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Moving from a big apartment to a small apartment may mean less space, but it can also be a good thing — especially if you’re moving to a better location or will be paying less rent (and less in utilities) every month. If you’re ever in this situation, take note of our 5 ways to downsize when you’re moving to a small apartment…
Start early. If you leave everything to the last minute, there may not be enough time to get organized. Give yourself plenty of time to make your move as smooth as possible.
Take inventory. When you really look at what you have, you may be surprised to find out how much you don’t need, even in a large space. You might even find some things you’ve had but haven’t been using. Either way, once you know what you have, you’ll be able to plan for your move to the small apartment. And don’t just look at furnishings: include clothing, bedding and accessories you have as well.
Make a plan for your new space. Think about your new apartment and try to plan out what will go where. This will help you decide what to take and what to sell or donate. Since you’ll be starting fresh in a smaller home, a great option you have is getting creative with the new space. Consider small-space solutions like shelving and multi-purpose furniture (example: ottomans that can double as coffee tables and extra seating for guests).
Sell, sell, sell. Once you’ve figured out what you do and don’t need, consider selling the stuff you won’t be taking with you to your new apartment. There are plenty of websites that will let you place a free ad, and there’s also your newspaper’s classifieds section. Even Facebook has a classifieds section.
Donate, donate, donate. Have a friend or family member in need? A local thrift store, church, school or shelter? Whatever you do, don’t just send off that nightstand or La-Z-Boy to the dump — someone will probably be able to use it, even if you think it’s unusable or broken. As they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
