No matter the reason, moving to a smaller home with less storage can be emotionally and physically challenging, as with downsizing, you have to fit all your belongings into a smaller space.

However, if you plan, you can reduce the stress and set up a stylish apartment you’ll adore without missing anything. If you look at it from the perspective of it being a liberating thing, you can fully enjoy the process. It’s all about having the right mindset.

Here are some great planning tips to help you organize and simplify the process of downsizing to a smaller space.

1. Start downsizing as soon as possible

After you decide to move, you’ll want to start downsizing. It’s important to begin as soon as possible to lower the possibility of being overwhelmed by the great task in front of you. Starting this process early on can also help with your home sale, as it’s significant to declutter.

Instead of tackling every room and reducing your possessions to the minimum in a single day, you should start with one room and carefully go through everything at your own pace before moving to another. It’s a good idea to begin planning your furniture and other big pieces first. If you have an excess of furniture, you can donate your used items.

2. Create a floor plan

It can be difficult to predict what furniture items will and won’t fit if you don’t get out your floor plan. It’s a great idea to measure the pieces you’d like to bring with you and sketch a drawing on the plan. You should double-check the width of hallways and door frames, especially if you’re moving into an apartment.

By planning your floor plan, you’ll save yourself from dragging a heavy cabinet just to find out it can’t fit into the elevator. Also, if you’re considering a property, stay informed on different points when buying your first apartment.

3. Consider renting an apartment

Since finding a place that fits your needs takes a while, start searching for a rental property early on. While searching for a rental home, think about the importance of location. An ideal rental apartment should involve factors like the proximity of frequently visited places and the accessibility of transportation.

If you’re looking for an apartment in Texas, don’t worry about not making the right choice, as there’s a huge range of options for you to choose from. In fact, according to a recent study, almost one in five people in this state are renting the place they’re living in. For example, if you’re searching for the best Midland apartments, finding the perfect match won’t be an issue, as there’s a wide array of appealing rental complexes with extra amenities like fitness centers, business centers, and swimming pools at a fair price.

4. Digitize everything you can

Today, it’s a very practical downsizing home idea to photograph and keep copies of your important documents and precious memories on a cloud, Google Drive, or flash drive. The great thing about technology is that it can help you eliminate unnecessary clutter by going paperless and digitizing what you can.

Instead of storing things like your letters, children’s drawings, and family photos in a box that you rarely even look at, opt for keeping copies of them in a digital format. As a result, you’ll free up space, eliminate unnecessary papers, and have access to them without losing anything. 

5. Organize your things

One of the most important and overlooked steps of downsizing your home is organizing your things. After determining what things you’ll keep and what to get rid of, you should organize everything you’re leaving into piles and place them somewhere to not get in your way before you move.

Try sorting the items you want to discard into categories like giveaways or the things you’ll give to family or friends, donations or items you’re donating to a good cause, things you’re going to sell, and items you’re going to throw away. If you get organized, it’ll make the process of downsizing easier and not as nerve-racking.

6. Storage options

When moving to a smaller home, you need to be creative in terms of storage options and apply the multi-purpose approach to everything as much as possible. Try doing things like getting storage containers you can place under your bed, including shelves inside the closet, and adding closed cabinets, which have the option of doubling as means of extra storage.

If you have large pieces of furniture you don’t want to discard, you should consider leasing a storage space which is a good alternative when downsizing your home rapidly. 

Or, if you would rather bring your items with you, considering hiring a moving company isn’t a bad idea either.

Wrapping up

Even though determining where to begin when downsizing your home quickly can be stressful, by following these great planning tips, you’ll make this process a lot easier, which you’ll end up enjoying.

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