Aggghhhh the dreaded D-word – Downsizing. It is a big move with loads of considerations and decisions to make of what to keep and what to throw. It’s emotional and represents a big change in your lifestyle from having the big family home with room and a place for everything to potentially one small storage area and (gasp) one hanging space in the wardrobe!
To take the positives from this experience, think of it as an excellent opportunity to throw away or donate items you don’t need or want anymore. Understanding what you need, what you might need, and what you won’t need can help you make some decisions. Here are our quick tips on just three items you can get rid of when you’re downsizing.
Clothing
Clothes tend to be like rabbits and multiply? One moment, you have a few pieces; the next moment, your closet is overflowing, drawers are bursting to capacity, and you’re looking for extra storage space. When you are living in a space where you can accommodate everything, you never think to throw things away. After all, you might need that parachute jacket one day.
When space is at a premium, clothes should be one of the first items to go. Go in for the cull, decreasing your wardrobe to just the essentials and a little extra. Of course, you can keep your favourites (be diplomatic) and get rid of your not-so-favourites. Think about where you are moving to, will it be warmer? Then keep a few warm-season clothes, but don’t take everything.
Extra Furniture
Furniture is something you usually acquire in a way that suits your taste, the space and how it brings a room together. With a smaller home, there will be fewer rooms (and possibly smaller room). You old furniture may not fit or suit the new spaces. Take the time to go to work and figure out what pieces you want to bring with you and what furniture you want to give up.
If you find yourself having a hard time deciding what to keep or toss, get out the measuring tape. You might find that some of your pieces are simply too large to fit in the new space. Or, you can rank each piece on a scale and eliminate the furniture pieces that you mark as the lowest.
Craft Supplies
Craft projects are one of those areas that can lead to clutter. At one moment, you’ve contained your supplies to one room, and at the next moment, you have items scattered over the house. While you don’t need to give up your hobbies, you do need to consider how much of it to bring along to your next home. A smaller space simply won’t be able to accommodate crafts spread throughout the home.
Go through your projects and figure out which ones have the most importance to you. Filter your supplies and figure out what you haven’t touched in more than a year. If you haven’t used a particular craft item in a year, chances are you’re not going to use it in the future. Don’t like the idea of throwing out good supplies? Find someone who will buy what you have for a few dollars or donate the unwanted supplies to a charity.
Downsizing isn’t the easiest decision to make, but the process has the potential to be liberating. Leaving behind stuff you simply don’t need anymore is akin to shedding an old skin. You’re entering a new chapter of life and starting fresh with a new way of living.
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