15 Tips For Downsizing Your Home And Making a Fresh Start

Preparing for change and downsizing is not an easy task.  When it comes to downsizing the more you plan the better prepared you will be and the easier you will make it.

Being prepared means knowing exactly what you have, what to pack and what to say goodbye to.  You want to be comfortable in your new home and one of the best ways to do that is to keep it clear of any clutter.

If “Just in Case” hasn’t happened yet, it likely never will

You probably have had a lot of space in your current home and now are moving into a smarter sized space.  You have also probably been keeping things just because you had the space and even though you replaced something with another new item, rather than getting rid of the older item you decided to keep it “just in case”.  Often times “just in case” doesn’t happen and you end up with a bunch of items cluttering up your valuable real estate. So, how do you decide what to take with you?

Comfort, size, condition, aesthetics

When downsizing you want to consider things such as comfort, size, condition and aesthetics in your overall plan of action. And this is your chance to replace what you really don’t like, fix any mistakes you may have made in the past and make a fresh start.  In fact, taking the approach of “use it or lose it” is a good way to start.

15 items you should never keep

Here are fifteen items you should never keep when downsizing and making a fresh start:

1. Unloved books that you either will never read a second time or any books you never seem to get around to reading
2. Doubles of anything, whether it be pots and pans, dishware or salt and pepper shakers.
3. Uncomfortable dining chairs
4. Those inexpensive metal torchiere lamps
5. Rugs that are worn (unless of course they are priceless)
6. Throw pillows that now look dated
7. Old pleated lamp shades
8. Any overgrown potted trees or leggy plants
9. Table cloths that will no longer fit your table. And no, you don’t need them for a drop cloth for painting!
10. Extra vases and candlesticks
11. Dishtowels that are worn out, stained or torn
12. Unstable, wobbly furniture
13. Old VCR tapes that you’ll never watch because you don’t even own a VCR player anymore
14. That old VCR player that you never use because you watch everything on DVD or Blue ray
15. Personal tax receipts and tax records over 7 years old.

When downsizing, your goal is to simplify your life and de-clutter both your mind and your space.  Keep the best of what you have and get rid of the rest. Choose to live with less and you will have more time to relax and enjoy each new day that comes your way!