9 Top Tips for Downsizing
There comes a time in most peoples lives when it is time to consider downsizing. When the kids are all grown up, and you are rattling around in your family home, selling up and moving somewhere smaller can save you money and be a great place to start the next chapter of your life.
Downsizing is also the perfect opportunity to clear out unused rooms and is a great time to reassess what you actually need to take with you to your next home. Whilst it may seem daunting at first, it’s a really cathartic experience and you will feel brighter and lighter once you have finished.
Here at Schepens Storage, we want every house move to go smoothly, and we are always on hand to offer advice about your next move. To help you downsize successfully, here are our top tips on how to make moving to a smaller home as stress free as possible:
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Make a list
Before you embark on the big clear out, make a list of the things that you will definitely be taking with you. This is a great job to do together, as you go through every room of your home and note down items of furniture, household goods and personal possessions that you definitely do not want to part with.
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Start to free yourselves from unwanted clutter
Once you have finalised your list, make a start on cupboards, drawers and storage spaces that are full of bits and pieces you no longer want or need. Every home has them, and downsizing is a great opportunity to clear out those messy storage areas that have been piling up over the years.
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Measure up
Have a really good look at the room dimensions of you soon-to-be new home. Will your new lounge comfortable accommodate your three piece suite? Or will it be too big to be viable? If your furniture is not suitable for your next home, consider selling it on and replacing with new, more compact pieces instead.
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Do a good deed and donate
One you have decided on what you are keeping and what you are not, do a good turn and donate unwanted clothes, toys and household items to your local charity shop, childrens’ playgroup or recycling centre. Most unwanted items can be reused in some way, so although your may not need them any more they could be perfect for somebody else.
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Find creative ways to keep your personal items
If you tend to collect lots of old photographs and other sentimental items, don’t just shove them in a bulky old box or hide them in a draw. Invest in some picture frames, or make a collage and mount them. These can be hung on the wall in your new home, freeing up your drawer space and making you smile every time you see them.
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Seek out clever storage
No matter how disciplined you are with your pre-move clear out, there will still be some items that need to be stored somewhere. Have a look at multi-function furniture like storage cubes, seats with built in storage and even beds with storage underneath, that offer a discreet way of keeping your items out of sight.
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Look up
Most of us tend to store our items on the ground, either trunks, drawers or boxes. By using hooks attached to doors, shelves on walls and even extra hanging rails, you can create additional storage space without using up any extra square footage.
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Create you new clutter-free life
If you are finding it hard to let go of your much loved items, cheer yourself up with thoughts of your new, freshly curated home. Though it may be smaller, it can be designed with love and have a place for everything.
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Finally, find a great self storage facility
There will always be something that you really need to take with you, that won’t fit in your next home. In this instance, you can easily rent self storage space to house those items that you want to keep. Self storage facilities can provide everything from small lockers through to units big enough to store the contents of a family home, safely and securely for as long as you need.
