Forced to move - Tips for making downsizing bearable

When it comes to remortgage time many homeowners could be forced to sell and move into more affordable yet smaller homes. While some may baulk at the idea of leaving their family home and moving into something smaller, We sat down with our Managing Director Scott Evans, who says that downsizing your home doesn't have to be as horrible as it sounds and with Google trends data showing a 400% increase in searches for "downsize home" it seems many of us are thinking about it too. Scott says "while some of us may not have a choice and will be forced to move into somewhere more affordable if you can cut your expenses in other ways first you may want to look at doing so. Moving home can be a massive deal and viewing properties, making an offer, dealing with solicitors and finally moving can all be stressful." Scott says if you do need to move into a smaller space then you need to get organised.

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Organising your smaller space

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Downsizing often means living a more simplified life, and to do so you will need to prepare before moving. Although you will have less square footage to work with there are plenty of ways to make room for your belongings when moving into a smaller home. But it's not just Scott who recommends being organised at home, Pinterest search trends are showing a 536% increase in people searching for organisation ideas too.

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Scott says "before moving be sure to study the floor plan carefully, this will allow you to plan your space before moving. Looking at your floor plan will allow you to figure out where you can fit your largest items, or if you will need to get rid of them before moving." If you do need to get rid of your items you can donate them to your local charity shops. The cost of living has got many of us needing a little extra help so all donations will be welcomed.

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Adding additional storage

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When working with less square footage than you are used to it's easy for your home to become cluttered. To avoid the clutter and make the most of your new home you will need to be smart with your storage. Scott says "Shelves, wall racks, furniture with in-built storage, hooks and pegs are going to give you the storage space you need in your new home. Wall racks are a cheap way of decluttering your cupboards and closets and allow you to easily organise the items in your home."
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Storing items out of sight will keep your house clutter free and trick your eye into thinking your small home is bigger than it is says Scott. Decoration choices can also trick your eyes into making a room feel larger. Lighter paint colours will reflect the light in your home giving it a spacious feeling while darker colours will have the opposite effect. Scott says "when painting a smaller home you should opt for greys, creams and whites which will create the illusion of space. You should also avoid featured colour walls in smaller properties."

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In smaller homes creating storage space while giving the illusion of space is just as important. Scott says "small homes are going to have small rooms by default, anything you can do to open them up is going to create the illusion of more space."
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"You don't have to knock down walls to make your room bigger, smart choices such as matching your flooring throughout your home or taking internal doors off in certain rooms can make your home feel bigger."

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When your home feels too small, declutter

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Even with all of the above in place, over time your home will become cluttered. To stop the feeling of the walls closing in on you, you will need to declutter as often as you can.

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If you feel cramped in your space you should start by organising your clutter into items you want to keep and items you need to get rid of. If you come across sentimental items but don't have room for them see if your family members or friends want them says Scott.

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Decluttering is something most of us don't want to do or don't think we have the time for, but start with a few minutes and you will soon see a big difference. Scott recommends to "starting with setting a timer for 15 minutes and taking a break. Set another timer for 15 minutes and increase your time across the space of a week. This way decluttering doesn't seem like a huge chore."

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When decluttering every item in your home should have a place, if it doesn't get rid of it. "Clutter can come in many forms such as old books, movies and pictures which can all be digitised to save space." Says Scott.

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Final Thoughts‍

If you do need to downsize and need storage to help make moving more bearable please talk to us.  We have storage space in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and many other locations in South Wales.

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