Whether it’s clothing, collections, kitchenware, or furniture, one of the major challenges facing people preparing to move is strategizing about how to pack a houseful of belongings into one moving van. In addition, having too many possessions can exacerbate an already stressful moving situation, which is why you should seriously consider downsizing before a move. Ridding yourself of things you don’t need, use, or want anymore can save time, money, and energy during the moving process. To impress the essential importance of downsizing before a move, Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde has put together the following guide to illustrate how to start decluttering, offer strategies for a smooth downsizing process, and provide tips for organizing small-space living!
Why Downsizing Is Essential
The last thing anyone should want or hope for is to accumulate so many possessions that it begins to encroach on the flow, functionality, and comfort of your living space. Further, aside from avoiding becoming the primary focus of an episode of Hoarders, downsizing before a move is essential for the following reasons:
- It Saves on Moving Costs: Whether you’re hiring movers or channeling your inner DIY spirit, there’s no arguing against the fact that moving is a costly affair. Renting vans and trailers aside, you’ll need to spend money on packing materials like boxes, plastic bins, tape, markers, paper lining, bubble wrap, and heavy moving blankets, to name just a few of the essentials. However, downsizing before a move means there are fewer items to pack, saving you money on supplies and potentially, a smaller moving vehicle!
- It Eases the Unpacking Process: Moving is hard enough without sifting through and unpacking an avalanche of boxes. Downsizing before a move means you’ll have significantly less to organize and empty once the moving van leaves. This will allow you to have a quicker and more thorough set up in your new living space.
- It Promotes a Fresh Start: Sometimes, moving isn’t just about getting a bigger space, it’s about gaining peace of mind by letting go of the past and embracing the next chapter in your life. What better way to do so than by unburdening yourself of the possessions that trigger unwanted memories or have no discernible use? Doing so creates a cleaner, more intentional living space that is a virtual tabula rasa of forward-looking possibilities!
How to Start Decluttering
Downsizing before a move sounds all well and good, but for those with drawers, closets, attics, and garages almost bursting at the seams with possessions, beginning the process can seem more than a little daunting. As a matter of fact, you may be completely dumbfounded as to where to even begin!
As with most things related to organization, it helps to plan your course of action. Start with the following:
- Sort by Category: Before you begin running through your home, opening random doors and drawers, and tossing out anything you can get your hands on, sit down and pick a room or category you want to go through first.
Easy categories to begin with are things like clothing, books, and knickknacks before you graduate to more complex things like kitchenware, art, valuable collectibles, or furniture and appliances.
Some people find it easier to edit their possessions by room (i.e. bedroom, kitchen, etc.), as it allows them to measure and quantify not only what is necessary, but what will actually fit in their new place.
- Employ the “Keep, Donate, Discard, Sell” Method: As you sift through your belongings before you move, it’s often helpful to evaluate each item by the following criteria:
- is it something you need?
- is it something you regularly use?
- is it something that has emotional value?
If the answer is “yes” to any one of these questions, you should consider keeping the item. If it’s a hard “no” for all or all but one criterion you’re less than sure about, consider getting rid of it.
Once you’ve decided to part ways with that particular item, decide whether it can be useful to someone else and either donate or sell it. Of course, if it’s damaged or useless, throw it out or recycle it, if possible.
- Follow the One-Year Rule: A good rule of thumb for deciding whether or not to keep or discard your possessions is to follow the “One-Year Rule.” Simply put, if you haven’t used or worn said item in a year, you should seriously consider letting it go.
Strategic Process to Downsizing Before A Move
Downsizing before a move doesn’t have to be an arduous or agonizing process. As a matter of fact, a few quick and clever tips can help streamline the entire undertaking:
- Digitize Where Possible: The great thing about living amid a digital revolution is the fact that you can convert all physical documents, photos, and media into digital formats to save physical space. This way, you can do away with bulky filing cabinets, oversized photo albums, and clunky DVD/CD storage cabinets to gain more space in your new home!
- Use Storage Solutions: For items you can’t part with immediately, it’s wise to consider short-term storage options. Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde has a wide variety of storage solutions you can peruse to find the perfect fit for your cherished belongings!
Host a Garage Sale or Sell Online: Selling your unwanted items is a good way to both downsize and earn extra cash for your move. You can always post your items online through sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Kijiji, to sell them. Or, if you have spare time one weekend, you can break out the lemonade and lawn chairs and do it the old-fashioned way: host a garage sale!
Tips for Small-Space Living
Whether by design or by necessity, not every move is automatically going to be to a larger space. However, if your new digs happen to be a little small in stature, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice anything in comfort, style, or function if you follow these tips:
- Invest in Multi-Functional Furniture: In this day and age, furniture doesn’t have to be bulky, single-purpose, or stationary. Look for pieces with built-in storage, that are mobile and moveable, or possess convertible features to save on space.
- Organize Vertical Space: Most people think of interior design in a lateral way, judging what furniture and appliances to place in their homes by estimating how much floor space they will take. This usually leaves your walls unoccupied, save for the occasional painting, plaque, or photo. That’s a shame because envisioning the use of your available vertical space can help you conserve overall space as well as store items in your home. Wall-mounted shelving, wall hooks, and over-the-door storage can help maximize the space in a room, as well as find a cozy place to store your items.
- Adopt a Minimalist Mindset: With a smaller space available to house your belongings, it’s advisable to adopt a minimalist mindset and focus on keeping items that serve a purpose, are used often, or truly bring you joy.
Downsizing before a move is an efficient and stress-free way to move your belongings from your current domicile to your new home. As well, it helps you embrace a simpler, more intentional lifestyle as you transition into your new space.
Ready to declutter your life? Use Mini-Entrepôts Sauvegarde’s downsizing tips to pave the way for a fresh start in your new home!