There are a lot of benefits to downsizing your living space — lower utility bills, a lower mortgage payment, and less space to clean, to name a few. But before you start looking at small house plans, there are several things you need to consider.
How Often Do You Entertain?
If you love entertaining guests, downsizing may not be the best option for you. Less living space means you’ll have less seating space for guests. This may mean you’ll need to talk another family member into hosting holiday events, move weekly family dinners to one of your kids’ houses, and turn away overnight guests.
How Much Space Do You Really Need?
When choosing a smaller house, you need to consider how much space you actually need. Then, think about whether or not that will really be enough space for you and your family. The last thing you want is to move into your smaller home and spend your days feeling cramped. So keep in mind, everyone in your family likely needs space to call their own. If possible, make sure everyone in the household has their own bedroom or at least, their own space in their bedroom where they can go to unwind and get away from the rest of the family.
Why Do You Want to Downsize?
People choose to downsize for various reasons. And, while there’s no right or wrong reason to downsize, it’s important that you know why you want to do it. Remember, downsizing your house is a big transition, so it’s important to keep your goals at the forefront as you transition. For example, if you’re downsizing to save money to travel, consider adding pictures of places you want to visit to your new home decor plan.
What Will You Have to Sacrifice to Downsize?
When you move into a smaller home, chances are, you’ll have to let go of a lot of your belongings. Ideally, you’ll keep only items that are meaningful to you and you use on a regular basis. There are plenty of practical ways to decorate small spaces, but even if you utilize every nook and cranny in your home, chances are, you will still have to sell, donate, or give away some furniture, kitchen items, and other belongings.
What Should You Take With You?
When you’re moving into a smaller home, it might be tempting to start purging your belongings as soon as the move is confirmed. However, it’s often better to start with the big items. For example, if you’re downsizing from a three-bedroom house to a one-bedroom house, you’ll need to get rid of any extra beds and dressers you have. You may also want to limit the number of tables you have in the living room and replace a second sofa with an armchair.
Typically, the smaller items people own are the necessities. These are the things you use daily or things that have meaning to you. That’s why it’s a good idea to take the smaller things with you when you first move. Then, as you settle into your new home, you can decide which items to keep and which items you can live without.
Also, when you move into your new home, it’s important to go through every single box you bring with you. It’s common for people to store boxes of mementos and other stuff in closets, basements, and attics. Then, when they move into a new home, they bring the boxes but never take time to go through them. But when you move into a smaller space, you need every bit of storage space available. So take the time to go through every box you bring into your new home.
Ultimately, moving into a smaller space can save you time, money, and stress. But before you move, it’s important to make sure it’s a move you want to make and plan for it properly.
