Houzz Call: What’s Your Best Downsizing Tip?
Deciding what to say goodbye to can be hard, which is why we want to hear your hard-won wisdom. Please share your advice
Downsizing can be both a challenge and a huge relief. There’s something so freeing about getting rid of possessions — at least, once the job is complete. Actually doing the work of sorting, donating, selling and tossing excess stuff can be quite time-consuming. For many people, the process can be emotionally taxing as well.
So readers who have walked this road, we’d like to hear your best tips. If you’ve downsized, what have you learned about what works best? Please tell us in the Comments below.
So readers who have walked this road, we’d like to hear your best tips. If you’ve downsized, what have you learned about what works best? Please tell us in the Comments below.
Letting go of the Cuisinart. Kitchens can be magnets for clutter. It may not feel like clutter to own two types of blenders — one for smoothies, one for soups, perhaps — but if you’re moving into a significantly smaller space where cabinet space will be limited, something has to go. What ways have you found to get by in the kitchen using fewer supplies?
Corralling those family photos. Given today’s busy lives and the digital nature of most photo-taking, it can be easy to forget about your unsorted boxes of paper photos. But not when it’s time to downsize. What are your tricks for deciding which family photos to keep, which to toss and how to most efficiently store the keepers?
Measuring your new space for a reality check. Typically, downsizing means getting rid of furniture. And while it’s nice to keep the pieces that matter most to you, what will likely dictate your plans is the size of the new space. Have you made a floor plan of it to help you make your furniture reduction choices? If so, please tell us about it in the Comments below.
Readers: Please share your best downsizing tip in the Comments. If you have a clear, sharp photo related to this tip, please share that as well — we’d love to see it! Your responses could be showcased in an upcoming editorial feature.
Readers: Please share your best downsizing tip in the Comments. If you have a clear, sharp photo related to this tip, please share that as well — we’d love to see it! Your responses could be showcased in an upcoming editorial feature.