Tips for Downsizing from a Home to a Condo

After years of building memories in your family home, you’ve made the decision to downsize. It can be an emotional time for many reasons, but also an exciting time full of possibility for the next chapter you’re about to embark on. Having a plan for your downsize can help make the process a lot smoother. Here, a few tips for the big move:

First, begin with the end in mind. Envision your new condo or apartment, and determine which of your possessions will fit into your new square footage, and which will suit your new lifestyle. Apps such as Pinterest can provide loads of ideas and inspiration for decorating the rooms in your new home. Once you’ve decided which pieces of furniture will be coming with you, it will be far easier to determine which items need to be given away, thrown away or sold.
Japanese organizational expert and author, Marie Kondo has revolutionized the art of de-cluttering, which she outlines in her four books, including The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Her philosophy, which she has dubbed “The KonMari Method” is to keep only items that “spark joy”—and lose the rest. She recommends working through various categories (books, clothes, papers, small appliances, etc.), by holding each item close to your heart and asking yourself whether it “sparks joy.” If not, sell it, give it away or throw it away.
You’ll also want to think about which items will maximize your smaller space. Adding mirrors, a glass coffee table and clear acrylic dining room chairs can make a huge difference. Eliminating clutter by installing Wi-Fi-powered gadgets that don’t require cords, or mounting a TV to the wall instead of placing it on a media centre, can free up space too.
If you’re unsure about your de-cluttering and downsizing process it may help to hire a professional organizer to provide you with a second, and more objective, opinion.