Must-Know Downsizing Tips for Your Move to a Smaller Home

If you are looking for downsizing tips for your move to a smaller home, you've come to the right place. Whether you're moving to a condo, apartment, townhouse, or a family home with less square footage, we fully understand how stressful and challenging this process might be. Therefore, we've gathered helpful information to help you prepare and go through this significant transition more easily.

Downsizing tips for your move to a smaller home

Moving to a smaller living space is a major transition that will impact your lifestyle and probably cause a rollercoaster of emotions. To help you deal with it in the easiest way possible, we've prepared useful tips and advice. 

Start preparing early 

A last-minute move is never a good idea. So, as soon as you know that you will be moving to a new home, start preparing both mentally and physically.

Mentally prepare for downsizing to a smaller home

As moving to a smaller home can be a huge change and a stressful experience, it's essential to mentally prepare for what's coming:

• Know why you're downsizing - Whenever you feel overwhelmed and emotional about the change that's awaiting you, remember the reason why you're doing it. Whether you are retired, want to save money, or lower your environmental footprint, let it be your primary motivation to handle the emotional side of the process.

• Focus on the positive sides - Whenever you feel unsure about your decision, a good way to increase your level of excitement is to remember the benefits of downsizing. You wouldn't decide to downsize if it wasn't for your best interests, right? Moving to a smaller place will give you an opportunity to save money, create a healthier home, help the environment or spend less time on maintenance.

Set your budget

There is no question about it - you will indeed be saving money when moving to a smaller home. However, you still need to keep in mind that downsizing comes with expenses, both obvious and hidden ones. 

First of all, think about the potential expenses related to your new home. For example, there could be repairs you need to handle, or property taxes might be higher. Additionally, as you'll be downsizing your living space, you might need to rent storage to keep your excess things. 

You also have to factor in the costs of your relocation. The relocation team from movage-moving.com advised that setting the proper budget for moving can save you a lot of headaches during the process.

Consider the available space

Before packing anything from your old home, consider the available space in your new one. This way, you'll know exactly how much you can pack without the risk of moving into your new home and not having enough space for everything you brought. The key to successful downsizing is always having in mind the square footage you have available.

Declutter

As you'll be moving to a smaller living space, you won't have enough room for all of your things. So to prepare for the move in the best way, you should go through your belongings and declutter.

There are many decluttering methods you can use to make the process quicker and easier. In our opinion, the simplest option is to sort your things into four piles:

• Keep only things you truly need and have space for in your new home.

• Donate or sell anything that's still in good condition but that you don't want to use anymore or can't fit in your new living space.

• Toss or recycle everything that's unusable, broken, or stained. 

• Store the things you want to keep but have no room for in your new home (for example, camping equipment or luggage). 

The most challenging part is probably decluttering your furniture. If something definitely can't fit in your new home, make sure to sell or toss it, depending on its condition. Some pieces of your furniture can be repurposed, so make sure to thoroughly think of ways to use them before putting them for sale.

Many people find it very difficult to declutter their kitchen appliances, especially if they were very expensive. However, if they're collecting dust and not being used regularly, they will only take up room in your new, smaller home. Selling them or donating is probably a better idea.

Maximize the space in your new home

When moving to a smaller home, you want to maximize every square foot of space. Here are some of the options you can consider:

• Wall-mounted storage or floating shelves are a great choice because they don't use any floor space. 

• Think vertically and use the space above the doors for additional storage. You can also order custom closets or shelves that go from floor to ceiling.

• Boost kitchen storage by using simple tricks. For example, you can add hooks to the bottoms of your cabinets to hold mugs. Also, don't forget to use the space above your fridge or the tops of your cabinets. 

• Buying multifunctional furniture can help you save space. For instance, you can buy a Murphy bed or invest in an ottoman with storage space below the seating.

• Think about installing sliding doors as they don't require as much floor space as traditional doors. 

