Regardless of how old you are, downsizing before moving is always a good idea. A move is a fantastic opportunity to slim down your belongings and keep what matters to you while tossing/donating the rest.
Now, if you are downsizing for a more official reason like moving into a smaller home then weeding out your stuff is even more critical. Whatever the reason for downsizing, we know that moving to a less spacious home comes with lots of benefits but also the stress of cleaning out your belongings.
At Atlanta Peach Movers, we know that downsizing when moving can be overwhelming. But before you hire a professional moving service to transport all your belongings, follow these tips on how to downsize more effectively and make the process smoother when transitioning to a smaller home.
Go room by room
Overwhelmed by where you should start? Instead of trying to go through your entire home at once, break it down room by room or even smaller, closet by closet or drawer by drawer.
Breaking the process down into smaller bits will make the whole thing seem a lot more doable. Just be sure to start early so you have plenty of time to make it through everything.
Separate items into four categories
Downsizing isn’t as easy as having a “keep” and “toss” pile. Realistically, you’re going to end up with four different categories as you go through your items like:
- Keep
- Throw out/recycle
- Donate
- Not sure yet
The “not sure yet” category gives you a chance to think and revisit items you aren’t sure about initially and could lead to more confidence in your ultimate decision. Just try to stop yourself from turning the “maybe” pile into a “keep” pile.
Ditch the duplicates
Do you really need those three muffin tins? Or those six sweaters all in the same color. If you have multiples of something, that’s almost always a sign that you can let the extras go. Especially if you are one of those people who holds onto things “just in case.” If that situation hasn’t come up yet then it’s likely it never will and those extras aren’t necessary to hold onto anymore.
If you won’t have room for it in your new home, don’t keep it
Since you’re cutting back on square feet, it’s good practice to get rid of things that won’t have an obvious place instead of just assuming you’ll find somewhere to put them. So if your current home has a formal living room but your new place won’t then most of your current living room items may have to go.
This is a smart rule of thumb to follow and should be top of mind if you’re reducing your square footage. It’s especially crucial if you’re going to be losing a major storage spot, like a basement or walk-in closet.
If you don’t use it, don’t keep it
Once you start going through your belongings piece by piece you’ll likely realize that much of what you own doesn’t provide you with any day-to-day utility. Like that treadmill, you haven’t stepped foot on in years. Or that set of candle stick holders that you received as a gift but never used. If you don’t use it then you don’t need it, so these are some of the first things you should be putting in that “toss” or “donate” piles.
Bring in some help
One thing that can make downsizing even more difficult is that you’ll likely have a sentimental attachment to a lot of things you own. A solution to this can be, to bring in someone who doesn’t. Ask a friend or family member to come help you with your downsizing efforts and go through your belongings with a more objective eye.
When it comes to downsizing, think of Marie Kondo when she says, “does it bring you joy?” Keeping this in the back of your mind as you are going through your things can save you a lot of time and stress. So now that you’ve prepared yourself and your possessions for downsizing, you can book your packing and moving services to transport that lighter load!
