Fitting too much stuff into a much smaller space can make your life hell. Even though small apartment life has its rewards because you'll spend way less time and money on maintenance, it will take some time to get used to the change. Your adaptation starts with the moving process because deciding on the items to take with you is one of the main factors for having a comfortable home. Whether you choose to embrace minimalism or get creative in optimization, here are the essential downsizing tips for moving to a smaller apartment.
The downsizing process starts with the decluttering
Bringing too many things to your new apartment will make space feel smaller. Therefore, start purging the unnecessary items amongst your belonging as soon as the moving process starts. Get rid of anything you don't use or haven't used in a while. Decluttering is a hard job. Still, if you start on time, you can sort one room at a time each day at your own pace. You'll probably find many things you no longer need, or you've forgotten they exist. Thus, pull up your sleeves, and get to work. Broken things belong in the trash. The rest of the extra items you can donate or sell. The whole procedure is daunting, but the actual labor starts with packing and moving. Hence, make sure you have everything ready before you hire relocation experts.
Know what you're dealing with before the move
When downsizing to a slightly smaller apartment, you will barely notice the difference if you thoughtfully arrange the furniture. However, if you have way less living space at your disposal, you'd need to know in advance the apartment layout. Take some time to check out available space and measure all the rooms. Afterward, measure the dimensions of bulky furniture pieces like bed, cabinets, wardrobe, tables, and the rest of the essentials. Sketching an apartment blueprint might make it easier to plan what goes where.
Focus on practical items first
When deciding what to take with you to a new smaller apartment, the best thing is to focus on the essentials first. Put things like bed, chairs, kitchen utensils, appliances, cleaning and maintenance tools, sofa, coffee table, shelves, and other necessities on the "Things to take with me" list. After you're sure there is room for all of it, decide on the rest of the items. When you're done furnishing and making the place functional, add decoration, such as wall art, textures, and other details, such as plants. Always add some green because having plants in an apartment brings freshness to your living space regardless of its size.
If there are still too many things on the list, consider investing in double-duty furniture. For example, get a bed with the storage room below or a Murphy bed. There are many revolutionary furniture pieces for maximizing the use of space. Life in a small apartment will show you that every inch matters. Thus, if you're not sure all things will fit, take the essentials and store the rest. Otherwise, you'll go through the stressful process of looking for last-minute help for storing the extra furniture after unpacking.
Best way to sell the extra stuff
You can have a garage sale, use a consignment company, or sell it yourself online. Many apps could help you earn money through sales. However, consider Amazon, eBay, or Craigslist to post bulky items or valuables. During decluttering, make an inventory list of every single thing in your home. Having it on paper will also help you pack easier.
After deciding what goes for sale, take time researching the items. Evaluate the price by comparing them to similar things in ads and take quality photos before posting them. Selling items online can take a while, but it's an option that will bring you the most money. As relocation experts from U.Santini Moving and Storage NYC advise, after taking photos and measuring items, you should protect and pack them for shipping. If you don't sell some things immediately, they will be ready for shipping once they find a new owner.
Rent a storage unit
Getting rid of your perfect living room corner sofa because it can't fit in your new interior design can fall hard on you. Therefore, if you're downsizing temporarily with a plan to find a larger home in the future, storing your extra possession is the best solution. In addition, if you're in a rush and you have to wait for your items to be sold online, moving and storage services have solutions that will benefit your need. One of them is renting a portable storage unit. You'll have your things nearby, and you'll be able to ship your bulky furniture as soon as they sell online.
Portable or self-storage is a wise option if you're indecisive about what items to keep. It will be of great help if you haven't had the opportunity to check out the apartment layout in person. It's better to temporarily store your things until you're sure there is no place for them than regret after getting rid of them.
Be resourceful and unconventional with the use of space
Every small place benefits if you utilize vertical surfaces in the rooms. The walls can hold a lot of other things besides art. Be practical and creative when making the most of every room. Instead of 6-ft shelves, opt for floor-to-bottom customized shelving because such a solution can store 50% more things.
Accept your new reality
Decluttering is one of the essential downsizing tips for moving to a smaller apartment. However, you'll keep the new home smaller comfortable only if you do it regularly. Do it at least once a year, and try practicing self-control. Before any big purchase, ask yourself: Do I need this? How often will I use it? Most importantly, is there room for it in my home?
Conclusion
Decluttering and downsizing tips for moving to a smaller apartment will help you create a comfortable and functional living space. However, it's up to you to keep it neat at all times. Preventing the accumulation of clutter is the key to that.
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