There are also plenty of tricks to make any small space seem bigger. For instance, if you paint the walls in a light color, you will not only make your rooms seem wider, but you'll also liven up your new home. Or you can strategically place mirrors as they can make any room look larger and more open.

Final thoughts

We hope you found our downsizing tips for your move to a smaller home helpful and that we could make this transition easier and simpler for you. Best of luck with your move!

Guest Post - 6 Excellent Organization Tips for Your Kitchen and Dining Areas

An unorganized living space can wreak much havoc into your day-to-day life. Dealing with a messy kitchen and dining area is a nightmare for every busy person since it can make mealtime very stressful. However, you deserve to unwind and enjoy yourself while you eat, be it on your own, with your family, or with guests. If you’d like to cut down on time spent trying to find the utensils in your kitchen and you’d like to impress your guests with the design of your dining room, read on.

Declutter your pantry and other storage areas

If your passion for organizing has been idle for some time, you probably have many things you don’t use, and will never need, lying around your pantry and kitchen shelves. To alleviate the stress when cooking, you need to roll up your sleeves, prepare some boxes and bags and be strict and start decluttering. The spices you got on vacation four years ago – into the trash they go. Check if you have some unopened food that you know you won’t be using and put it in a donation box. Take it to your local charity. They will surely appreciate your kindness!

Use glass containers

Now that you’ve thrown out things you forgot you even had in your kitchen, it’s time to really start organizing. Keeping your food in glass containers will give a more organized, as well as more elegant, look to your kitchen. Whether you're storing leftovers, bulk goods, or spices, glass containers such as jars and canisters will be a great addition to your kitchen. You can also easily tell when you're running out of oats, rice, and other pantry essentials when you use glass, unlike steel and non-transparent plastic containers. Another plus to glass is that it is healthier for you than the plastic option. Glass is easier to clean and it’s less porous. Therefore, it doesn’t absorb bacteria and other germs so your food will last longer.

Store related objects together

Your baking pans and mixer should be stored next to one another in the kitchen. Make a separate section for each category! Your baking essentials should all be kept in the same cupboard, where a shelf dedicated to baking goods such as sugar, flour, vanilla, and baking soda should also be. This is a great way to simplify the kitchen chaos and turn it into a functional cooking haven. Baking gingerbread cookies this Christmas could be an experience you thoroughly enjoy now that you know the location of everything you’ll need.

Display your dinnerware

If you don’t regularly use your fancy dinnerware, there’s no need to keep it in your kitchen with the utensils which get everyday use. A great idea is to move them to your dining room and store them in a cabinet. If you don’t own a hutch, this is a sign to get one. The hutches in which you’ll display your special dinnerware should look timeless, and be sturdy and durable. For example, you can find beautiful and eco-friendly Amish dining furniture that will add a cozy touch to your dining area with their beautifully hand-crafted hutches. Having trendy storage options in your dining room will liven up your eating experience and make your living space more functional.

Clean your kitchen and dining area regularly

It’s easy to lose control of your living area and have it turn into a land of disarray and clutter. This is especially likely to happen if you live with children. The little monsters storm the house, scattering around their belongings every time they enter the room. Your dining room is a place where you gather your whole family for dinner, not a playroom. An effective way to keep your dining area clean is to incorporate tidying up into your nighttime routine. It’s easier to put a couple of misplaced things back to their place before you go to bed than to have a huge clean-up once a month.

Decoration is key

Staying organized is simple when you like the design of your living space. This is why you should put more thought into the décor of your kitchen and dining area. Adding the much-needed warmth to your rooms can be easily achieved by placing soft cushions on your chairs or picking out a seasonal centerpiece for your dining table. Make sure you follow a certain color combination. As a result, your dining room will look gorgeous which will make you more likely to maintain the area’s cleanliness and organization.

Wrapping up

To sum up, if you care about making your kitchen and dining area immaculate, you should get rid of all the clutter prior to organizing. For your kitchen, choose glass containers. Pay attention to the order and way you use your appliances when placing them in their new designated spots. Finally, don’t forget about some gorgeous décor and furniture which will make it easier to maintain spotlessness while making your rooms feel homier.

