As the last of your children flies the nest, you might be wondering if it is time to downsize. After all, this is a natural step in becoming an empty nester – a parent whose children have grown up and moved out. You might realize that your house is much too large for you and your partner, especially if it is just the two of you. If you do think your house is too big, and you would like a cozier home, then downsizing is a good option.
However, this can be a significant step, particularly if you have stayed in your current home for your children’s entire lives. The change that downsizing and moving can bring might feel overwhelming, and you might struggle to do so in an efficient manner. Thankfully, this post has listed three of the best ways to simplify this process.
Assess Your Needs
When you are downsizing from a family home, you will need to evaluate what you require in a smaller space. Understanding what you need will allow you to make informed decisions about your new living space, so this should be prioritized.
The first aspect to assess is your current lifestyle. This will include determining how much space you require. Do you need more than one bedroom? Will an open-plan environment suit you better? Would you like an enclosed yard? These questions, and more, will show you what type of house you should be looking at, especially when you take into consideration your family, hobbies, and work.
Next, you should look at your future needs. As most empty nesters have adult children, your next house could be the one you grow old in. This means you might need to factor in potential health needs and accessibility requirements as you age; if this is the case, a one-story house might be preferred. Similarly, the location of your house might be an issue; you might want to be close to your family, for example.
Declutter Methodically
Once you have an idea of the type of house you will be downsizing to, you can then begin decluttering. The best way to do this is by following the room-by-room approach, which will see you tackle one room at a time before moving on. This will ensure you do not become overwhelmed during this process, as it can be challenging at times.
As you move throughout the house, you should categorize items as discard, donate, keep, or sell when sorting through them. There will be some sentimental items that should be handled with care, even if you do not want to keep them. If you are going to part with some of these belongings, then you might want to take photos of them or digitize them instead.
While it is possible to declutter by yourself, you might benefit from seeking some help from family and friends in preparation for your downsizing. Some professional organizing services can even be hired to help. For example, Val’s Services Cleaning with Care offers organization services that can be catered to clients who are downsizing as well as those who are moving and unpacking.
Plan Your Space
With your belongings decluttered and your house likely selected, you should start planning how to use the space. A floor plan can be used to do this, as this will help you to visualize how your furniture and other items will fit and where to place them. If you want the smaller space to feel larger, then you might choose to embrace an open-concept layout, which is often more adaptable.
You might realize that some of your furniture cannot be moved to your new property, especially some of the larger pieces. It might be wise to consider pieces that are multifunctional. Some pieces of furniture, like sofas, will offer hidden storage, while others will fold away to save space.
To conclude, there are numerous ways to simplify the downsizing process when your last child flies the nest. As an empty nester, this might be a challenging process, but it will be worthwhile in the long run.
