“Downsizing and simplifying your life is not about getting old. It is about letting go of things you cannot take with you and focusing on the legacy you will leave behind.” -Nikki Buckelew
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful” -William Morris
In life, moving is a natural milestone and it is inevitable. You may be moving from an ancestral house to a new family home which may be on a lush estate or a condominium unit such as the ones in the High Park.
Moving can be an especially difficult process for everyone involved. You would have to pack up your belongings, tell your kids about the move and acclimatize to an entirely new environment. It becomes even more of a challenge if you are moving from a rather large home to somewhere smaller—there is just so much to pack and organize that you do not even realize how much stuff you have accumulated over the years. Indeed, downsizing can be a bit of a headache, but when done right, the entire process can be expedited and the move would be a lot easier to deal with. The key to downsizing is knowing which items to purge from your life—get rid of the things that are in excess while keeping the things that are necessary. It may sound pretty straightforward, but if you are trying to cram a three-story house to a single unit in a condominium, it can be burdensome. An effective downsizing largely involves thoughtful consideration coupled with time—if you lack either of the two, you will end up committing mistakes and are likely to be frustrated. So, before that next move, here are a few crucial tips you need to consider to make the entire moving process a breeze.
1.) Downsize the big stuff
Suppose you are moving into a two-bedroom house from a four-bedroom one, it would absolutely make no sense to have all of your beds packed and moved into the new home. If this is the case, you would need to get rid of the extra furniture by selling them or giving them away—unless you would want to pay for a storage unit which can be really pricey. Additionally, you would need to take into account the amount of space you have. Your previous home’s furnishings may look excellent in a big space, but in your new home, they may look cramped. Know which furniture you should sell and which one you should keep and the ones which you should swap for smaller ones.
2.) Go Through Every Box
Check every box you own which contain your belongings. More often than not, some of these boxes hold items that would have no place in your new home and have no value apart from being sentimental. They may be keepsakes and mementos you have kept through the years with no intention of using. Though a degree of emotional attachment to these knick-knacks is involved, you must remember that when space is at a premium, every box matters. Know that if they are not going to be used in your new home and would likely end up in a box again, it is best to get rid of them.
3.) Plan your storage before downsizing further
After separating items you no longer need or use, you would be surprised that you are stull left with more stuff than you actually have room to store. When this occurs, assess and plan your storage and do not simply sell or give things away on impulse as you may actually need those items. Decide where and how you will organize your things strategically in your new home. In a sense, this means you would have to be creative in storing your items in your new home. An example would be wisely hanging the clothes you need to hang, where to keep your underwear, linens, and towels which could all fit in one wardrobe when done right.
4.) Do not duplicate—if you can help it
In your previous home, you may have owned a myriad of glassware and silverware for parties and gatherings which are either displayed in a china display or stored in a box. However, in your new space, this may not exactly be practical nor feasible (every little space matters!). Remember that if you already have a set of glassware or silverware, it would not be wise to be bringing along another set of those. The same goes for furniture as you would only be cluttering your new space.
5.) Set accumulation limits
When you have finally made the move, it is important to keep in mind that you should limit the clutter. It might escape your notice, but things and clutter can quickly accumulate which would make your small space feel even smaller. The main culprits? Clothing and paper. So, whenever you have too many clothes on hand, remember that you could either give them away or sell them. In the same vein, whenever mail is read, deal with it immediately and then recycle it before it starts piling up on your counters.
January 17, 2017