Whether you’re moving from a sizable double-storey house to a tiny apartment in the city or shifting in with a significant other, downsizing is in order. Over the last few years, many people have downsized not because they want to, but because the property prices have reached the beyond affordable range. A lot of them have opted to live in a smaller space because that’s the only one they can afford, especially first-time homebuyers.
Moving from a large house full of stuff to a smaller home can be tricky, while it’s easy to say “just get rid of all those unnecessary items,” doing it is much harder than you can imagine. Here are six tips you can follow in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.
1. CHANGE YOUR MIND-SET
We all know that downsizing is a big change, but it’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t feel limited. If you’re downsizing by necessity, it can be easy to get down about the whole process. There is a lot to love about going smaller – easier upkeep, lower maintenance costs and there’s no unnecessary pressure to host large groups of people. So one of the easiest ways to adjust with the change is to think of three benefits of downsizing and keep those things in mind as you get rid of your belongings and move into smaller digs.
2. NEVER DUPLICATE YOUR ITEMS
If you’re moving into a smaller space with someone, ensure you go over your inventories together is essential. The last thing you want to do when trying to combine two households is to discover that you’ve both brought two full sets of dishes, glasses, or worse, large items like couches, chairs, and so on. But if you’re shifting in with a significant other, the biggest challenge would be to both bring only what you really need and want, and that you’re both on the same page about how minimal your new home will be. Even if you’re not moving in with someone, duplicating item is a terrible idea. If you’re mindful of the fact that space is not a luxury that you have, then moving into a smaller space is an easy process to follow.
3. SET YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES
What you most crave, need or want in your living space? Really think properly about this and be honest. Often times you will not get everything you want in a new place, but if you stick to your top three priorities, you can get what is most significant to you. For instance, do you fancy a private outdoor space? Lots of light or an open floor plan? These will direct you quickly towards the space that may be a good fit and allow you to move past others that would not suit your criteria.
4. DECIDE WHAT TO GET RID OF
Let me give you a hypothetical situation. Imagine you lost your possessions in your home in a fire today. What would you immediately feel heartbroken to have lost? What would you replace immediately and move on with your life? Your answers to these questions should make up the beginning of a list of things to definitely bring to your new home. Once you have this list, it would be much easier to decide what you can let go of.
5. CREATE AN INSPIRATION FILE
If you’re thinking of moving into your own small space in the near future, Pinterest should be your new best friend. It wouldn’t hurt to start saving images of small spaces you find inspiring as well as ideas on organising a limited area without decluttering it. Whenever you’re feeling discouraged, these images will come in handy as it can instantly give you ideas.
6. CHANGE YOUR BUYING HABITS
I know it can be tempting to drive to IKEA and go on a shopping spree. After all, it’s your own new space and splurging slightly on new things for your own space might not seem like a bad idea. However, it’s almost always a bad idea to be an impulsive buyer as you might not have enough space to store the items that you bought, especially when you own a small house. Therefore, it’s crucial to change your buying habits and think before making any purchase.
With these tips, we hope your journey of moving into a smaller space will be an easy and breezy process.
READ: 5 design tricks to transform your small house into a comfortable home