If you live in an apartment or condo, you may already be
struggling with trying to downsize and get rid of items that you no longer need
or use to save space. Even if you are a homeowner, you may still be interested
in the idea of downsizing and the mental and emotional benefits that you can
gain from it. Also, the clutter-free and clean aesthetic that downsizing brings
is an advantage to any home.
If you are planning to downsize from your current home or
within your existing space, you may be looking for some actionable steps to
help you throughout the process. Please keep on reading to find our ultimate
checklist for downsizing your space, regardless of its size.
The Concept of Downsizing
While not an easy task, downsizing is sorting through current possessions and items in your home to determine what
you will keep and what needs to go. Downsizing means that you will donate or
throw away a substantial amount of items that you no longer use.
Many people are either forced to downsize due to limited
space or choose to do so for simplicity’s sake. Downsizing can be emotionally
exhausting for those who hold sentimental value to many of their old items,
even if they don’t need them anymore.
However, downsizing can help declutter any space and is
beneficial in the long run, as it helps your home look cleaner and keeps you in
a fresher mental state, more organized, and more aware of all items in your
space.
The Pros and Cons of Downsizing
Downsizing is a task that comes with both pros and cons,
although in most cases, the benefits outweigh the negatives.
First, downsizing is great for those who are living in small
residences and need to make the best use of storage space. It can help a home
look neater and become more organized. It can also help you take inventory of
your items, and you may even find old things that you forgot about!
Some of the downsides include emotional exhaustion, as
sorting through old items and figuring out what to do with them can be taxing
in some instances. As well, downsizing does take much time and effort. This is
why many people hire professionals to help them organize and sort through heaps
of things.
The 6-Step Downsizing Plan
If you are moving from a large home to a smaller one, or you want to get rid of unnecessary junk that you’ve accumulated over the
years, then look no further than our 6-step downsizing plan.
This step-by-step comprehensive guide can help you determine
which direction to take and how to downsize properly:
Confirm your desire to downsize
First, before you commit to downsizing, it’s a good idea to
determine that it is indeed, what you truly want. It’s difficult to downsize
and then, months later, realize that you miss your old items and large space.
Confirm that downsizing is your intention and make sure it’s not just
a fad, but a lifestyle commitment.
Explore smaller property options
Once you’ve committed to downsizing, you will want to look
around for smaller property options such as condos, apartments, or smaller
houses. Perhaps you want a smaller home to do less cleaning and yard
work. Or, you may desire a smaller space as it is cheaper, more affordable, and
environmentally friendly.
Whatever your reasons are, get in touch with a good realtor
who can show you your options and help execute the process of downsizing from a
larger home to a smaller one.
Organise room by room
The best way to implement downsizing in your new space is to
go through each room and sort through items that way.
Start in the bedroom and make your way until you’ve sorted
through things in each room, including the bathroom, kitchen, and closet. Label
boxes as you go and make piles of items that you want to discard, donate, or
give away to loved ones.
You may even decide to have a garage sale or list items
online to recoup some of the money from these purchases. This step is usually
the most work, but will feel so rewarding once you are looking at a clean
slate, with no clutter or unnecessary junk.
Ensure your furniture fits
When you’ve downsized into a new, smaller home, you will
want to make sure that your old furniture still fits the space. If your old
furniture is too bulky for your new space, then it may be time to get rid of
it, sell it, or replace it with something smaller.
Deal with large items
Items that don’t fit into your new space (such as bulky
furniture), will need to be thrown out, donated, or sold. If you decide that
you still want to keep some of these things, you can rent a self-storage unit
big enough to fit them.
This will ensure that they are still safe and in your
possession until you may need them again, or when you finally
find a buyer willing to take them off your hands.
Rent a self-storage unit
Storage units in North York that can safely and securely keep your items during the
downsizing process are extremely useful to homeowners. These units can keep
valuables in the interim until you decide on your next step.
While downsizing, you may find items that you are not yet
ready to sell or donate. Self-storage units are perfect places for these things
so that you can still keep them in pristine condition until you are emotionally
ready to deal with them.
The Role of Self-Storage in Downsizing Your Home
Self-storage can be a miracle in times when you are short on
space in your home. This is because an offsite storage unit can act as an
extension of your existing storage space and help to keep possessions safe when
you are not yet ready to discard them.
Self-storage units are usually temperature-controlled, making them a good option for keeping valuables, antiques, or items you
need to keep in good condition for a long time.
When downsizing your home, you can rely on self-storage to
hold items that you may not require shortly, but you still want to
have available when needed. Such things may include seasonal decor or clothing,
tools and equipment, or other work-related items. There’s no limit to the
amount of stuff that you can keep in self-storage because the units come in
several different sizes for your convenience.
Make Space for the New
Downsizing is all about discarding the old to make room for
new things in your life. How many old trinkets and unusable items do you have
just lying around that you never even look twice at? Downsizing allows you to separate the useless junk that is just accumulating dust from
the items that you value and use.
So, as you start your downsizing process, keep in mind that
you will eventually reap the efforts that you sow. Clearing out and organizing
your items may be a drag, but at the end of the day, your home will be cleaner,
neater, and more functional.
Trust the process when it comes to downsizing and sooner
rather than later, you will feel a weight lifted off your shoulders as you will
breathe easier in a clutter-free environment.
