. This is an easy decision if you are considering the number of rooms in your old and new home. However, if you are considering floor space, it might get trickier because you will have to be more considerate when making decisions.

For instance, if you are planning to move from a 1,800 sq. ft. 3 bedroom to a 1,200 sq. ft. 3 bedroom, consider the floor plan to determine what you will carry and what you will leave behind when moving. Whereas you might need all your bedroom furniture, you may not need all your dining and living room furniture. Therefore, you will have to donate or sell some to reduce moving costs and avoid renting a storage unit.

2. Don’t Get Rid of the Small Stuff

Although you might be tempted to sell or give away the small items such as clothing, décor, dishes and knick-knacks, it is not advisable because you may need these items in the future. You should keep the things you enjoy having in your home as well as the things you either use currently or seasonally because you may need them in the future.

To do this right, prepare a downsizing home checklist. With a checklist, you will be able to determine what you actually need from the general junk. Finally, you should consider keeping items that have a practical purpose or have a sentimental value in your home even if you don’t use them regularly.

3. Go Through Every Box

There are numerous items which are stored in boxes or on shelves for further use. When space is a necessity, you need to check every box in your home to make an informed decision on every item you own. If you have never used a single item in over a year and you don’t see an immediate use of the item in the coming six months, you should sell it, give it away or toss it in the trash.

4. Plan Your Storage Before Downsizing Further

This is one of the tips when downsizing to a smaller home because you might start throwing or giving items away. You not only need to assess but also plan your storage to avoid getting rid of the items you may need, use or want. To create more space, you can hang additional shelves and hooks, use vertical clothing hangers, under-bed storage boxes and wire racks to avoid throwing things away.

5. Digitize Whatever You Can

With the current technology, it is easier to digitize items to free up space. For instance, with an internet connection, you can save files to the cloud. This means that you can get rid of cassettes, DVDs, CDs, pictures, videos and other documents by digitizing them. On the other hand, if you have numerous files and documents, you can have them scanned and saved as PDF files either to a computer or uploaded to cloud using Google Drive or DropBox.

It is possible to downsize your belongings without losing important items and information. You need to plan in advance to avoid making uninformed decisions that may affect you after a period of time. Finally, if there are items you cannot give/throw away or sell and you don’t have enough space in your home, you may consider renting a storage unit for a period of time as you look for a permanent solution.