About the author: Mike Johnston is an experienced blogger and editor with a background in creative writing and digital media. He’s a regular contributor to the ‘Smooth Decorator’ blog and numerous other online publications where he writes primarily about home improvement, interior design, and sustainable living.

Guest Post - Practical Strategies for a More Organized Home This Winter

In winter, we have a tendency to get a little bit more disorganized. The cold weather and dark days can make it a little bit harder to stay on top of things.

This article will cover some strategies that will help you maintain your home this winter while still maintaining your sanity.

The goal of home organization is to make your routines easier and your space more productive. Not only that, but you will be able to have a clean living environment for yourself and your family. And the best part? You don’t have to spend any money on products or services. All you need is some simple knowledge and the desire!

Imagine coming home from work, school, errands or socializing with friends. The last thing you have the energy for is to spend hours cleaning up all over again just so that you can feel at ease in your own home.

Your house needs an organizational plan before it becomes a disaster!

How to Deal With the Clutter and Get Rid of It Quickly

Clutter is a common problem that can easily be solved with a few tricks.

Do you need to declutter? Take a look at these decluttering tips. The process is not easy, but it’s worth it.

We must remember that clutter doesn’t only come in the form of physical items. We also need to clear our thoughts and get rid of mental clutter. The following are some tips on how to deal with clutter for the winter time:

• Go through your clothes and get rid of anything you don't wear anymore

• Organize your home's storage spaces

• Declutter kitchen cupboards or pantry by throwing away expired food or old spices

• Take control over your inbox - unsubscribe from any email lists you don't read regularly, delete spam emails, make rules to prioritize important emails

Why is a More Organized Home Important in Winter?

Winter is a very cold and rough season, especially for those who live in Northwest Europe. It can be tough to make the house look tidy when there are no leaves on the trees and all of the plants are dead.

It may seem like a daunting task to make your house organized, but it is easier than you think. Start by decluttering your home - get rid of any items that you don't use or have not used in a very long time. The more clutter-free your home is, the less work it will be in the future when winter comes around again.

1. How to Become Less of a Clutter Person This Winter with These 4 Steps

One of the biggest causes of clutter is when we cling to items that we don't need. They may be useful at one point but they soon become unnecessary and useless.

If you want to declutter your home this winter, these steps will help you do it:

1. Make a list of all the things in your house that you don't use anymore and never plan to use again.

2. Get rid of the things on your list by donating them to charity or throwing them away if necessary.

3. Clean up your living space and throw away any trash that has accumulated because there's no longer anything cluttering up your home!

4. If there are items that have sentimental value to you, put them in a separate box so they won't get mixed up with other stuff.

8 Great Ideas for Decluttering Your House in just 10 Minutes

Looking at a cluttered house can make you feel overwhelmed, frustrated and unhappy.

In order to get it into a tidy shape, all you need is 10 minutes of your time and these 8 great ideas.

1. Start small.

2. Create a "picking station."

3. Set aside an hour on Sunday night to declutter while watching TV or movies.

4. Sort papers by person for easy reference.

5. Put away what you have used in the last month.

6. Tackle one floor at a time so your mind doesn't get scattered. 

7. Designate a place for all of your clutter that will help keep things from piling up again.

8. Use hooks or over-the-door organizers to keep things away from the floor.

How I Finally Mastered the Art of Tidying Up My House and It's Working!

Many people underestimate the power of a tidy home and think it is not worth the effort. But I beg to differ. It has been scientifically proven that a tidy and organized home provides many mental, physical, and emotional benefits to its inhabitants.

For me, it has helped to make a game out of it. Put the timer to five minutes and see how much you can tidy up in just this short time. If you did well, don't forget to reward yourself with a little treat.

Practical Strategies for a More Organized Life

People often underestimate the importance of organizing their life and don’t realize the difference it can make. It is a common misconception that organization is time consuming and doesn’t bring any benefits.

