Have the kids flown the nest and left you with too much space to make use of? Or are you simply looking to reduce your monthly costs and cash in on the profit of your property sale? Whatever your reasons for downsizing, it can be made into a positive step in your life rather than a negative one.
The big thing to remember when downsizing is that space will be at a premium. Hopefully the circumstances leading to your move will mean that most of the clutter in your home will be removed by the kids leaving to start their own lives. On the other hand, if you simply have more things than you know what to do with, it’s time to get organised.
Can you live without it?
This is the first question you need to ask yourself when faced with different items. If you can live without an item, and you don’t use it frequently, get rid of it. While it can be hard to let go of things, you need to be organised and determined from the start.
There is always the option to borrow particular items from friends and family if it’s something you do use once in a blue moon, but this way you won’t have it sitting around taking up space the rest of the time.
Storage squared
Going out and buying a variety of storage solutions for bits and pieces in your new home can be exciting, but stay on task. Think about the space you have and where a container will go. The best shapes to go for are those with squared edges, allowing them to slot into corners, stack and edge together better. Circular boxes are the biggest wasters as they leave gaps – they also prove difficult to fit a variety of items into.
Bathroom essentials
For some people, their bathroom is where there clutter accumulates. From beauty products to general bits and bobs crammed into drawers and cabinets, you need to think carefully about this eclectic mix of things – are they all essential to your daily usage of the bathroom? If not, you need to get rid of them.
Those items you use infrequently, but want to keep, should be stored elsewhere out of the way. It’s unlikely that you’ll have the same amount of space in your new bathroom (especially if you had multiple bathrooms) so be ruthless to keep the space functional and enjoyable.
Choose multifunctional furniture
A piece of furniture which has a dual purpose is going to save you money as well as space. Your sofa might double up as a second bed for guests, while a foot stool might present storage space inside. Even something as simple as using your dining room table as both a meal space and an office space at different times of the day can help limit the amount of sporadically used furniture you have in your new home.
Make the most of self storage
If your downsize is a drastic one, or if the kids can’t take all of their things straight away, you might want to opt for self storage. Flexible storage arrangements are always available and you get a dedicated space to help you avoid having to throw out any sentimental items or a valuable collection.
At Simply Storage we provide dedicated storage space and transport options no matter what the circumstances of your move may be or how long you need the space for. Contact our professional, friendly team today to discuss your requirements and we’ll be happy to help.