Our Favorite Downsizing Tips
The Basic Organization team has quite a bit of experience dealing with clients who are downsizing. Most of us strive to reduce the clutter in our homes. We make trips to the Donation Store or give to friends and family what we don’t use any longer. However, over the years, things accumulate, and a conscious effort is needed to keep things to a minimum. It may become a bit more challenging when it comes to downsizing. So again, the team would like to offer their expertise with our favorite downsizing tips to help you if you ever need to downsize.
We love to help you live a more simplified life.
Janet-“The word “Downsizing” can negatively affect some people. Consider your downsizing project your chance to make your life all about you. Focus on quality, not quantity. Treat yourself like you are the most important person in the picture. Give yourself lots of time. It can be an emotional project. Start small. Work on an area of your home that you don’t use anymore. I suggest this for two reasons. 1. You won’t disrupt your day-to-day activities as you start downsizing. 2. The items in these spaces may have lost some meaning for you and be less important as you move forward.”
Candy-“Purging is #1, then assessing the new location’s size. Move what will fit vs. what you want to take.”
Focus on quality, not quantity.
Denene-“I recommend having a friend or family member help you with downsizing. It can sometimes be emotional, especially if you’ve been in your home for a long time. It’s nice to have someone to enjoy the
memories with, keep you on track, and help you with the heavy lifting. Put on your favorite music and have fun! If you’ve been storing other people’s stuff (your grown kids, friends, or other family members), give them plenty of notice that you will be downsizing so that they can pick up their belongings or decide what to do with the items. Give them a deadline so you’re not stuck at the last minute.”
Lori-“Often, when clients go through their items trying to downsize, they will get overwhelmed for many reasons, such as too much to go through, too many memories, etc. As an organizer, I will have them stop and take a break when they feel this way. I suggest they have a glass of water, sit in another area of their home, or step outside. I try to have them clear their minds by taking a few deep breaths. Usually, within minutes, they are ready to go back to continue the job. I will then break the project down and present a few items at a time to them, and we will talk through each item together. Allow them to focus on each item instead of an out-of-control pile of “stuff” that causes chaos in their minds. By the end of the session, they were surprised by how many things they had been able to let go of!”
It’s nice to have someone to enjoy the memories with…
Michelle- “The key to making downsizing easier is to work in baby steps, taking it one drawer at a time, or focusing on a particular category like shoes. You can tackle these types of tasks in less than an hour. Many clients downsize before a move. It’s best to start this process early, as it can become overwhelming! Sometimes, we don’t realize how much stuff we have because it is tucked away in a bin or stuffed in a closet. Write down a list of what you want to accomplish, check items as you go along, and reach out to family or friends if you need help.”
Rouba-“Downsizing is a big task, and clients often have difficulty getting rid of stuff. If your client is moving from a house to an apartment, start with closets, outdoor/yard tools, and furniture. I always advise them to go through their closets and donate anything that has not been worn in the past 6 months to a year. Let someone else enjoy it. Anything related to gardening tools or yard stuff can be sold or donated; you will not need it if you move to a place without a garden. I also ask them to go through their papers and start shredding or recycling anything that is unimportant or needs to be filed. I often find bins of unopened mail on the floor screaming for help; some good advice for them is, if it’s bills-go paperless, or go online and stop all the junk mail.”
It’s best to start this process early, as it can become overwhelming!
Sandy-“Downsizing can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps—like tackling one cupboard or room at a time—makes a big difference. The kitchen is a great place to start, as it often offers quick wins.
Eliminating duplicates, such as extra serving spoons or spatulas, can provide an immediate sense of accomplishment. Focus on small appliances that haven’t been used in a while or are only needed once a year—these are easy items to donate. Going through drawers and grouping similar items can help you spot what’s necessary and what can go.”
Ann-“My suggestion/tip is to involve your family earlier. Ask them if they want these items you’ve been holding onto for them. Sometimes, the answer may be yes, but most likely, they don’t. When my parents moved out of the house I grew up in, I felt bad about all the “memories” I had left in their basement that really didn’t mean anything to me anymore.”
Patti-“I like to start with discarding items that will make a big visual impact. This motivates me to continue working on the smaller, less obvious items.”
Sue-“Since I recently downsized, I can relate to all of the team’s tips. It’s an overwhelming task, but it can be accomplished. Slow and steady is my motto. Compare yourself to the “Tortoise and the Hare.” You will get to the finish line with a sense of pride at all you accomplished. Bit by bit, you can donate, discard, or keep what’s important to you.”
What are your favorite downsizing tips? Share in the comments below.
I like to use the word “rightsizing” in place of “downsizing”. I do this work with a lot of my clients. The goal is usually to have a more simplified life or move.
I feel like we Rightsize with all of our clients. We define Downsizing to mean a move project that involves selling and donation much more than a regular client. Rightsizing is definitely a more positive word to use.
Thank you! all great tips and tricks to help people downsize or “right size”
Thank you Florena.
All of these approaches are so true in their own way. And the main reason we struggle with downsizing is because it forces us to be intentional about letting go of all the things we were weren’t (or were rarely) intentional about acquiring. If we acquired less without giving it thought, and periodically let go of unused or unwanted things as we realized we weren’t using them (until decades later), we’d have so much easier a time of it. Still, taking baby steps, particularly with the assistance of others, takes a huge weight off the overwhelm.
I agree with you. A little at a time is the way to go, but since it’s hard/emotional people wait until the last minute. It’s so much harder to go through all those emotions quickly, but I guess that’s why we are in business.