The fact is that organization does not only help you save time, but also improves your general satisfaction and wellness.

Here are some simple strategies to help organize your life:

• Create a list of goals: The first step in organizing your life is to know what you want from it, so you need to create a list of goals. These may be short-term or long-term goals, but their importance should be the same for you. The purpose of this step is to provide clarity and motivation for all other steps ahead.

• Make a plan: Once you know your goals it is time for action. Some find it helpful to break tasks down into smaller steps.

Conclusion: Start Organizing Your Stuff This Winter for More Happiness

Organizing your stuff will help you to be more productive and happier. The best time to do it is this winter when we don't have many distractions and we need to slow down a bit anyway.

Bio

This article was written by a real estate team. They are the founders of www.propertyunder20k.com and www.listproperty4free.com with the goal to search the cheapest real estate in the world and make it easy for others to find. The team is made up of landlords, real estate investors, architects and builders from several different countries.  We just love to have a good strong cup of coffee while we write our experiences.

Storage and Cleaning Tips for a More Organized Work Space

Creating a comfortable work environment for yourself is one of the best things you can do to increase your productivity. While a cluttered desk is not necessarily a sign of a cluttered mind, too much distraction can make it difficult for you to focus on the task at hand.

A clean and well-organized workspace is a pleasant place to be, which means you’ll enjoy your time at work more. Your workspace should also be functional, arranged and organized in a way that makes your workflow logical.

This article walks you through the essential steps to cleaning and organizing your workspace and keeping it harmonious to encourage your best possible workflow.

Visualize Your Ideal Work Environment

It can be tempting to browse Pinterest for office organization ideas hoping that someone’s beautiful office will inspire you to keep yours tidy. Unfortunately, even the most curated idea board isn’t going to motivate you to keep your space tidy if it doesn’t work for you.

The things that make those offices beautiful may not be functional in your space or practical for the kind of work that you do. That’s why you must take a moment to reflect on what you want your office to do for you. Creating a personalized vision will help you to set up a functional office that makes your work easier and more enjoyable.

Categorize Work Tasks Into Zones 

Consider the primary tasks you do for your work from one day to the next. Then, arrange your office in zones that allow you to complete those tasks efficiently. Consider the supplies you need to do those tasks and plan to have them in their respective zones.

For example, if your work involves a lot of time spent at the computer, designate a portion of your desk for computer use. If you print or mail a lot of documents, establish a printing station with your printer, paper, inks, envelopes, and stamps. 

Some jobs require a lot of reading and research out of physical books. A reading station with bookshelves, a comfortable place to sit, a reading lamp, and a pen and paper for note-taking will make reading much more enjoyable.

Aside from making your work more efficient, dividing your work tasks into zones will help you get into the right mindset for a particular task. When you sit down at your computer station, for example, your brain will begin to prepare for computer work, helping you stay present within the task at hand.

Clean and Organize

Once you have a concrete idea of what tasks you do regularly and the supplies required to do them, it’s time to organize those spaces. You first have to get rid of everything that doesn’t belong in your ideal office. Then you’ll find a home for everything that does belong.

Declutter Your WorkSpace

Gather up everything in your office - yes, everything! Pull all the random items out of your desk drawers. Take everything off your shelves, including your books. 

Chances are, you’ve accumulated a lot of unnecessary supplies. Maybe they were helpful to you at one point, but they don’t fit your workflow anymore. You won’t know what those things are until you’ve brought them out into the open and examined them.

Throw away or relocate anything you don’t use at all, as well as trash. Sort what’s left by zone, putting the necessary supplies for a particular task in that task’s zone. Note that you’re not putting any of the supplies away yet. Right now, just focus on getting them to the correct zone.

Some things are notorious for cluttering up offices. In particular, you’ll want to tackle:

• Paper. Organize all your paper into piles. Pull out any to-do lists so that you can compile them into one master list later. Put receipts in an envelope and store them in a file folder. Throw away anything you have a copy of on your computer, unless you’ll need to print it again later.

