7 downsizing tips for your living space

Downsizing often comes with natural life transitions. And with today’s cost-of-living crisis, soaring real estate prices and the rise in interest rates, more and more people are opting for a “less is more” lifestyle that may require some measure of downsizing.

Whatever your reason, if you’re planning to downsize but don’t know where to start, here are some tips that could make the job easier, less stressful and maybe even fun.

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Allowing yourself plenty of time to sift and sort through your possessions has its advantages:

Gives you a feeling of control and accomplishment;

Provides the opportunity to reflect on decisions about belongings;

Helps avoid the stress of a last-minute rush job.

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Decluttering is the first step to a successful downsizing effort. To make the process more manageable, Michele Vig, founder and chief organiser of Neat Little Nest, suggests going through items by categories, rather than room by room.

“It’s easier to make a decision on how many screwdrivers [you need] if you gather them up from around the house to see just how many you really have,” she says. “Same goes for shoes, sweaters, books, and the list goes on.”

Then, get rid of any duplicates, as well as items that are outdated, damaged, worn out or expired.

“Save sentimental items for last,” Vig says. Decluttering emotionally-charged items too early in the process could slow you down or bring it to a halt as you spend hours reminiscing over a shoebox full of old photographs.

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Just thinking about the fate of every last thing in your home can be daunting, to say the least. Creating a checklist helps you break down the project into manageable pieces, Vig says, leaving you better able to prioritise and track your progress.

Generate a “hit list” yourself, or download Vig’s.

Going through items can be an emotional experience, whether you’re running across long-held family heirlooms or that plaster hand-print you made in first grade. Take a page out of the Marie Kondo playbook and approach each by asking yourself not only if an item brings you joy, but if it fits into the new lifestyle you’re envisioning for yourself. If not, let it go.

Tactics to help ease the loss:

Take a photo of it;

Give it to a family member or close friend;

Share stories about the item with people;

Know it’s always there in your memory.

The cardinal rule of downsizing: Don’t keep what you don’t have to. Paperwork is an easy target on this front. Think bank statements, tax returns more than five years old, restaurant receipts, expired appliance warranties, junk mail, etc.

Check with your city or county to see if there’s a community shredding event on the horizon. Or invest in a good home shredder to destroy anything containing personal information, like account or tax file numbers. Have nightly shred time while watching TV or listening to your favourite podcast, then recycle or compost.

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Getting items into the hands of a more appreciative owner can be a great motivator, along with netting some money in the process.

Are there family members who might want or need the item? Local charities, thrift or consignment shops? Don’t rule out a garage sale, either. While the garbage is a fine final option, you may be surprised at how many of your unwanted items can be recycled, donated or sold.

Downsizing can be stressful. For some, the one-two punch of decision-making and dealing with the fallout of those decisions can produce enough anxiety to warrant support, Vig says. She recommends recruiting friends and family to help.

That might mean setting up accountability check-ins, coming over to help make decisions or picking up your unwanted items ASAP, so you can’t change your mind.

And, of course, there’s always the option of calling in a pro, who can guide you as well as speed up the process.

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Source: Family Handyman