Daring to downsize is something that clients think about as they get older and closer to retirement. Truthfully, you can consider downsizing your belongings at any age. What are some ways that downsizing can benefit you? It can help create a lighter, more intentional lifestyle. Downsizing creates less belongings to store and manage, which in return creates more space and more time. If you own less, it also saves you money in a multitude of ways, including buying less each year.
Let’s discuss more about downsizing…
Slow Down & Be Intentional
When beginning to downsize, we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to declutter and to be thoughtful about what you need, what you use, and what you can get rid of. Going slow and taking one room at a time can really reduce stress and overwhelm and create more success as you are pairing down.
Don’t get bogged down and toil over an item. Have a “maybe” pile and move on. These items can be reassessed later. Overall, try to make quick decisions, keep or donate, to keep the process moving. As you declutter, the process will get easier.
Let Go of What No Longer Serves You
Remove any items that are no longer important to you (i.e old hobbies, collections, etc). This will give you more physical and emotional space for the things that you love and want to do now. We know that sentimental things can be difficult to declutter sometimes.
Here are some ideas if you are not using the item: gift it to a family member that will, take pictures of the item to reflect back on, and cherish the memories surrounding that item. However, we recommend not to keep the item if it is just taking up space and not something that you can use anymore.
Purge Paper Clutter
Paper clutter is something we see in almost every house that we enter into as professional organizers. Our homes are inundated with bills, files, books, recipes, photos, and junk mail.
We suggest shredding or recycling any papers that you no longer need and then creating a system for the small amount of important papers that you need to keep. This could be a filing system or even better, digitize the papers so they do not take up space in your home. This will make the important items easy to find and save space.
Group All Like Items
In each space, sort “like” items together so you can visually see what you have and how many. Many times we forget how much we really have. This makes it easier to see the excess and get rid of un-needed items. We recommend purging duplicates right away. This is an easy decision to keep that best item and get rid of the others.
Choose Smart, Space-Saving Furniture
If you are purchasing new furniture, consider space-saving furniture with storage built in. Don’t force oversized or older furniture to work. As you are able, purchase more sleek furniture with extra storage space. For example: an ottoman with storage for linens, a coffee table with drawers for storage, or a bed with storage underneath. Having furniture that is multipurpose helps to meet your needs with less bulk.
Stay Clutter-Free Moving Forward
Be thoughtful and mindful before making future purchases. Try to set some mental boundaries and rules around future purchases. Try the “one in, one out” rule. If you get something new, make sure it has a home and think about one item that you could take away. Essentials and items that you love should be the priorities.
For more inspiration, read 5 Simple Tips to End Your Day With Less Stress.
Need help organizing your home and orchestrating your move when downsizing? Let’s chat. We’d love to help you get your old AND new spaces situated!
See you soon,
Audra