• Pens. Pens. You probably have more pens on, around, and on top of your desk than you could ever use. A lot of them may be out of ink anyway. Gather them all and scribble with them on a scrap piece of paper. Throw out any pens that don’t work and any that you don’t enjoy using.

• Personal items. In an office, people tend to accumulate clothing and other personal items from home. When your office is in your home, however, this clutter can start to take over. Gather any clothes (dirty or clean) and take them out of the office. Take home (or remove from your office) anything that doesn’t have to do with your work.

Deep Clean Your Workspace

Wipe down your desk with a disinfecting solution or cloth, then dust your shelves and any other visibly dirty surfaces. You’ll want to pay close attention to your keyboard, which accumulates dust, skin cells, food, and germs over time. Shake it upside down, then use a compressed air canister, special putty, or a folded sticky note to get any leftover dirt between the keys.

Consider your work surface and how you can keep it clean once you’ve wiped it down. If you spend a lot of time at your desk, a desk blotter or other pad can keep your fingerprints off the surface. Blotters are especially helpful for keeping clear acrylic or glass desktops clean, which can be particularly frustrating.

Sweep or vacuum your floor, taking care to get into the corners where your furniture meets the floor. The decluttering process tends to leave a lot of debris on the floor. No matter how well you organize your workspace, it won’t feel truly clean until you’ve swept up all the mess. While you’ve got the vacuum, use the hose to suck out any dirt from inside your desk drawers.

Give Everything a Place

Once you’ve decluttered, cleaned, and disinfected your workspace, you can get started organizing what’s left. Keeping your office organized is going to require you to put things away regularly. Choose a home for every single item that you keep as you put things back. 

For some items, this is a simple task. Your computer’s home is on your desk, and if you’ve divided your office into zones, your printer’s home is in your printing zone. Books go on the bookshelf, and if you really want to keep your office tidy, that means all of the books. As cute as a pile of books may look sitting on the corner of your desk, it’s still clutter.

Other items might not be quite so simple to give homes to. For example, your top drawer might be home to your pens, paper clips, sticky notes, and a calculator. To avoid a mess, put smaller containers inside the drawer to keep things separate. You can buy a dedicated organizer if you’d like, but an old cell phone box (both the top and bottom) works just as well.

Make sure to find homes for items that tend to move around your office a lot, too. Things like staplers, sticky notes, and tape dispensers tend to start at one corner of your desk and end up scattered in completely different places over time. If you give them a home in a drawer or on a shelf instead, your desk will look tidier and you’ll be more likely to keep them there.

Plan to Stay Organized

Having a clean and organized office will make you more efficient and your workday more enjoyable, but only as long as you keep it that way. For some people, this is harder than getting it organized in the first place. Here are a few tips to make it easier. 

Don’t Eat At Your Desk

It can be tempting to sit down at your desk on your lunch break to get a little extra work done. This temptation is even greater when your office is in your home and the line between home and workspace is so blurry. But eating food at your desk will make it that much harder to keep your office clean.

For one thing, your keyboard and mouse are covered in germs, and eating while you’re working means you’re putting those germs in your mouth. Plus, you’re getting crumbs, sauces, and all sorts of other ickiness all over your computer, and managing that can make work unpleasant.

You also have to be sure to pick up and throw away your various takeout containers or take your dishes back to the kitchen. Save yourself the headache and take your lunch break in another room, at least. You should take a mental break from work while eating anyway.

Clean Every Day

This may sound like overkill, but daily cleaning is the best thing you can do if you want to keep your office clean and tidy. Set aside ten minutes at the end of your workday to give your whole space a reset. Put all of your items back in their homes, and if your desk is visibly dirty, wipe it down.

If it doesn’t take you ten minutes to get it done, great! You just bought yourself a few more minutes at the end of your day. Either way, you’ll have a tidy office to get started on the next day, and the day after that.