An oversized home is more difficult to clean and can actually contribute to energy waste that harms the environment. Your utility bills can increase significantly with a larger home, and for many families or couples, downsizing is a smart solution. When you downsize your home, you can focus on more important experiences instead of material goods. You don’t have to get rid of all of your treasured belongings to downsize. In fact, once you declutter, you may realize that downsizing your home is an upgrade. To make the most of a smaller space, you’ll want to know how to downsize with style.
Declutter Before the Move
Many times, homeowners feel like they need a lot more space due to excess clutter. It’s not unusual for us to cling to items that are no longer useful or necessary. Do a major overhaul of your belongings before you move into a smaller space. You’ll find that many items can be donated, recycled, or tossed, significantly reducing how much space you really need and how much you have to move all in one fell swoop. If you declutter before you choose your new home, you may even have a more accurate idea of how much space you really need.
Your Current Space Usage
When we buy a home, we want to be able to grow into it and expand our lives in it. Buying a bigger home than we really need is quite common, and can result in empty rooms or rooms filled with clutter. Before choosing your next home, take a walk through your current one and determine how much space you really need. How often do you use that extra guest bedroom? Is a third bathroom truly necessary? Evaluate how much traffic each room gets, and where the most time is spent. From there, you can make a more informed decision about the size of your next home.
Sell Your Oversized Home for the Best Price
When you sell your current home for the best price, you’ll have plenty of wiggle room to choose a smaller floor plan that ticks all of your boxes. The lower the offer you get on your current home, the more flexible you’ll have to be. How much you can get for your home will depend on its location, condition, and how long you’re willing to wait for the best offer. The larger the city you live in, the more buyers will be interested, but you may have to wait a while. If you live in a major urban hub like Fort Worth, San Francisco, or Atlanta, you may want to consider getting a quick cash offer. For the fastest quote, you can find local cash home buyers in Fort Worth or wherever you’re located. If you want more home valuations, you can get an agent and take the longer route. Either way, be certain you’re able to head into your downsized house hunt with a good financial start.
Choose and Place Furniture Wisely
Furniture choice and placement is a major factor when it comes to using your space wisely. Even the largest floor plans can feel cramped with bulky, unnecessary furniture or inefficient placement that blocks walkways. When you move into a smaller space, you’ll need to be efficient about your interior design. Opt for sleek, slim, and even retractable and foldable furniture whenever necessary.
Choose excess storage space that is compact and well-hidden. Coffee tables that open up to reveal storage space and more surface room is an excellent example. Modular couches that have storage space underneath the cushion and can be rearranged as needed are also ideal. Don’t include more furniture than you need, and if you do, make sure it’s a slim and easily moveable addition.
Open Up the Space
A smaller floorplan doesn’t need to feel tight and cramped. You can open up the space with lighter colors, natural light, large windows, and open concept designs. Allow the living space to seamlessly transition to a porch, yard, or patio for an easy expansion. The brighter the space, the bigger it will feel, allowing you to save money and size without feeling like you’ve downgraded or made a major sacrifice. It’s not about the size of the home, but what you do with it.
Don’t Forget the Outdoors
Your land is part of your home, too. Don’t forget to take advantage of your home’s outdoor space. You can turn a backyard into a reading nook, office space, or relaxation zone to make the most out of your downsize. Even if you have a smaller outdoor space or yard, you can still add a few chairs and a small table for eating, entertainment, or doing work. Add some small plants, lighting, and decor to make the space more enjoyable.
Provide Innovative Storage Options
Regardless of the size of your home, storage is a must, especially if you live with others. You’ll need to get more creative with storage solutions for a smaller home, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. Staircase storage, wall shelves, over-the-door racks, and under-bed bins are all affordable and innovative solutions to store belongings without feeling too crowded or cramped.
Keep What You Love
When you downsize, you don’t need to toss everything out. Decluttering is smart, but you don’t want to throw away treasured or timeless items you use often. The point of decluttering is to rehome unnecessary items so you have more room for belongings that you do love and use. A downsizing transition can feel more isolating and upsetting when you’ve gotten rid of items you love. Be sure to keep what “sparks joy.” You can always declutter again (and you should every so often, anyway).
Conclusion
Downsizing isn’t a downgrade. It’s a smart solution that can save you money, reduce your carbon footprint, and allow you to focus on the more important things in life. The first step is to evaluate what space you do use and need in your current home. Once you declutter, it can be easier to realize that you might have excess space you’re not using. Moving into a smaller home can be a breeze when you’re smart about storage solutions and know how to make the space bright and inviting.
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