Most Effective Downsizing and Decluttering Tips

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Any place can benefit from optimizing the current design because there is always room for improvements, no matter how functional something is. Especially when it comes to making the best use of space while moving to a smaller home. Your new apartment is the perfect blank canvas where you get to organize the living space by your taste and needs, getting rid of the stuff you no longer need in the meanwhile. Still, relocation can be both an exciting and stressful experience, so creating a good plan to make this process smooth is imperative. If you have not done this before, you might not know where to start. Therefore, to help you on your mission, here are the most effective downsizing and decluttering tips.

When to start decluttering?

The best time to get rid of unnecessary items is before a move because you can take your time deciding what to bring with you to your new home. Naturally, the sooner you start making an inventory list and re-evaluating the importance of your items, the better. Some people do it during packing for relocation, but that can be overwhelming since you will be all over the place. Thus, the decluttering of your home should start months before transferring your possession to a new place. That way, you can think thoroughly about the purpose and use of your items and even have second thoughts about getting rid of some of them. In addition, you will have enough time to organize a yard sale before moving, sell everything you don’t need, and earn some extra cash you can use for the moving expenses or improvements in your new home.

A couple making an inventory list while decluttering
Making an inventory list and prioritizing are some of the most important downsizing and decluttering tips.

Ways to get rid of the extra things

Good organization and planning are crucial for every significant life change. When it comes to moving to a new place, putting everything on paper will ensure you don’t forget anything. Therefore, making a moving and inventory list is one of the most crucial downsizings and decluttering tips. That way, you will know what you own and what will fit in your new apartment layout.

Think about the purpose of every item, and more importantly, when was the last time you’ve used it? Everything that’s just been lying there for years, especially in the attic, basement, and garage, should be re-evaluated. You’d be surprised how much money you can earn by selling some of your clutter online. Still, to get the most of its value, make sure to present the item properly with a detailed description and good images.

If you’re not sure about letting go of some stuff, rent a temporary storage unit. That way, you can experiment with new home designs and concepts. And if you find you can’t live without your old sofa or nightstands, your precious items will still be there.

Multifunctional rooms

When downsizing, it’s essential to find ways to fit all the things you used to have into a smaller space. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy all the perks your bigger home had. You just need to be resourceful and creative when giving multiple purposes to a single room.

One of the most common combinations is joining the dining and kitchen area. This choice is logical for most open-floor homes. But also, mixing work and workout areas is not uncommon nowadays. For example, a home gym would fit perfectly with a home office since it creates a balance between work and health. You can use them at different hours or simultaneously, especially if you combine tedious phone calls with productive stationary bicycle sessions.

A multipurpose room
Having a gym in your home office can be quite motivating.

Multifunctional furniture

The easiest way to optimize your space is to go with a wise choice of furniture. Creative multifunctional furnishing saves a lot of room by creating extra storage and additional sleeping, dining, and leisure options. Such items might cost slightly more, but they are a game-changer in small spaces like studio apartments. Using a pullout sofa or a couch instead of a traditional sofa, storage ottomans with removable lids, coffee tables with drawers, or transformer tables and benches could provide a lot of commodity in downsized home layouts.

Vertical use of space

When creating extra storage space in our homes, we often forget to use the maximum of vertical surfaces. Sure, a 6ft tall shelf will mean a lot when storing your items, but floor-to-bottom customized shelves can fit a lot more. Thus, going for taller but narrower shelves, cabinets, wardrobes will create some extra inches of space. The same goes for neglected surfaces like the space under the stairs or under the bed. Utilizing these hidden spaces will provide the perfect spot for your books, seasonal decoration, memorabilia, or anything else you wish to store.

A bookshelf under a bed
Hidden and neglected surfaces offer some creative ideas for storing.

Conclusion

The downsizing and decluttering tips from this article can help you create a new, functional, and comfortable living space only if you accept the change as your new lifestyle. If you don’t keep the place tidy at all times, it will become cluttered again. That’s why it’s essential to understand that change is permanent, and with it should come new habits and routines. If you keep a lot of stuff around, you will need to address the issue all over again pretty soon. Even though material things evoke lovely memories from our past, the same can be done more efficiently. Instead of extra things as reminders, use words. Keeping a diary or a photo journal could preserve your memories without taking up so much space.