Whatever your reason for downsizing, sorting out possessions is time-consuming and usually carries an emotional toll. The size and number of furniture pieces may not fit in your new place, leaving you with the need to think hard about what to do with them. My easy guide to sorting out your furniture is brief and practical and it may save you some headaches.
We downsize for various reasons:
Simplify life
Financial benefit
Job relocation
Separation or divorce
Becoming empty nesters
Retirement
Health issues
I advocate for keeping old furniture that has personal value to the owner. The reasons? The most important: it means something to you. It makes your space more interesting, more personal, and leads to a good conversation with your guests about the memories it holds for you. My previous post is about memories.
Whether you are moving into a smaller house, a condo, or an apartment, an old piece of furniture should find its rightful place in it.
I like for people to see the possibilities of how to make their furniture work better in their new place.
Custom-designed hutch to expand the use of this dresser
Maximize the use of your furniture in various ways
Using a single piece in multiple ways
Resizing
Repurposing to meet new uses
Combining two pieces into one
See more examples of my before and after furniture
Benefits of modifying/restyling your furniture
Meet your changing needs
To save money and shopping time by using what already works for you
Preserve quality, workmanship and materials
Old furniture has character and stories to tell with the memories they evoke
Find the right place
If you are looking for simplicity or freedom of material possessions, shipping container houses and tiny houses or cottages are a popular option. They don’t have to be "too tiny" so you can still walk upright in your bedroom and move around easily. They are a small contribution to your carbon footprint.
Although built-in furniture maximizes limited space, you can incorporate some of your old furniture to make the space more interesting, rich, and personal.
Shipping container house in Costa Rica
Photography: Andres Garcia Lachner, Design: Studio Saxe
Tiny cottage in Cape Cod, MA
Photography: Dan Cutrona, Interior design: Christopher Budd
If your choice is an active and independent senior living community, important things to consider are cost, location, skillful and attentive staff, quality and variety of services, atmosphere of the space, and food. Overture Crabtree and Waltonwood Lake Boone are high quality and unique senior communities for active and independent living in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Photographs courtesy of Overture Crabtree
Photographs courtesy of Waltonwood Lake Boone
Professional Movers
The downsizing process can be very intense and lengthy depending on how much stuff you own, the time you have to spend, and your budget.
If you need help with the move, Professional Move Managers can make the process very easy. They can do it all for you, or just a portion of it—you choose. The earlier you start, the better off you will be.
Your realtor, personal banker or attorney can guide you to your local resources for the moving process.
Whatever your reasons are for downsizing, keep in mind the expert advice from moving managers: do the homework ahead of time.
Thanks for reading!
I don't monitor this post, but feel free to contact me with questions or comments at gina@furniturerestyler.com
Comentários